Sacramento County CA won't let you work on your own car (or anyone else's) in your own garage, except under the most limited of circumstances. It is a dumb law. The law: www.code-enforcement.saccounty... www.lehtoslaw.com
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My residence has a TIG welder, gas axe, milling machine, metal lathe, air compressor, vacuum pump, cyclone separator, endoscope, IR camera, portable water pump, etc.
Years ago we lived in a neighborhood where (we were unaware) NO vehicle maintenance was allowed where it could be observed from the street. Our neighbor called the police while I was in the process of replacing the brake pads on one of our cars on our driveway, but by the time the police arrived the job had been completed. I was issued a warning and they left. About a week or so later I called the police to report that the neighbor who had called them on me was performing maintenance on his car within view of the street. When they arrived they asked what the problem was, and I pointed out that he was washing his cars on his driveway. They seemed confused until I pointed out that he was performing vehicle maintenance. They issued him a warning and he never spoke to me again. Stupid laws.
That offered you the great benefit of teaching your neighbor to mind their own business and the big plus of them not talking to you again. I had a boss fire me because the job required be to park on the grass. When I pulled back onto the rode the curb was so high it set off the motion detector in the spy camera. I hurried to catch up to the other 10 trucks in our group and he said I had "wound out the engine". He knew little about our job and the trucks all had RPM limiters to prevent over revving the engine. Well he fired me. So I kept checking the online court records and a year later he showed up. He got a ticket for speeding in a company vehicle (I recall it was outside our service area and during working hours). We are required to report traffic violations and I figured he had not. So I printed out the court record and mailed it to the regional VP. Two weeks later he was gone. Karma
Look if you're gonna come out here with great zingers like this, I've just _gotta_ see what you say in other sections around here! Thanks for the giggles.🤗🇨🇦
I already know I'm a superhero. Well, more likely a supervillain. Because common sense in today's world is offensive and even criminal, but no less super.
Sounds like criminalizing poverty to me tbh. 90% of the repairs I've had to learn how to do myself were because I couldn't afford to take it to mechanic and couldn't afford to miss work.
This is one of the effects, yes. And reduced cost is the primary reason to do self repairs. The others being that you can verify the quality of the work, gain the knowledge to perform preventative diagnostics, etc. Drivers being self sufficient is safer, less polluting (because making a new car creates far more pollution than driving the old one) and also leads to drivers with a better understanding of how to drive safely and the limitations of their vehicles. I don't understand how this fear mongering works on people, convincing them it's safest to let some stranger at some place with a sign be responsible for everyone else's safety, without us having any way to actually verify if he knows more or performs more thorough work than any other random person. If people think that every certified mechanic knows what they're doing.. Ask them where they work. "Oh, you work in insurance.. So all your coworkers are rational, honest people who do legitimate work you'd trust your life with?" Of course, almost every person who isn't a liar has to answer "Hell no." I can either play the odds and hope I'm not the edge case who gets cheated for a high premium, or save money and be CERTAIN it was done right. The only question is whether I have the time, resources or desire to learn and implement what I've learned. Given those considerations all turn up true, it's a no brainer: DO IT YOURSELF.
As a retired mechanic and auto parts salesmen I know many people with automotive tools at their home. I still have all my tools and more since I quit working on car’s for a living 30 years ago. These stupid laws is why we left CA 2 years ago. Love living in a state and city where nobody bothers you.
My teenage niece built an airplane in her driveway. In Sacramento county. A neighbor complained and told the officer "there's laws against working on vehicles in your yard." The officer told the neighbor, "really? I work on my car all the time. And that's a classic Piper Cub, not really a vehicle under California vehicle code. There's nothing I can cite her for."
It laughable.....I dont consider myself a professional yet have 100k in tools even full diagnostic equipment. They'd shit if they would have used my street as a model.
