Township looking for ways to close illicit ‘used-car lot’

Five to 15 cars with ‘For Sale’ signs on them usually may be found parked at the far end of Hillsborough Township’s Park-and-Ride lot.

By: Alec Moore
   Township officials hope to shut down what appears to be an impromptu used-car lot in town.
   During recent Township Committee meetings, Mayor Joseph Tricarico has expressed disdain for the fact that anywhere between five to 15 cars with "For Sale" signs on them may be found parked at the far end of the township’s Park-and-Ride parking lot directly across from the Hillsborough post office.
   "We’re definitely going to stop this from happening," Mayor Tricarico said, regarding the multiple cars sales from the lot. "That parking lot was never designed to be a used-car lot," he added, pointing out that Township Attorney Emil Philibosian and Police Chief Robert Gazaway are looking into drafting an ordinance to put an end to the practice.
   The challenge town officials face is how to draft an effective ordinance making it illegal for people to sell cars on public parking lots without intruding on average citizens trying to sell a used car.
   Chief Gazaway said he and Mr. Philibosian are currently researching the most effective means to address the problem and have not yet hammered out a concrete outline for the proposed ordinance.
   "Right now we’re still in the research stage, but we should come up with something in about a month," the chief said.
   "Our concern is that you have a bunch of folks trying to sell their cars from a public parking lot," said Mr. Philibosian, who pointed out that the challenge the town is facing is putting the ordinance together without intruding on constitutional freedoms while prohibiting multiple car sales.
   Mr. Philibosian pointed out he is approaching the matter in terms of the legalities connected to the ordinance while Chief Gazaway is working with state officials in looking into possible enforcement measures.