For-sale cars cause problems for Boulder City

BOULDER CITY -- So many vehicles decorated with "For Sale" signs are popping up on empty lots during weekends that city leaders will either have to post "no vacancy" signs or crack down on enforcement.

Mayor Robert Ferraro said he fields dozens of calls from residents who complain that vehicles and boats for sale by owners are starting to litter the city.

"They think it's unsightly and, frankly, I have to agree with them," Ferraro said Monday.

The City Council held a workshop last week in which they discussed the growing problem. Council members suggested that city staff review the ordinance that addresses the problem and determine whether it needs to be rewritten.

"We do have an ordinance to protect people from these things, but it hasn't been tightly enforced," Ferraro said.

Vehicle owners often pull into vacant lots or along main thoroughfares so that passersby take notice of the car or boat for sale. Ferraro said once one vehicle is parked, others pull along side of it.

"There was one location on the Nevada Highway where I counted six different vehicles," Ferraro said. "At another location there were four or five boats. It seems to manifest itself on weekends."

Boulder City is a convenient place to sell a boat because it is only miles from Lake Mead. But Ferraro and fellow council members believe the boats belong to Boulder City residents, rather than out-of-towners looking to sell to lake visitors.

The City Council likely will crack down on violators rather than develop a new ordinance, Ferraro said.

archive