A number of years ago a city inspector told me I had to get rid of an old classic car I had behind my garage. I told him it wasn't a car anymore, it was now a mobile storage container. He shook his head and walked away. I never heard another word about it.
tools in my residence : every handheld tool made in the last 40 years, every handheld power tool made in the last 20, table saw, drill press, cabinet saw, welding kit, rebar equipment, car lift(s), drive up and on car platform, bobcat with accessories, tractor with accessories, tire remount unit, power pain sprayer, power planer, air compressors, generators, ...
Only Northern California, My cartel controls oil filter wrenches and plastic straws in Southern California, and if you move in on our turf we will go to war ( and kill many innocents in the crossfire).
Lol, as a bartender in California, I hate the straw law! Certain drinks NEED a straw: Bloody Mary, anything blended, ice tea, etc. you can still use them, but you have to request one. So it just forces bartenders to waste time making extra trips when someone asks for one! I’m assuming the other 57 counties (I think) don’t have a problem with people working on their cars! What’s up Sacramento county?
That kind of law should be held in contempt. A homeowner should be able to do anything they like within the privacy of their own property. I do hope there is a legal challenge.
Yep! And HOAs should be banned. I refuse to pay what amounts to another tax, to what amounts to a mini-government, for some overzealous jackass to tell me what I can and can't do with my home. I paid for the property, what I do with it (within reason of course) is not their business.
@@davidwarford3087 Maybe the first group do. In some cases, the builders form it. But either way, once one exists, they are (like herpes) nearly impossible to get rid of. In many cases, there is a note on the deed for each property or some other common concerns (like shared utilities) which make membership necessary in order to own the property. So the only way to avoid it, is to not buy the property. So maybe "illegal" is too strong of a word. Maybe the existence of an HOA should be "Conspicuously Advertised" on the front page of a property listing along with a detailed list of the fines and actions taken against residents. So that any potential buyer is made aware of the horse shit which may fly in their direction, before they look at the shiny granite countertops. I mean, if HOA activities are in the residents best interest, why not explicitly advertise them?
I live in a residence. Every tool I own is _normally_ found in my residence. Therefore, every tool I own is normally found in _a_ residence (specifically mine).
You're next. They will be coming to confiscate your tools soon so that you can't commit the unspeakable act of checking your tire pressure or something and you may not a "certified mechanic".
It's not about right or wrong but about getting control established. Pretty much is in effect laws of precedent . Not sure your being a ' certified ' mechanic or not . I am but how this ' law ' is telling you the owner regardless of ability you just have lost your Rights concerning your possessions .
This is all about a power grab, trying to force everyone to pay dealerships to work on their car(s) and putting the small, private shops out of business under the guise of political correctness. They'd love me though... - Pontiac forced me to purchase their "Special Water Pump Wrench" (I doubt anyone within 100 miles of me probably has that thing 😄)... - I manufactured a custom tool to hold the engine when I pull the transmission off of the back of it on my Subaru... - I spent three (3) months diagnosing / fixing an engine that had no heat during the winter, only to find out the coolant system was missing its thermostat. Once that was fixed, it developed a water leak which required the water pump to be replaced. After that the engine refused to turn over, even though the timing was correct, which was due to a ground off camshaft lobe on #4 cylinder. That car (1990 Pontiac) still runs to this day after spending $1000 in parts (though it sits now because it needs the engine rebuilt - compression's too low). - I bet 75% of my tools most people don't have and I'm just a shade tree mechanic! Tell those Silicone Valley politicians to pull the silicone implants out of their heads (and elsewhere), unless they want to quadruple my pay (before I'll even consider doing that). Nevermind that my cars run longer than most people's to begin with... Who the hell are they to tell me what I can / can't do? As if it's a malicious act to maintain / repair my car rather than working my arse off to line their pockets? F them! 🙄🖕
What is more interesting is that it is also establishing a definition of "home tools"...Hmmm. Home should not have X tool. That is tyrany breathing on your neck.
@@addiumuppicus5738 It's to stop some people who open up shop in the driveway. They can't say these are my cars everyday. This 50 gallon drum of used oil is for my use officer won't cut it. In Florida they say it's law that you can't change your own oil. Still do but it's so you can't run a shop in your driveway. Who want's that? Many foreigners in California who would pour the oil in the ground.
