Marine's bumper stickers anger HOA

[commanding]

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




Vet's Patriotic Stickers Under Fire
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.



Some of these Home Owners Associations are just way out of line, they should see the bumper stickers on my truck! They would sh1t a brick!

[Invisigoth]

How does a Home Owners Association have any power over what he puts on his vehicle? :|

[Evolv5]

How does a Home Owners Association have any power over what he puts on his vehicle? :|

Unless he lives in his truck of course. This is quite ridiculous.

[MaverickCowboy]

send those outraged to the Taliban sympathizers.

[JKD]

The Woodlands II on The Creek

Sometimes I wonder what these people are smoking when they name some of these subdivisions.

[PeterRJG]

How does a Home Owners Association have any power over what he puts on his vehicle? :|

A lot of these outfits won't let you park a vehicle on their grounds if it doesn't meet their "standards". Every apartment block that I lived in DFW had clauses in their leases stipulating how vehicles should look.

It's just this outfit being a dunghill ****.

[I can't think of a name]

How does a Home Owners Association have any power over what he puts on his vehicle? :|

Whoever built it put certain clauses in the contract when you buy a property there. These are rules meant to make the community look neat.

It forces homeowners to keep their front yards kept up and not leave Cars and Trailers outside year round. This is the US, if you did not have it people would be parking boats on their front lawn and letting the grass die. Or put an ulgy ass old car they cannot sell on the street out front. It would make the whole community look bad and hurt home values.

In this case I bet the car is a little over done in the bumper sticker department and the Jarheads garage is full of junk so he leaves his car outside year round. Growing up my parents never accumulated so much junk so that we could never put our cars in there.

[Soldat_Américain]

Dude...this is why I think Home Owners Associations are a freakin' crock...and you have to be a part of them if you move into a certain area which I find is bull****.

[Hot Lips]

How does a Home Owners Association have any power over what he puts on his vehicle? :|

I think it's one of those 'careful what you ask for' (or agree to) situations. When you agree to the HOA rules in order to "keep the riff raff" out of your neighborhood and protect the value of your home, it sometimes comes back to bite you.

But the fact that others have bumperstickers on their cars shows the HOA likely isn't being consistant in enforcing their and that should work against them. He's probably done something to draw more attention to himself though.

Where is Hank when we need him?


Dude...this is why I think Home Owners Associations are a freakin' crock...and you have to be a part of them if you move into a certain area which I find is bull****.

Plenty of other places to live. The HOA results are usually what help inspire people to want to live in those areas.

[Red_Rage]

Respect to the Marine. But putting bumper stickers on cars is just so....redneck, for the lack of better word. Also, those stupid ribbons - nothing more annoying than seeing a nice Lexus with a freaking "Run for Cure" ribbon-sticker. "Support the Troops" stickers are usually on shyttiest cars on the road, which spew black smoke and have peices of rust falling off of them.

"Hey, I'm going to put bunch of bumper stickers on my car, so the whole world can see my beliefs and what I am about...Neat!"

[offspring]

well one could say owning a ford or chevy is an advertisement in this argument.....where is the common sense in this world these days?

[Soldat_Américain]

Plenty of other places to live. The HOA results are usually what help inspire people to want to live in those areas.
What's funny is the amount per month some of these places charge...For the services my parents get, they receive a lot for their money, front yard work every Tuesday morning and a pool to go to. Thing I never liked was having to walk to get my mail. I just think they have other fish to fry then go after a Vietnam vet's patriotism.

[Hollis]

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




Some of these Home Owners Associations are just way out of line, they should see the bumper stickers on my truck! They would sh1t a brick!

I basically agree, but........... It really pays to read a contract or have a lawyer do it before one signs it. I would expect the man to keep his word.

[Parx400]

7 bumper stickers is over kill on any car.

[USMC29]

The HOA in my neighborhood came around and told me I couldn't hang my U.S. flag and my USMC flag at the same time. The HOA is pretty much a bunch of women who have a lot of time on their hands and pick out little details to bi*ch about. They did not bother me after I had a few choice words with them at my front door.

[USMC29]

7 bumper stickers is over kill on any car.

exactly. KILL BODIES!!!SEMPERFI!!CHESTYPULLER!!

