Arlington, WA: covered project cars, junk cars and selling one

The cover rule, piece by piece

Section 20.110.014 has four parts:

• "Unlicensed vehicle restoration is permitted within an allowed off-street parking area," provided the car is covered or indoors.
• "Not more than one vehicle per premises for either renovation or parts may be screened by use of a cover that shall be securely fastened to the vehicle."
• "Vehicles other than the screened vehicle shall be parked in an enclosed building."
• In a transect zone, vehicles "without current plates or inoperable, shall not be parked" anywhere except inside a completely enclosed building.

A homemade tarp tied down with rope does not meet the first test, because the code calls for a commercially made opaque cover.

Junk vehicles follow state law here

Arlington's general nuisance list in Section 7.05.040 excludes junk vehicles, "which are regulated pursuant to AMC Chapter 10.54." That chapter, in Section 10.54.070, adopts the state's towing and junk-vehicle statutes by reference. Those include RCW 46.55.230, which covers certifying, noticing and removing a junk vehicle. The definition itself comes from RCW 46.55.010, where three of four facts make a car junk. The car is three or more model years old, carries extensive damage, appears unable to run, or has scrap value and nothing more.

Impounds and hearings in Arlington

Section 10.54.120 lists who may redeem an impounded car. That includes the legal or registered owner, someone with the owner's written or verified permission, and "one who has purchased a vehicle from the registered owner." That last person must produce proof of ownership or written authorization. The clocks:

• 10 days to request a hearing after you receive notice. Miss it and the right is waived, and the registered owner owes the towing and storage fees.
• 5 days for the court to tell everyone the hearing date once a request comes in.
• 90 days for the hearing if the car has already been released.

Separately, Section 10.54.050 limits a trailer or camper parked on a street or alley to seventy-two hours. More on lots in towed or impounded.

The Everett title office

The Snohomish County quick title office we found for Arlington is at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. In a straight line it's about 14 miles south of central Arlington. Other county offices may exist.

Plates, title and the report of sale

Pull the plates before the truck rolls out. According to DOL, plates in your hands mean later parking citations, tolls and camera tickets will not find you. Sign the release of interest printed on the title. Draw up a bill of sale too, unless the price and date already appear on the title. Within 5 days of the sale, send DOL the Vehicle Report of Sale. Any notary signature belongs on the buyer's documents, not yours.

Nearby

Marysville is 6.2 miles away, Lake Stevens 11.7 and Everett 14.3. Statewide rules are on the Washington page.

Getting an offer

Phone (877) 421-6008 or use the form. Tell us the vehicle, how many miles it shows, whether it will start, and the title's status. Our truck can take it straight from under its cover in a side yard, out of a shop building, or off a farm lot outside downtown.