I always assumed that the car Police had red and blue lights on them. There's far too many variables in that law to do anything but tie up the court system. " John, you were found flushing your radiator on a sunny Sunday afternoon. How do you plead ? " John: " Insanity, your Honor. I had to have been insane to have moved here. "
I spent 2 years doing a frame up rebuild on a Jeep in my carport. Neighbors would come by once in a while to check on the progress. Now I have a workshop in the back with a lift. I find it funny that the only polluting liquids that you might deal with on a major work are the same that you would get with doing minor work that they list.
I'm also extremely concerned how they included property zoned as agriculture in this because farmer need to work on their equipment to be able to keep up with the demands/breakdowns to be able to product the food we eat.
I live in Sacramento County and I had no idea this was a law. I’ve done all kinds of repairs here and my neighbor runs a business in his driveway repairing cars. They don’t enforce this law but they sure felt good writing it .
They will enforce it as soon as they want to convict you of something. Like most of these obscure meaningless laws, when you piss off the wrong people they can throw all kinds of legal violations at you that they need not enforce for anyone else.
I don't care if it's a blight issue or not. It's your property YOU have the right to use it as YOU see fit. Not some municipal corporation who's trying to impede on your rights!
Here’s an an example I would like to hear your thoughts on. I grew up in a small town in Vermont, I had many large bonfires when I was growing up (6-8 feet across, large for normal bonfire size). I then moved to Boston, into a single family home with a small backyard. Should I be allowed to have the same types of fires in my backyard as I did in Vermont?
@@tobymarx-dunn2332 Interesting example but here's the problem and the difference. If you light a big bonfire in your sfh in Boston your likely going to "smoke out" other domiciles that don't belong to you right? So in this case your impeding on someone else's right's which you don't have. When its a car parked on your own property it isn't impeding on anyone else's rights. Therein lies the difference. "Also your setting yourself up for the liability of burning down someone else's home if it caught on fire".
I lived in Sacramento for 5 years. I had a 69 Chevelle as my daily driver. I got out of there in the spring of 98. While I was there I changed the transmission in the driveway, and did my tuneups as well. I also got attempted car jacked, let a woman use my cordless phone to give her last dying words to her mother, had my car parts stolen, gas siphoned, two separate car theft attempts, and a drunk parolee blow a stop sign and t boned him in the Chevelle. I could go on. I’m back in my home state of Minnesota. I have to deal with long winters, but none of the insanity of Sacramento!
Indeed. I'm a 64yo lady and own a variety of tools-- for instance, 2 diff filter wrenches, which I now use to open jars-- and bought at WalMart. HOA's are Overboard on this one.
A strap wrench is commonly used for removing tight lids on jars and other things but can easily be used to remove an oil filter if it has been put on more than hand tight. This is definitely a tool that is found in many homes.
A person has a car with a leaking radiator, and it takes 1/2 gallon to top it off every 4 months. And, a leaking valve cover gasket which leaks 1 qt oil every 2 months. The owner cannot afford big bux a shop would charge, but a friend can resolve the issues for a reasonable cost, but cannot due to the law. Sooooo, the owner of the car is leaking chemicals all over town. (scratching my head) This makes sense HOW?
The State laws aren't really well thought through. I got cited for taking 21 tires (that were illegally dumped on my farm) down to the legal disposal facility. If I would have only taken 7 tires per trip, it would have been legal for me to transport them. It was the California Air Qauloty Board that cited me (based on the trash transfer stations reporting me).
What constitutes tools not normally found in a residence? I have welders, plasma cutters, an anvil a forge, a 10,000 lb press, air tools, grinders, a floor lift, oxy-acytelene rig all bought commercially as a private citizen. Also I don't believe the hatred of car repair as the impetus for the law. I would at a guess assume the reason has to do with local repair shops trying to force local residents to pay for repairs instead of doing the repairs themselves. When in doubt about the reason for bad law always follow the money
According to JOHN DEERE Tractors Inc you can't do any repairs on any of the Newer tractor that they build even if you PAID off the price for the tractor and are the out right owner of the tractor .