[California Joe]

This smacks of FOX doing their usual "OMFG, liberal assholes hating Vets" type story.

Chances are that there's a bit more to the story. Frank has obviously pissed off the HOA over more than this. This is probably them being petty and vindictive in return.

Frankly, I say he should be allowed to have all of the goddamned bumper stickers he wants. He earned it. My friend Fred has all kinds of SEAL/UDT stuff on his jeep allong with his purple heart license plate. Some guys just dig bumper stickers as a way of making a statement and showing support for their chosen profession. Especially if there's evidence of other bumperstickers all over cars.

That being said, signed agreements are contracts and some of these HOAs can be Nazis about compliance.

[LineDoggie]

well one could say owning a ford or chevy is an advertisement in this argument.....where is the common sense in this world these days?

Even Better, if one has a Dealers plate cover or those Dealers name chrome pieces attached to the trunk, that is blatent advertisement.

And I'd bet every single one of the HOA board members have one on their Vehicle and dont even know it.

[Gleipnir]

This is just sad.
Nosy busy bodies. There must be more to this story, I find it hard to believe that anyone would have a problem with this. Time to go to court?

[Abolith]

Dude...this is why I think Home Owners Associations are a freakin' crock...and you have to be a part of them if you move into a certain area which I find is bull****.

My buddy had his house before the HOA was formed around him, so he was the only person who wasn't required to follow the HOA rules, he never signed a contract.. hehehe He had alot of fun. They sent him letter after letter and they never could make him change anything.

[deagle]

yet, homeowners association reps advertise all the time.

[Blue_0]

My buddy had his house before the HOA was formed around him, so he was the only person who wasn't required to follow the HOA rules, he never signed a contract.. hehehe He had alot of fun. They sent him letter after letter and they never could make him change anything.

Hehe, nice! The kind of thing pleasent dreams are made of!

-- Bluelight

[seraosha]

I live pretty close to where the article was written...notice something?
"The Woodlands..." What other community do you know where "The" is actually part of the name?
They are pretty uptight out there.

[Far]

Nothing that a little C4 under their golfcarts won't fix. A bunch of old people with nothing better to do than mettle.
That's why I don't live in communities like that.

[commanding]

Sometimes I wonder what these people are smoking when they name some of these subdivisions.

JKD, there is one thing you and I can agree on buddy...we may disagree on the waterboarding thing..but these names for subdivisions and streets, sound like they are trying to come from the old English countryside, they slay me. rofl Lamplighter Estates, etc. They should give them historical names or names of local historic landmarks IMHO. Good old fashioned American names, or even Native American names would be fine with me.

[California Joe]

Haha, when I lived in Virginia I lived in Peppermill Estates....:)

[IraGlacialis]

JKD, there is one thing you and I can agree on buddy...we may disagree on the waterboarding thing..but these names for subdivisions and streets, sound like they are trying to come from the old English countryside, they slay me. rofl Lamplighter Estates, etc. They should give them historical names or names of local historic landmarks IMHO. Good old fashioned American names, or even Native American names would be fine with me.
IMHO, they can keep their ridiculous names, and rules in that matter.
Historic figures and landmarks don't need to have thier names attached to cookie-cutter pieces of ****.

As for the issue, HOAs do tend to be quite power-hungry, but rules are rules and a contract was signed. Which is why we don't live in such places anyways.

[LaoSexMachine]

I live pretty close to where the article was written...notice something?
"The Woodlands..." What other community do you know where "The" is actually part of the name?
They are pretty uptight out there.


The Woodlands Mall is the 'MILF' mall.

[commanding]

Here is another news source article on the same story/episode, with a photo of the man and part of his truck. there is some amazing stuff in this article from other Home Owners associations:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-ragland_27met.ART.State.Edition1.50fc6cf.html

I got a pretty good chuckle out of the HOA rule that says if your truck is not a luxury truck, it has to be parked in your garage...so some dude got his butt in a sling over parking his Ford F150 in the driveway.

