HOA Asks Vet to Remove Bumper Stickers

[NFS4]

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.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dp...er_fc_20090528_2518563

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: NFS4

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.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dp...er_fc_20090528_2518563

And after a long and expensive travel through the court system I expect this will be deemed a violation of the 1st ammendment and tossed.

 

[ggnl]

yet more evidence that we need to introduce a hunting season for HOA board members

 

[BoomerD]

This kind of shit, and the thread in P&N about the lady being forced to take down an American flag in her workplace, PISS ME OFF.

This guy not only should be allowed to put these bumperstickers on his vehicle, the fucking HOA should be required to wash his car every Saturday for a year for their stupidity.

 

[scott916]

I don't understand how HOA's can have this kind of power. Disgusting.

 

[Barfo]

Wow, asinine.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This kind of shit, and the thread in P&N about the lady being forced to take down an American flag in her workplace, PISS ME OFF.

This guy not only should be allowed to put these bumperstickers on his vehicle, the fucking HOA should be required to wash his car every Saturday for a year for their stupidity.

:thumbsup:

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: scott916
I don't understand how HOA's can have this kind of power. Disgusting.

Why people want to pay 30 years for a home that others can mandate how you live in it , what color its painted, and what you do outdoors, I will never know.

Just rent if you are going to live like that.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: scott916
I don't understand how HOA's can have this kind of power. Disgusting.

They don't, problem is they use your HOA dues to pay for the lawyers they threaten you with forcing you to spend more of your moeny on your own lawyer to fight them. On something like this the HOA will likely not prevail in the end but they count on bullying you into submission rather than a court fight.

Edit: We had some "mommie" come to one of out annual meetings one year to complain about someone with truck nuts on their truck. Other than getting a good laugh out of it we told her it was none of the HOA's business what a resident hangs off the trailer hitch of their truck. I suspect the HOA in the OP would have run with it.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This kind of shit, and the thread in P&N about the lady being forced to take down an American flag in her workplace, PISS ME OFF.

This guy not only should be allowed to put these bumperstickers on his vehicle, the fucking HOA should be required to wash his car every Saturday for a year for their stupidity.

:thumbsup:

From the sounds of it I seriously doubt anyone involved in sending the letter has served their country by being in the armed forces. Where do I send my angry email?

 

[nakedfrog]

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.

As long as they enforce it on these other people, then it seems fair, since these people knew what they were getting into with the HOA agreement. They're probably singling his car out because the seven Marine decals look a bit more gaudy than other stickers.
That said, I'm glad I don't live in an HOA area.

 

[racolvin]

too bad you can't countersue for legal fees, etc when it comes to HOA bullshit like this.

 

[acheron]

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This kind of shit, and the thread in P&N about the lady being forced to take down an American flag in her workplace, PISS ME OFF.

This guy not only should be allowed to put these bumperstickers on his vehicle, the fucking HOA should be required to wash his car every Saturday for a year for their stupidity.

:thumbsup:

From the sounds of it I seriously doubt anyone involved in sending the letter has served their country by being in the armed forces. Where do I send my angry email?

someone on this blog supposedly has an address and email.

I am only linking to a random blog, I endorse nothing.

 

[Platypus]

lol HOA

 

[jpeyton]

One or two bumper stickers? That's just fine.

A small desk-sized flag? That's just fine.

Having a few people over for Bible study? That's just fine.

What's not fine is that these imbeciles insist on OVERDOING IT.

Seven bumper stickers plastered all over your car? Tacky.

A 5x3 foot flag in your employer's shared office space? Tacky.

Having 15 people over for weekly Bible study creating parking issues? Tacky.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: scott916
I don't understand how HOA's can have this kind of power. Disgusting.

Why people want to pay 30 years for a home that others can mandate how you live in it , what color its painted, and what you do outdoors, I will never know.

Just rent if you are going to live like that.

this is my thought as well. i will never ever live in a HOA.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: acheron

Originally posted by: Exterous

Originally posted by: BoomerD
This kind of shit, and the thread in P&N about the lady being forced to take down an American flag in her workplace, PISS ME OFF.