If a government says you can no longer repair your own car, I would assume that the government would now be responsible to cover the cost of your repairs.
You're absolutely right. Greetings from Montreal! And yes, I do major repairs, e.g. timing belt, transmission swap, exhaust, I changed gears in a transmission. Controlled society, that's where we're going. It's sad seeing those coming from America, initially raised by people looking for freedom...
I suspect the automotive repair industry would have more to do with laws like this than HOA types. They want to protect their business from shade tree mechanic competition.
What about a Prius when the mechanical skills are rudimentary if you need to replace the battery where the 29 or 30 cells may have some juice in them. When you come right down to it, an after market battery will cost about $1500. Chris Fix did a great video where he bought a Prius with a dead, dead, and dead battery for about $2000 or $2500. No neighborhood-destroying juices and a car that he could sell for $6000 to $8000 or get 50,000 or more miles for a $4000 investment. He put the new battery and plastic parts back in for what appeared to be 4 or 5 hours and it hummed away. It hit the road with no more noise than you get from your LED flashlight on high beam. I love your analyses . Keep up the great work.
I live in the county next door. Every time I see a prop 65 warning I want to go the the statehouse and put up a banner that says "prop 65.5 warning - People inside this building are a cancer".
I guarantee this law was written due to guys like my buddy who maintains a JUNKYARD in his front yard, takes up every parking spot on the street, and thoroughly frustrates his neighbors. Too bad the lawmakers are so stupid that they make a net that kills every fish in the ocean, vs crafting a net that singles out the prey fish.
I agree with this sentiment. Where I live, the ordinance prohibits nonrunning vehicles stored outside of a carport/garage. Generally this isn’t enforced- I have a clearly in-progress project in my driveway and never bothered. However two others in the neighborhood got dinged- one has five half-parted out trucks in his yard and the other put up a out-of-code tarp/PVC pipe “shed” up and called it a carport. So “spirit of the law” here results in me being allowed to do major work yet keep the neighborhood from being a dump. However, California’s new law sounds much more restrictive to even basic work…
I guarantee that every house within 20 miles of my house has an oil filter wrench ,socket and wrench set. Pliers screwdrivers . Most will have torque wrench floor Jack and air tools. If you can't do your own car repairs around here then you don't belong around here.. my daughter was required to do her own oil changes and spark plugs, tires ECT. At age 16 when she got her first car. A Jeep Grand Cherokee. She is in her 30,s now and is doing her own house remodeling and additions. She is proud of the fact her Daddy taught her things. And I'm proud of her.
Gear pullers, pitman arm fork, ball joint tools, timing light, dwell meter, impact wrench, torque wrenches, brake tools, several wrench sets, several socket sets, feeler gauges, ignition wrenches, AC recharge tools, clutch pilot tools, jacks, stands, wheel chocks, on and on.... Lots of tools normally found in my garage and I'm an IT guy(and a gearhead).
I am sure the county had a gooood lawyer write this up before they passed this. I worked for a company that had cooling towers to cool water down. Took my grandson by the place one day when he was about 8 and he said look at all the polution that they are putting in the air, another day taking him to school we past by some timber land that had been planted in pine trees some 30 years before and he says look at them destroying the envireonmant by cutting down those trees.I had to have a talk with him both times to correct what he was taught in school each time. Steam off of a colling tower is water evaperating removing heat from the water, where do you think lumber comes from to build houses, somebudy has to plant the trees and take care of them for lumber.
I am not sure what they mean by tools commonly found at a residence but look at it this way. Tools such as air tools, compressor, torque wrench, ratchet sets and accessories, oil filter wrenches, sandblaster, grinder, etc are commonly found at my residence and they always will.