[Hollis]

Here is another news source article on the same story/episode, with a photo of the man and part of his truck. there is some amazing stuff in this article from other Home Owners associations:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-ragland_27met.ART.State.Edition1.50fc6cf.html

I got a pretty good chuckle out of the HOA rule that says if your truck is not a luxury truck, it has to be parked in your garage...so some dude got his butt in a sling over parking his Ford F150 in the driveway.


I think reading what I have of the HOA agreement, I would not live there.

Sadly a lot people will buy homes and never do any research at all, on zoning, on HOA agreements, on etc....... The after they moved in, they realize it was a mistake.

[JKD]

JKD, there is one thing you and I can agree on buddy...we may disagree on the waterboarding thing..but these names for subdivisions and streets, sound like they are trying to come from the old English countryside, they slay me. rofl Lamplighter Estates, etc. They should give them historical names or names of local historic landmarks IMHO. Good old fashioned American names, or even Native American names would be fine with me.

Lately around here they're going for the Spanglish sounding names like Mesa Village, which is no where near a mesa and Rancho Vista which was never a ranch and has no view.

[commanding]

Another article on the man with the Marines bumper stickers:

http://www.examiner.com/x-10697-SF-Autos-Examiner~y2009m5d28-HOA-tells-veteran-to-scrape-off-Marine-Corps-BumperstickersOr-else


http://i40.tinypic.com/2n1cokg.jpg

[LaoSexMachine]

I seen worse. The only thing I have is a 3x5 3rd Mar. Div. sticker.

[CG51]

That is not tacky at all. Seems like they have nothing to do with their life if they are bitching about that.

You should see some of the cars and trucks here in Fl. Some look like the bumper stickers are all that are holding them together.

[LineDoggie]

Another article on the man with the Marines bumper stickers:

http://www.examiner.com/x-10697-SF-Autos-Examiner~y2009m5d28-HOA-tells-veteran-to-scrape-off-Marine-Corps-BumperstickersOr-else


http://i40.tinypic.com/2n1cokg.jpg Thats "Advertising"?

Thats Pretty mild compared to most

[USMCRTop]

I live in a very liberal area ("another mother for peace", etc.) I have "If you can read this, thank a teacher, If its in english, thank a veteran" bumper sticker and I get looks all the time-another parent at my kid's school has "rfleman" as a license plate and he tells me the same thing

[SoSo]

Homeowners associations are a real pain in the ass. I know mine is. Obviously there have to be some standards, or the white trash would put their junked cars up on blocks and let oil stains form in the parking lot. But they really do nitpick, and it drives me crazy sometimes. It's because the people who serve in these associations tend to be people with too much free time. If there was a law requiring anyone serving in a homeowners' association to have a full-time job, we'd be rid of the nosy people with too much time on their hands, who go out of their way to find something to criticize.

[Walter Sobchak]

The HOA in my neighborhood came around and told me I couldn't hang my U.S. flag and my USMC flag at the same time. The HOA is pretty much a bunch of women who have a lot of time on their hands and pick out little details to bi*ch about. They did not bother me after I had a few choice words with them at my front door.

The "HOA Covenants" can be amended. In the last place I lived, someone got a bug up their a** about flags when they wrote the first ones; they restricted them to temporary poles, not to exceed blah-blah, displaying a flag not over 36" long... had to be removed at sundown... no state or sports team or military organization flags, etc. Too many transplanted northeastern and left coast lawyers on that original board.

As the neighborhood grew and native Texans moved in, of course some put up permanent flag poles (real ones with a halyard), flew larger flags and flew the Lone Star flag, as well as the obligatory Marine Corps flag. Some Aggies even flew their flag.

When we started getting nasty letters and threats of lawsuits, about 15 of us stood for the HOA board. We proposed a set of revised covenants and forced an election, by which the new revised covenants passed.

Vox Populi! It's not just a Latin phrase...

[len173]

WTF?

He must live in a strata or something? This is why I'd never live in an area that fell under HOA rules.

Anyone who comes on my property and attempts to tell me what I can and can't say, or do on my land or vehicle will get a big F*** off and a 30 second head start before I introduce my German Shepherd.

[oldspice]

I got a pretty good chuckle out of the HOA rule that says if your truck is not a luxury truck, it has to be parked in your garage...so some dude got his butt in a sling over parking his Ford F150 in the driveway.

