Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Iowa

We moved about 6 months ago into a somewhat congested neighborhood. We have 5 cars and a small wells cargo trailer (parked in the drive) Two of vehicles belong to my fiancee (parked on the street) one of the vehicles being to his daughter (parked in the drive) and my vehicle (parked in the street). The fifth vehicle is a old corvette that is being restored (parked on the side of our house). All of the vehicles are registered, they all run and they are all in good shape.� Shortly after we moved in the police tagged 2 of our vehicles for no reason.

A few weeks later the police came to our house telling us that they had another complaint about our vehicles. The officer told us that the cars had to be moved every 24 hours. I contacted a relative that is on the city council and asked her how to check on the city ordinance.� That evening she spoke to an officer about our situation.� He explained to her that the cars needed to be moved at least one inch every 48 hours.� That is what we did and we took pictures every time we moved the vehicles. The police we're called a couple times.� I kept explaining to the officers that the cars was being moved as per city ordinance and pictures with date and time. For approximately 1 month things seemed to have calmed down. There was another complaint so an officer came to our house again, my fiance spoke to him. Then the very next day the police was called again. The chief of police (Eric) and another office came to our house. (I have known Eric for 25 years). I explained to him that the information that was given to me was 1 inch every 48 hours. He told me that since the department does not mark tires, therefore the vehicles needed to be rotated so that when they drive by it was visible that the cars had been moved. I was a little upset about this. Our cars was being moved as per city orordinance but the department doesn't mark tires therefore they could tag our vehicles for no reason. I was also upset that they was not doing anything about the person that keeps calling them. After some discussion he asked if we would please help him out and do what he was asking. We agreed to move the cars as he asked. At that time my car was on the south side of the driveway and his truck was on the north side of the drive. That afternoon we moved the trailer to a relatives house. Moved the car that is driven the least into the driveway. When we returned home from moving the trailer he parked his truck on the north side also. (This was on a Tuesday). Later that afternoon I ran to the store and a couple of other places. When I returned I parked in the same place. On Wednesday I had some things to do, when I parked I had to park in the exact same spot that I had been using. Thurs. at approximately 11:30 pm I had to go to CB (about 20 miles from my house) I got home at� 12:45 AM, parked on the south side of the drive. At 7:10 AM my car was tagged. When I called the police station nobody could give me a reason. I spoke to 3 people. I was told that I would have to speak to the officer that tagged it and he works the late shift. When I made contact with him he told me that his boss (chief of police Eric) told him to tag my car if it was parked with the tires turned toward the curb. I told him that my car had only been there for 6 hours and when I parked it I made sure to park on the south side. Again he stated he was doing what he was told to do. I was not able to contact Eric that afternoon by phone. I did send an e-mail.� When I spoke Eric on Saturday he confirmed that he has instructed the officer to tag my car if it was parked with the tires turned toward the curb. I asked why should I rotate vehicles if their going to be tagged no matter what and the only solution to prove the cars are being moved is to mark the tires. The drivers manual states to turn tires toward the curb. I told him that I had driven my car every day that week and it had only been parked for 6 his when it was tagged. I also made sure that I parked on the opposite side so it was visibly moved. At that point Eric realized that there was some miscommunication between him and the officer. He stated "So you parked on the south side", I said yes. He said he told the officer to tag it if it was parked behind the explorer with the tires turned toward the curb. I told him that I was still upset and frustrated with the whole situation and the complaints really need to be stopped especially since we have done everything that has been asked of us. He then told me who was making the complaints. I told him I really couldn't understand why.� A retired couple that has 1 vehicle. They have a 1 car garage and a longer driveway, but they park their vehicle in the street unless it's storming then it goes into the garage.� He guaranteed me that he would talk to them.

The following Thursday (yesterday) I spoke with Eric again another complaint had been made. I feel we are being harassed.� There is more to this than what I have explained.

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