Surely you remember the exercise in law school where you were asked to draft a law that your class-mates would pick apart. This statute, while it seems clearly intended to prevent people turning private residences into repair shops, seems very inartfully drafted Perhaps they went to Pepperdine
Sacramento County would *HATE* my residence, and the tools in my garage... 35g air compressor, lathe, mill, drill press, band saw, table saw, router table, 107lb Mousehole Forge blacksmith anvil, propane 3-burner blacksmith forge, propane smelting/casting furnace, 2 welders on a welding cart, Kendon motorcycle lift (1000lb capacity), engine hoist, engine stand, triple-stack 44" toolbox... Man, that state and it's municipalities are freaking NUTS! I figure the anvil and forge would push those idiots off the deep end!!!
Can the farmer in the "agricultural area" repair his tractor? His hay truck? Agriculture requires frequent mechanical repair of many types of vehicles.
My city covenants say that I cannot repair, rebuild, or repaint a vehicle in my garage. So I'm going to build a brand new airplane in my garage. It's never been broken so I can't be repairing it. It's never been built so I can't be rebuilding it. It's never been painted so I can't be repainting it. And until I'm near the very end of the project, it would have never had an engine in it so it wouldn't be a vehicle.
Thank you for having the common sense and courage to discuss who should and should not be making laws. Florida gated community HOA's are notorious for this kind of stuff, all based on the questionable presumption that seeing somebody honorably stewarding their 2nd largest investment by properly maintaining their car somehow lowers the property value of everybody else's home.
As a Californian, I am ashamed. I spent my youth working on and restoring cars with my friends and find the idea of outlawing such an enjoyable and productive activity detestable.
Hmmm... but according to the Sacramento County building permit website, I can paint my whole house in Sacramento without a permit. I guess if you put the paint on a house rather than a car it magically removes all of those nasty "chemicals" that are hurting people. No, this just has to do with car regulation (or should I say over-regulation) in California. Great video Steve, thanks.
It’s ok to rebuild your engine and transmission as long as you do it with a hammer, screwdriver and pliers. I was blown away when I heard about this law until I saw it was in California. Just today I was at autozone and saw a bin of universal extensions at the counter that had a sticker that read they are made of materials that may cause cancer. They were solid steel! WTF? Prop65.
“One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rights and immunities should be broad and open ended, while government delegated powers should be narrow and defined. This way when there's a dispute between an individual's right to do something and a government power to contradict that right, the presumption should be on the individual's right to do something and not on the government power. This law violates that principle immensely by granting a limited set of vague situations and then allows for them to be contradicted by the enforcement officer's own judgement. It was written so vaguely and so sloppy so the county could have it both ways, to say that you can but then to turn around and say you can't by claiming its not minor repairs or violates the environmental policy the county has adopted.
As a woman who can work on her own cars occasionally, I have all the tools mentioned and more. I guess I broke the law when I recharged the A/C on my Firebird? Wow. I live in an HOA in Sac County and yes, I get harassed, like leaving boxes on my porch for UPS pick up! Just another day...by the time I get a notice it's handled. They need to get over themselves. We are just trying to get by the best we can without bothering anyone.
This was created from the local shops petitioning your City to shut people down doing their own repairs. They did the same thing to auto parts stores that would scan your car for free and tell you what's wrong with it.
If you can't work on your own car, why don't they say that you can't work on your own house, or cut your own grass, or enjoy anything that is yours. It makes no sense to call citizens, criminals if they are working on their own car on their own property.
What is a major repair? Anything that is not a minor repair. Oh, thank God these people are here to explain these complicated issues to us! Somebody give that genius lawmaker an award!
Back in 1993,I was caught up with this in Illinois. My moms the greatest!! I grew up on a racetrack. Blew my engine 1 night. Pulled it, rebuilt it and went to school the next day. Law came to the house while I was in school and my mom said " do you see a broken car in the driveway, if not why are you here?" Lol
They’re worried about home values. As a realtor I would use the sight of home mechanics as added value of the neighborhood. “Your neighbors can help you and save you thousands of dollars”
right and there needs to be some standards, especially in towns where the property/tax values are higher. Before they had these laws, someone in my town turned his property into a junk yard (old washing machines/vehicles and all kinds of other junk just sat all over his property)...for over 10 years, nothing was done. this was a property that was very visible, near a town park where you had many cars coming and going.
