Homeowner's Associations

[lookout123]

WARNING: this is kind of a rant.

I am not particularly fond of HOAs but i did build my current home knowing that there was going to be one. i haven't had any trouble with them except for an occasional frustration when i find out about them ignoring violations for some people while absolutely harrassing some others. this has happened quite a bit since the last HOA elections put a whole new staff in place. their first action was to try and get everyone to petition to make us a gated community - we rejected it.

last week i got my normal bill for the HOA with a survey attached. we have a lot of common areas and a nice crushed granite walking trail that goes all around the neighborhood and up into the mountain. the survey was "should we seek legal action to prevent non-community members from walking our trails?" me being the even tempered individual that i am wrote back that if they had time to worry about who walked on our trails they might now have time to take notice of the guy on the corner who has 4 cars in the street, 2 in the driveway and a large rv in his side yard, when the rules clearly say no parking on the streets after 5 pm and no rv's are to be stored anywhere but the backyard. so in other words, do your damn jobs and quit worrying about who is walking on our rocks.

my house is the last one in the community and backs up to the mountain, state land and one non-community home who's owner is a friend of mine and an avid motocross type. next to his home are 5 acres of private property(he is co-owner) with nothing but dirt waiting for construction about 6 months out.

anyway, my wife and i were out front watching my 3 year old ride his quad last night. a couple of young guys pulled up to that 5 acres, unloaded their bikes and started riding around, jumping the dirtpiles and generally having a good time. on the far end of the nighborhood is another area of state land and they obviously wanted to go ride there too. they slowly drove their bikes up to my land and politely asked if they could cross and i told them it was ok. they stopped and talked to my son who was just in awe of them and they drove slowly down the street. about half a block down some guy and his wife, out walking their dogs stop them and next thing you know the guys start pushing their bikes back towards us hanging their heads. the couple and the guys got to me at the same time and i asked them if they ran out of gas (yes, me being a shit stirrer) the guys were polite, said no and walked away. the spoil sport guy walks out to the road to watch them load their bikes up. his wife walks up into my driveway with a smirk and starts going on about how her husband took care of them and how they can't be on our trails and streets. she just pissed me off so i went over to the riders and told them that the 5 acres is private, i know the owner and if they want to ride, they are very welcome to do so. they left anyway.

i walk up into my garage and the guy follows me and tells me how great he is for stopping them. i asked what kind of authority he had to stop a couple of guys innocently enjoying themselves. he puffed out his chest and announced "I'm the president of the HOA". he got extremely pissed when i told him that i'd heard enough and he'd better get off my land now. he started going on about his solemn duties and how he takes it serious. i tell him again to get off my property. his wife started getting all bitchy and i told her to get her husband AND her dogs off my property. she starts getting all hysterical about how i had better show some respect because her husband is a great man who cares for his community. not only is he the president of the HOA he is a cop. he again puffs up his chest as i stop for a moment looking all thoughtful, then i spoke:

me: Are you really a cop?

him: yes, 20+ years

me: then you had better get off my property now, because i really have no fucking use for you.

he turned beat red and stomped away.

i'll keep you posted on how many HOA and traffic violations i'm cited for in the coming months.