Photo by dullshik

CORRECTION: The announcement this morning was to enact regulations targeting auto repair and tow lot operators – not used car sales. Which makes my comparison below more or less moot, since Barry is focusing on the used car sales lots. Mea culpa.

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) on Friday announced his intention to introduce emergency legislation this week that would prevent the city from enacting its tough new restrictions on the sales of used automobiles, a pet project of Mayor Adrian Fenty. The crackdown, Barry argues, is likely to hurt legitimate businesses and residents who need used cars. For his part, Fenty has been steadfast in his plan to clean up the shady used car lots that once peppered parts of the city, convinced they were largely fronts for the resale of stolen vehicles around the region.

Well it seems Fenty isn’t waiting for the outcome of tomorrow’s D.C. Council legislative session to enact fully all the new used auto sales regulations he’s had planned. In a strongly-worded release today, the mayor announced the regulations would be enacted immediately. From the release:

“The residents of the District of Columbia deserve high quality and professional auto repair services in their own neighborhoods,” Fenty said. “However, residents do not want businesses that expand their operations onto sidewalks and in alleys and turn city streets into veritable ‘chop shops.’”

Today’s announcement kicks off what will be a 30-day citywide sweep of more than 179 licensed auto repair shops and 22 tow lot operators across the city. In an initial sweep on May 1, DCRA placarded six auto repair shops for violations and DPW towed 45 vehicles from four lots.

The strict regulations had always been planned to go into effect this week, but have to wonder whether the mayor’s show of force today might only serve to embitter a few more D.C. Council members by tomorrow morning.