My entire family, regardless of their actual profession, grew up as hobbyist machinists, welders, mechanics and carpenters. Like a typical farm family, but a bit more excessive. Our neighbors typically love us. Shop wants $3,500 and 7 days? Dude, gimme 3 hours and $40 and I can get you to work on time. Same for roofs, basement leaks, plumbing, servers, or anything else. I grew up in an extremely pragmatic family. Our neighbors love us. Leaving a car parked for 3 days during a frame weld is a bit ugly, sure.. But also a learning experience because your kids can come over and I'll explain to them how it all works while I'm doing the work. Only one neighbor doesn't like us. Know why? He lost the bid on the property, wants to do anything possible to get us out so he can expand his current lot. Problem is, I fixed the city's work truck when it lost a CV axle on the horrible road in front of my house: Normally they wouldn't accept a resident's help, but this was during that blizzard last year that took out half the state, so they were grateful for anyone who could get the truck moving again in a timely manner, and the only issue was an improperly seated C-Clip, which I have a whole box of on a shelf so I just have to change that out and reinsert the axle to the transmission and they were good to go. Took less than an hour, since the truck sat high enough I didn't need to jack it up except for the last part of sliding the axle in for all of 30 seconds.. So they're not in any hurry to fine me if I make small technical mistakes. That, and this house was about to be condemned before I started fixing it up. It's certainly not the prettiest house, but in 3 years it's value went from $12,000 to $43,000... So if anything, my constant work is improving property value at a rate incomparable to most who would've chosen a property like this one.
i just got citation for working on my truck i did a engine swap newer engine ford 4.6 sohc and 4r70w in my classic f250 4x4 just finish it now city of los anglese needs to inspect my truck see if it moves and my property needs to be inspected for up to 6 months. fine is $891. i was told i was doing major work and restoration on property. i recycles all fluids and clean messes when it happens am a master automotive and diesel medium and heavy duty technician. i think sacramento,los angeles and san diego has same law like copy paste so vague the inspector pretty much read it off the law was written and could not give me a decient break down whats allowed and what not.
This is an incredibly ludicrous law. I have $40,000 worth of tools at my residence and I can and will do everything from any automotive system and I have the tools for it, INCLUDING lathe and other machine work. I have never been a professional mechanic, I am retired but have 57 years of experience working on vehicles of many types and I WILL do what I have to do to keep my families vehicles in running condition! As for having a vehicle that is not in running condition for more than 24 hours is so insane I have no words.
@9:25, when a can says "this product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer in humans", my first thought is boy, I'm glad I dont live in California. No risk of cancer here!
I think you really hit on something that we as citizens have failed to do. That is, our DUTY as citizens to participate, communicate, petition, whatever, so our voice is heard loud and clear by these legislators. If we don't insist on having some control, we won't have any say about these stupid laws.
We have those same people making gun laws too and they know even less about guns than they know about cars. I agree that I would never even consider buying a house in that neighborhood.
It's all about taking older and reliable cars off the roads and make people buy new, modern cars. Modern cars are designed to be put to a car dealer, even for some breake pads, cause you can't do it anymore. They need to be calibrated and the electromic "brain" has to be reset... You also need some special tools to change the spark plugs (if you're able to find them). The list goes on and on. Fix it as long as it runs!!!
They would fall over seeing the garage here. I'm a retired ASE Master Auto Tech. With a Advance Level Engine Performance Systems Specialist Certification. I would dare them to tell me I can't work on my own car. Inside or outside. I have roughly $80.000 of tools. To me that's my normal tools in home. LOL Thanks for the awesome videos.