This guy not only should be allowed to put these bumperstickers on his vehicle, the fucking HOA should be required to wash his car every Saturday for a year for their stupidity.

:thumbsup:

From the sounds of it I seriously doubt anyone involved in sending the letter has served their country by being in the armed forces. Where do I send my angry email?

someone on this blog supposedly has an address and email.

I am only linking to a random blog, I endorse nothing.

And email

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

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.

As long as they enforce it on these other people, then it seems fair, since these people knew what they were getting into with the HOA agreement. They're probably singling his car out because the seven Marine decals look a bit more gaudy than other stickers.
That said, I'm glad I don't live in an HOA area.

Why would you assume that? I bet 99% of the people reading that in an HOA agreement would think it meant those magnetic signs or stickers people put on the side of their car for a small side business, not bumper stickers. Taking it to that extreme would mean that everyone in the community that has a dealer decal/emblem or tag holder on their car is violating the HOA rules.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I just don't get what's wrong with people. Even when I'm just sitting at home alone doing nothing, I have better shit to do that poke around in other people's business. HOA's should be limited to maintaining common areas and providing common services (ex. trash pickup). Beyond that, they should have no authority at all. If you don't like my flag or bumper sticker or political sign, take it up with your town and have them create an ordinance.

 

[spidey07]

There's a picture in the link. Looks good! That HOA members needs to be publicly stoned.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
One or two bumper stickers? That's just fine.

A small desk-sized flag? That's just fine.

Having a few people over for Bible study? That's just fine.

What's not fine is that these imbeciles insist on OVERDOING IT.

Seven bumper stickers plastered all over your car? Tacky.

A 5x3 foot flag in your employer's shared office space? Tacky.

Having 15 people over for weekly Bible study creating parking issues? Tacky.

didn't realize tacky was illegal in the US

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
One or two bumper stickers? That's just fine.

A small desk-sized flag? That's just fine.

Having a few people over for Bible study? That's just fine.

What's not fine is that these imbeciles insist on OVERDOING IT.

Seven bumper stickers plastered all over your car? Tacky.

A 5x3 foot flag in your employer's shared office space? Tacky.

Having 15 people over for weekly Bible study creating parking issues? Tacky.

I wondered how long it would take this jackass to show up. You need to be faster, troll.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
One or two bumper stickers? That's just fine.

A small desk-sized flag? That's just fine.

Having a few people over for Bible study? That's just fine.

What's not fine is that these imbeciles insist on OVERDOING IT.

Seven bumper stickers plastered all over your car? Tacky.

A 5x3 foot flag in your employer's shared office space? Tacky.

Having 15 people over for weekly Bible study creating parking issues? Tacky.

Liberty is all about the right to be tacky if you want. Some might think that foaming at the mouth rants in political forums are tacky but you have every right to engage in them if you so desire. As long as the bumper stickers on his vehicle do not violate state law they are really none of your or the HOA's business.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: jpeyton
One or two bumper stickers? That's just fine.

A small desk-sized flag? That's just fine.

Having a few people over for Bible study? That's just fine.

What's not fine is that these imbeciles insist on OVERDOING IT.

Seven bumper stickers plastered all over your car? Tacky.

A 5x3 foot flag in your employer's shared office space? Tacky.

Having 15 people over for weekly Bible study creating parking issues? Tacky.

didn't realize tacky was illegal in the US

You have freedom of speech, as long as you agree with us.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

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.

As long as they enforce it on these other people, then it seems fair, since these people knew what they were getting into with the HOA agreement. They're probably singling his car out because the seven Marine decals look a bit more gaudy than other stickers.
That said, I'm glad I don't live in an HOA area.

Why would you assume that? I bet 99% of the people reading that in an HOA agreement would think it meant those magnetic signs or stickers people put on the side of their car for a small side business, not bumper stickers. Taking it to that extreme would mean that everyone in the community that has a dealer decal/emblem or tag holder on their car is violating the HOA rules.

Why would I assume what?
I bet 99% of the people didn't even read the HOA agreement. And yes, you're right.