COSTA MESA : Trade-In Proposal: Car Washes for Guns

The Police Department is reviewing a proposal to create the county’s first gun trade-in program--this one promising car washes for weapons.

Metro Car Wash owner Frank Bianchini said he wants to reward people who surrender their guns with a free car wash and wax job worth $50. He also wants to find donated sports tickets and other items so that he can give owners more than $200 in goods and services for each weapon.

Bianchini, who operates car washes in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana and Orange, said that a recent New York City offer of toys for guns inspired him to create the program. More than 1,000 people turned in pistols, assault rifles and other guns to New York authorities.

A gun exchange program in Los Angeles last December netted 110 rifles, 251 handguns, two assault rifles and 49 shotguns by giving people tickets to concerts and sports events.

Costa Mesa Police Chief David L. Snowden said Bianchini’s exchange program would be a county first, but he said it would probably do little to take guns away from gang members or criminals.

Bianchini agreed that criminals may cling to their guns. But he said he is also concerned about the many children who are wounded or killed accidentally after finding guns around the house and about the lovers who use guns to turn a quarrel into a slaying.

Snowden said the police could collect weapons at the station, or Bianchini could hire a licensed gun dealer to accept the weapons. The car wash owner is not legally certified to collect guns, Snowden said.

Bianchini said he wants even anonymous donors to get the car wash or other rewards. He promised to give out at least 400 car washes.

Bianchini said he is looking for support from Orange, Santa Ana and Huntington Beach city officials and businesses.

“I think the gentleman’s got an outstanding idea,” said Rick Pickering, assistant to the Costa Mesa city manager. “We just want to make sure that we do it right.”

Pickering said he would like the program to serve as a model, so that other cities and police departments could do the same thing. He said the city manager and City Council are waiting to hear Snowden’s opinion about the program before considering it.