What about changing the thermostat? On my Audi Quattro, you have to replace the entire housing (Which is plastic-ughh), which requires the removal of the fuel rail & injectors, upper coolant pipe, various vacuum hoses and the throttle body and intake manifold. So draining the coolant is necessary. However I have all the tools I need, being employed in maintenance and tool and die, and back in the day, I took 4 years of automotive repair, where my last class, you had to tear apart and rebuild an engine, and get it running to pass the course. So I have the gear to catch and handle any of the chemicals.
I am 65 years old and have through the years I have gathered and inherited a large number of tools. I feel like a normal person in rural America and am an apt DIY person. I read study and learn. Very considerate of others and my surroundings. What is normal? A young person probably won’t have the tools I have, my grandson asked me how I got all the tools I have. My answer, “Time, money and a Father who instilled within me a strong work ethic and also left me some wonderful tools, in which I have added to through my own years.” That is the normal way among those I know. I will leave my tools to my grandsons if they want them-that is normal. I live in rural America because I enjoy the freedom to live on my own property. You got it🎯-such laws are stupid.😎
I can't understand how anyone of a certain age doesn't have many of the tools he named. My surprise would be to not find them on the bulk of properties in the area I reside. These tools are falling off the shelves at Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, and on and on.
I live in Alaska, where everybody laughs at this stuff. I make my own tools, so the likelihood that any of them might be found at the house of my neighbors is vanishingly remote. I do have a lathe, milling machine, and heliarc welder at home so I’m probably prohibited from living in Sacramento. No great loss.
So you can't work on a vehicle in an agricultural area? I know some farmers that would be up in arms. It sounds like an HOA got control of their law making apparatus.
The ban in agricultural areas is ludicrous. Almost all farm equipment can be repaired on site, by definition any vehicles owned by a farm is farm equipment.
If you need a witness on the subject, I am available. Normally found in a residence? You would not believe my garage. Wood shop. Machine shop. Electronics shop. You name it. I have had a metal lathe for over 50 years. Now I have two. Milling machine. Table saw. Routers. Belt sander. Bench grinders. A collection of electric and electronic meters. An oscilloscope - no wait, TWO. Spectrum analyzers. I can measure distances down to millionths of an inch. Voltages to 0.05% and in my world, that is not very good. Oh, lets not forget chain saws. Some even come on a pole so you can reach the higher branches while standing on the ground. Almost any tool you can think of, I probably have and HAVE had for many years. I would make a great witness. Dangerous chemicals? How about laundry bleach? Or drain cleaner? I wouldn't drink the nail polish remover that the ladies use on their finger nails. Raid! Garden chemicals. The list goes on and on. And all available at our grocery, home improvement, and drug stores. Even children can buy most of them. Don't even ask me about the variety of chemicals I purchased as a teenager. Can you say whoosh and boom? Chemicals used for auto repairs are TAME by comparison. Focusing on auto repairs, I am not a big shade tree mechanic. But I have done my share of repairs. What is normal in a residence? Well, I have rebuilt carburetors. That is not an ever-day repair, but it can be done at home. I even had a carburetor problem on a trip on a Saturday afternoon; just too late to ever get a mechanic until Monday morning. I pulled over in an empty parking lot, took my tool chest out of the back and opened the hood. My wife was afraid we would be stuck all night. I took the carburetor off, cleaned it out, and replaced it. Replaced the tools in the back and cranked it up. We arrived at our motel for the evening in time to wash up and go out to a nice dinner and drove another 500 miles the next day. In fact, we drove at least another 2000 miles before returning home. My wife was impressed. I felt lucky, but I pulled it off. So what's unusual? I didn't think that was. My grandfather had a chain hoist in his garage and could pull an engine out. That was 50+ years ago. Unusual? Not really. Perhaps having a car up on blocks for months at at time is a bit much, but I can see one being repaired for a few days. Working people sometimes do not have the time to do it all at once. Beauty parlors wash women's hair, I guess men's too. Perhaps those neighborhoods should have laws against washing your own hair. Just read the list of ingredients on some of the chemicals they use. And talk about unattractive, ever see ..... Well, never mind.
