20 more cited in crackdown on junked cars

A crackdown on junked cars parked in Corbin extended into the weekend as 20 more citations were issued to residents in the city limits.
Corbin Police Chief Carson Mullins said that nine of the people cited in the department’s first wave of the crackdown complied. Twenty ignored courtesy notices given to them by police and will now have to appear in district court.
“Those 20 who chose not to comply are going to district court no matter what,” Mullins said. “We have kind of taken the stance that if we are kind enough to give you a courtesy notice and you ignore us, you are are going to court.”
Courtesy notices given by police normally give violators seven to 10 days to remove any junked cars from their property. Violation of a city ordinance forbidding junked or inoperable cars on property in the city carries penalties of up to a $100 fine and up to 90 days in jail. The city commission enacted the ordinance in 1970, but has failed to enforce it rigorously in recent years.
Corbin Mayor Amos Miller said he estimates there are about 100 to 125 junked cars illegally parked within the city limits.
Mullins said lax enforcement of the law is going to change and added that he has officers permanently assigned to issuing citations for such violations.
“I have assigned personnel to continue in enforcing this from now on,” he said. “Hopefully, this won’t get so out of hand in the future.”
Mullins said police have identified more cars that will be cited in the near future. He added that police will also be focusing on other junk including scrapped machines, old grills, broken bicycles and other waste.
“In the next couple of months I think we should have everybody in compliance and the city will start looking far better,” Mullins said. “We’ll continue until we’ve done something with everyone not in compliance.”
City officials say the effort is the first part of a wider plan to clean up the city. Sub-standard property in violation of city ordinances will be handled through a newly-formed Code Enforcement Board beginning in 2005. The board has the ability to enforce ordinances that regulate property maintenance and can even levy fines.