‘We Are Not Junkyards’

This letter is in reference to an article in the Times, April 7, under the headline “More Than 20 Stolen Cars Discovered in Wrecking Yard.”

We have no quarrel with the article, as disturbing as the situation is to our association. Such things reflect most harshly on the other 100 law-abiding auto dismantling/recycling professionals who make up our association. However, we do resent most vigorously the repeated use of the word “junk” or “junkyard” in reference to us.

We are not “junkyards.” Our members are small businessmen with considerable investments in their product inventory-- totalled vehicles from which salvaged and recycled parts are offered for sale to the public at enormous savings.

When we are through removing the salvageable parts, we dispose of the remainder of that vehicle at a “junkyard,” crusher, shredder or what have you. All this is done under stringent regulations.

One further observation. The last sentence reads, “The mid-morning investigation was conducted under a state law that allows police to search wrecking yards without warrants.” We think this is misleading and should be clarified.

Under the California Vehicle Code, various law enforcement agencies investigating auto theft have the authority to inspect dismantling yards, dealerships, etc., for vehicle registration and compliance.

The key word here is “inspect.” Police do not have a blanket authority to “search without a warrant” without proper cause and authorization by the courts.

In other words, the article implies that dismantlers alone can be “searched without a warrant.” Not true. The law says any entity dealing in auto matters may be inspected. We in the dismantling industry find no fault with that. In fact, we encourage it.

HAROLD C. MARLOWE

Toluca Lake

Marlowe is executive director of the Valley Auto Dismantlers Association .