Right in front of my house! I don't think so!
About a year ago, maybe a little more, my husband and I came back from a trip, on an early Monday morning. The cab stopped across the street from our house because there was a guy washing a car right in front of it. I did not think much of it, I was tired, hungry and in a hurry to get to work.
Many months later, as I was getting bigger and more uncomfortable I stayed and worked from home on the worst days. As I was sitting in my bedroom that faces the street, all of a sudden I heard a very loud noise - there was that same guy, washing another car. And in front of our house, again! When he finished that car, he left. Again I did not think about it much, until it happened once again. Is this guy running a car wash business in front of my house (I actually saw him once more on our block; I think there was somebody parked in front of our house)? Is this legal? It's not only noisy, he leaves a mess and all the chemicals he is using for washing and polishing, together with the dirty water go directly into the ocean! But who can I call?
I started with a phone number off of my utility bill, and after a few transfers I ended up talking with somebody at the Illegal Dumping Hotline. They were not really clear whether this is legal or not (?) but they said they would investigate. I gave them a phone number off the truck as well as the business name and that was it. I have not heard from them again, and the guy never showed up again. I thought that was it.
Not really. Last Friday as I came back from a walk a different truck was in front of our house, washing another car. I did not react immediately, but when I saw they were on their third car and talking to another lady about doing a fourth one I had enough. And this time I also had a baby trying to sleep in the other bedroom, also facing the street. I went out and, very much annoyed, asked the guy wether he need to do this here! He did not protest, he just said he was sorry and that he would move the car. And he did, right away. Two houses down.
But I got really angry. I just could not believe that this is legal. How could someone just set up shop on a residential street. It is annoying, dirty and noisy. I don't care if it's convenient to some people so that they don't have to go three blocks east and have their car washed on Lincoln Ave. It is probably cheaper too. But why does it have to be in front of my house, on my street; in front of anybody's house for that matter!
So I called again, the same number. This time they told me that this is definitely illegal (by the way, I tried calling the first company but I could never get pass voicemail, and nobody ever called me back).
No one can have any kind of business in front of somebody's house, unless it is non-profit and then they would have to have a special permit. I don't think that a car-wash is a non-profit!
But that's not the end of the story. This Monday the first guy appeared again. Where - in front of my house! Oh, this time I was beyond pissed. I got out again and told them to leave. This guy moved his truck too, but he complained! He said - "But I always wash cars here!" Excuse me???!!! He picked our house probably because, before I was pregnant, both me and my husband were both at work during the day, so there was no one to complain. And we have a huge pine tree in front, under which our neighbors don't like to park because of sap. So, not only did he have an empty spot, he also had a shade.
So, I called again, and I am waiting to see what happens. But this time I will follow up with the inspectors!
I still cannot believe this, and I get so pissed everytime I think about it!