A MAN’S driveway has been turned into a dump after a city destroyed his front yard and left equipment on his property.
Juan Corrales lives on a street in Houston, Texas, where work began on a neighborhood improvement project some eight months ago.
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But the homeowner is still waiting for a contractor to make good on their promise.
According to a report by Click2Houston, a program known as the City of Houston’s Pedestrian Accessibility Review Program – which aims to improve sidewalks and driveways to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities – has seen crews repaving dozens of driveways on Corrales’ block.
But it appears he was inexplicably skipped.
“The city started pouring all the driveways on both sides of the street,” Corrales said.
“But they didn’t pour mine.”
Worse yet, not only did the city leave his driveway unfinished, but a contractor also asked Corrales if they could store heavy equipment in the fenced yard of his property next door.
It meant the empty lot in front of the driveway was used as a dumping ground for leftover materials – including dirt and even a porta-potty.
Corrales added: “The porta-potty smelled really bad.
“There were animals everywhere, and then neighbors started stopping by and throwing trash because they saw more trash.”
He says it took multiple phone calls and complaints before the city intervened, with the mess eventually being cleaned up.
However, not everything was removed.
“They didn’t take everything. There’s still trash here,” he said.
Corrales also believes the contractor was paid for his driveway – even though it was never completed.
Officials with the City of Houston later confirmed they were aware of the issue and said work on Corrales’ driveway will be completed by May 15.
This comes as a driver was scammed out of a staggering $46,000 after the car they purchased from an online retailer never arrived.
To make matters worse, they relied on a trusted vehicle history report website – designed to provide buyers with top-notch information to make informed decisions.
Speaking to ABC Action News, Adrianna Parsons of Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania revealed how she became a victim of something known as dealership cloning.
After finding a Lexus SUV on sale for roughly $46,000, Parsons told reporters: “It all looked very legitimate at first glance.”
However, it appears she was duped by a criminal network that uses popular site CARFAX to set up an elaborate ruse.
She added: “The fact that my husband found the car on CARFAX first, and then was led to the dealer through that, shows that we are safe.”
Is it illegal to use someone’s driveway to turn around?
Though driveways are considered private property, it may be difficult to prove a driver is in the wrong if they use it for a turnaround, according to legal experts.
Unless a crime is committed by the person using the driveway to turn around or damage is done, it’s bothersome, but not illegal.
“Generally it’s not going to be illegal,” wrote Daniel Lee O’Neil, a litigation lawyer in Texas.
“Unless they are using your driveway to commit a felony drug sale the police are generally not going to be that interested in the matter.”
It’s recommended that homeowners place signs warning against using their driveways or politely ask neighbors to U-turn elsewhere before calling the police.
Source: AVVO