Tried to wash my car in my driveway in Phoenix, got a $75 ticket for it

Apparently there's a city ordinance from 1953 that bans washing vehicles on any paved surface because of runoff, even though we're in a drought and I was using a bucket. Has anyone else gotten nailed by a law that made zero sense for your area?

3 comments

3 Comments

jadej5011d ago

My neighbor got hit with the same thing in Mesa last summer, $75 is the standard fine. If you fight it in court they'll usually drop it to a warning since the bucket method actually conserves water, just bring a photo of your setup. I started washing my car on the grass in my backyard instead, city can't touch you for watering your lawn.

ross.lily11d ago

@jadej50's grass idea works here too, like the bucket runoff just waters your yard while you scrub.

ray_williams10d ago

Does the city actually buy that excuse though? I've heard of people in Phoenix getting slapped with warnings just for hosing down their driveway, even if they were trying to save water. I get that the bucket method is smarter, but if the whole point of the fine is to stop waste, wouldn't they still hit you for any runoff at all? And if you fight it, do you really need to bring a photo, or can you just explain the system to the judge? I'm curious how hard they actually push back on this stuff.