$50 fine for USMC bumper stickers... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jplinville · #1 05-29-2009, 10:33 AM

What a crock of crap!

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/national/dpgo_HOA_Asks_Vet_to_Remove_Bumper_fc_20090528_2518563

Vet's Patriotic Stickers
Under Fire

Published : Wednesday, 27 May 2009, 10:45 PM CDT

DALLAS - Frank Larison is a disabled veteran with more than 14 years of service, including more than a year of combat duty in Vietnam.
The 58-year-old former Marine now finds himself under attack by his Dallas homeowners association for displaying seven decals on his vehicle supporting the Marine Corps.
"To me, it's being patriotic, and it shows that I served," the veteran told FOX 4.
The board says the decals are advertisements that violate HOA rules, and must be covered or removed.
Otherwise, the homeowners association for The Woodlands II on The Creek --- where Larimore has lived for eight years --- says in a letter it will tow the car at Larimore's expense. The board also threatens to fine him $50 for any future incident.
Larimore says the decals, ranging from the Marine emblem to Semper Fi slogans, aren't advertisements for anything. "You can't buy freedom," he reasoned.
Some neighbors are outraged.
"That is his identity," said neighbor Mary Castagna. "He goes to a lot of the veteran meetings, and it means a lot to him. Everyone else agrees with it; it doesn't bother anybody."
"He's in the Marines, and he's proud of it, and I don't blame him," said neighbor Paul Hardy. "If I'd gone through what he's gone through, I'd be kind of proud of it myself."
The letter from the board states you can't have any form of advertisement anywhere on your car on your property. FOX 4 cameras spotted bumper stickers for political parties, health causes, and other non-commercial interests on the property as well.
One board member said he was unaware the HOA presidents sent the letter and did not know of any issue with Larimore's vehicle.
"I will be looking into it," said board member Art Bradford. "I didn't know anything about this. I haven't seen this."
The board president was out of town and unavailable. The condo management company did not want to comment.

TX76513 · #2 05-29-2009, 10:36 AM

Another out of control HOA - don't get me started.

JollyRoger · #3 05-29-2009, 10:43 AM

Most of Texas does not have zoning, everything works off of home owner's associations which set the rules on what the aesthetic values are for the neighborhood. When you buy a house, you sign a contract that explicitly states what the rules are, and you agree to fines and even foreclosure on your home if you violate them. One of the more irritating kooks we have here in Texas is the "abortion nut" and the "relgious kook", both of whom festoon their cars with bumperstickers of warnings of damnation for service to the Anti-Christ, they are the worst examples, but we also have the "save the whales nut" on the Left who festoons his VW microbus with stickers proclaiming planetary love. It is because of these kooks, who park these eyesores in our neighborhoods, and being the self-centered pricks that they are, always seem to park them where everyone can have it imposed on them, that we have these rules. My guess is this guy is one of these nuts, whose love of the Mighty Corp causes him to cover his car with Semper Fi graffitti to the point his neighbors, who probably all patriotically love the Mighty Corp, have found it to be an eyesore. If the guy doesn't like it, he is free to move to another neighborhood that has a homeowners agreement that allows kooks to fly their flags and cover their trucks with pictures of dead fetuses. Most of those are outside of town, just turn at the first trailer on your right.

Kuan · #4 05-29-2009, 10:44 AM

My guess is he'll end up winning.

Fulcrum525 · #5 05-29-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Another out of control HOA - don't get me started.

Wheres The Don? I hear he's organizing a crusade against all HOA's

TX76513 · #6 05-29-2009, 10:55 AM

J-R you are right and people seek sanctuary in these HOA areas. Just to often there seems to be one of those "kooks" on the HOA board. The one that takes every detail of the covenants to the letter. They do show the guys PT Cruiser in the Video - not that bad, actually better than what I was thinking. I've seen more soccer balls on mini vans than that.

jplinville · #7 05-29-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

J-R you are right and people seek sanctuary in these HOA areas. Just to often there seems to be one of those "kooks" on the HOA board. The one that takes every detail of the covenants to the letter. They do show the guys PT Cruiser in the Video - not that bad, actually better than what I was thinking. I've seen more soccer balls on mini vans than that.

It's actually a Chevy HHR

R Leo · #8 05-29-2009, 11:08 AM

It strikes me as pretty much a First Amendment right so, I seriously doubt that city zoning could legally control bumper stickers.

That said, I'd have one that said "HOAs Suck!"

TX76513 · #9 05-29-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

It's actually a Chevy HHR

Yup - correct, didn't have my Granny Specs on

Fulcrum525 · #10 05-29-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

It's actually a Chevy HHR

To be honest i've never been able to really tell the difference between the two....

Txjake · #11 05-29-2009, 11:32 AM

After watching this, it appears that there are many vehicles with "advertising" on them. my guess is that unless the fascist HOA demands that ALL cars with stickers remove them, then they will be SOL... Stupid rule, and this is not some high zoot neighborhood with million dollar houses; looks like a fancy quasi apartment complex. Methinks the HOA just has a hard-on against the military. most likely "offends" their delicate Code Pink sensibilities....

OldPokey · #12 05-29-2009, 11:38 AM

Hosed HOA. Those kinds of regulations are there to prevent residents from using common property to park commercial vehicles. This is just a board with an axe to grind - I'll bet this isn't the first confrontation between them.

lutzTD · #13 05-29-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

To be honest i've never been able to really tell the difference between the two....

Ive never had enough interest in either to care. they are both too fugly to comprehend the attraction.

As for the HOA, just have a lawyer send a letter, their is not a single HOA out there that can afford to go to court and not a single board member who wants to be personally liable for a HOA decision. sock it to em....

JollyRoger · #14 05-29-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

It strikes me as pretty much a First Amendment right so, I seriously doubt that city zoning could legally control bumper stickers.

That said, I'd have one that said "HOAs Suck!"

How does a "right" overrule a signed contract? When I sign confidentiality agreements with my clients, can I ignore it's terms under a claim of "Free Speech" ? How about an enlistment contract with the Army? Can I fly a communist flag from my tank? Contracts define what your rights are in a given situation, most of the time you are signing your usual rights away when you sign one. These aren't "zoning laws", they are legal contracts between you and the Home Owner's Association. They keep out people who park old refrigerators out on the porch or who want to paint a swastika on their lawn. It's a good way to do it, you can pick and choose the kind of neighborhood you want to live in. This guy signed a contract prohibiting advertising on his vehicles. He needs to abide by it or go to court, the idea someone is "violating his rights" is ridiculous, he has a right to go live somewhere else where his behavior doesn't bother his neighbors.

Mistress · #15 05-29-2009, 12:35 PM

HOA- Nazi's with no fashion sense.