Fire truck must go; proceeds to benefit fire N.C. department

By Kara Lopp
The Charlotte Observer (N.C.)

PINEVILLE, N.C. — A 1975 firetruck that town officials say violates a local ordinance is bound for Winchester, Va.

The truck's owner, State Farm Insurance agent Darin Morton, said he sold it last week to another State Farm agent for $7,500. Morton has kept the truck, with gold lettering giving his business information, in Pineville for six years. He moved his office, and firetruck, from Feldfarm Lane to Main Street in November.

A farewell party for the truck will be 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Morton's office, 618 Main St., and keys to the fully functioning vehicle will be handed over to its new owner. A portion of the proceeds from selling the truck will be donated to the Pineville-Morrow Volunteer Fire Department, Morton said.

The town's Board of Adjustment gave Morton one month to either hide the truck from passersby or get rid of it. After a few sleepless nights, Morton decided on the latter, he said.

"A firetruck's not an Easter egg and it's not easy (to hide)," he said.

Morton was cited in February for violating the town's zoning ordinance, which prohibits "vehicular signage."

Kevin Icard, Pineville zoning administrator, knew about Morton's truck when it was parked at its previous location, but it didn't violate the zoning ordinance then because it was mostly hidden by evergreen shrubs, he said.

The ordinance makes the entire vehicle, not just the lettering, a violation because it's a vehicle normally owned by a fire department — not an individual — being used as a sign to advertise the insurance company, he said.

Only parked vehicles — not those traveling through Pineville — are subject to the ordinance, Icard said.

Morton said he is now considering buying a car, made over with a NASCAR theme.

Icard said he doesn't know if the new vehicle would comply with the ordinance because he hasn't talked with Morton about his plans.

Though Morton admits he doesn't understand the ordinance, he's happy to comply.

"Pineville says it OK for me to have a vehicle with signage on it, it just can't be a firetruck," he said. "...It's a gray area, but Pineville gets to determine the shade of gray."

Before the firetruck can leave Pineville, though, Morton is taking it on a few more trips — including visits to local families who have used the truck at children's birthday parties. Tuesday night included a stop at the home of Joshua and Kathleen Jackson in Matthews. Their son, Patrick, 4, had the firetruck at his birthday party in June.

It was at least the fifth stop of the day for the firetruck.

"I'll probably be out in it a lot this week," Morton said.