This happened down here in Florida, off the Atlantic coast in one of those really uppity, nice communities. The HOA banned all trucks, all of them. There were some really angry people on the news. That was years ago, and I don't remember the reasoning behind it.

[vryhpyammoadded]

HOA Nazi’s, the bane of my former urban life. They’re yet another reason why I moved to the sticks. Hell, I just might throw a Mustang up on cinderblocks in celebration. Maybe I’ll sprinkle a few appliances around it too.

[hank2222]

my did the same thing but is was about painting the house the same color as in the conact with the hoa people..
we paint the house as they said but the color did not come out right and they where sending people letters to repaint there homes or they would have someone come in and paint them for us and charge us for it..
the people that did the first version of the house paint use a high end typle paint and had it custom mixed for the homes that where being sold..
we sent a letter to the people that did the first version of the painting company and they sent a person to tell the board that there version of the paint is a cheap wall-mart brand and use the right brand next time and get the good high end paint and it would look right when the house was repainted..
another time the hoa pres told me in a letter i was haveing to many late night female vistors at my place after work and that i need to stop haveing guest over after midnight hour..
so when about thirty people got that letter we all made plans to be at the next hoa metting and have a little chat with them about the people and there rights to have people over at diff hours of the day..
they had there lawyer there and when he found out what they had did he got up and walked out the door after telling the women that he was done with her and her supid ways..he stoped at one of the people that had gotten a letter and told them to call for a vote and vote her out and put someone else in place
we called for a vote to get rid of her and the board right then and there and voted in a new board people with some common sense ..
after that it was not a bad place to live after her and her friends was gone

[hank2222]

it was funny that some are ok and some are just total supid people that can not get the act togerther..
i allways thought if i buy another house where there is a h.o.a typle there i would just shoot myself to save me the trouble when dealing with those people..
most of the hoa pres typles are old women that have noneing to do all day but sit around and try to screw with people about little piss-ant things..

[commanding]

The "HOA Covenants" can be amended. In the last place I lived, someone got a bug up their a** about flags when they wrote the first ones; they restricted them to temporary poles, not to exceed blah-blah, displaying a flag not over 36" long... had to be removed at sundown... no state or sports team or military organization flags, etc. Too many transplanted northeastern and left coast lawyers on that original board.

As the neighborhood grew and native Texans moved in, of course some put up permanent flag poles (real ones with a halyard), flew larger flags and flew the Lone Star flag, as well as the obligatory Marine Corps flag. Some Aggies even flew their flag.

When we started getting nasty letters and threats of lawsuits, about 15 of us stood for the HOA board. We proposed a set of revised covenants and forced an election, by which the new revised covenants passed.

Vox Populi! It's not just a Latin phrase...

Good story!! as a student of old west history, in my reading I found that famed gunman and western icon Bat Masterson published a newspaper that had one issue only, the name of the paper was Vox Populi. thought of that when you mentioned it.

[commanding]

okay, my story now. We moved to our house where we are now, 23 years ago, back then it was in the boonies...no streetlights yet, coyotes, about 20 houses were all that were here and we were maybe 2 miles beyond the outer settlements of the burbs. But it was a beautiful bunch of homes, a very wide winding street (60 foot right of way) and we bought the house. No home owners association.

In the intervening 23 years, a HOA formed. They started writing rules and regulations, but dues were voluntary. We paid dues and all was well. Later they wanted to vote to amend the HOA rules to mandatory dues...but in order to get it passed, they included a "grandfather clause" that homeowners in existing homes were not required to pay dues each year. So we voted for it. We have had no trouble with our HOA and have not paid dues in years, since the cost went double what it was originally.
Basically, IMHO the HOA should care for common property (entries, flowerbeds at entries and common areas, tree triming on common areas, etc and rely on property restrictions and city statutes to control unwanted structures on private property and leave the small items alone.

[XShipRider]

Dude...this is why I think Home Owners Associations are a freakin' crock...and you have to be a part of them if you move into a certain area which I find is bull****.

Agreed. Now here's a fight the illustrious ACLU should take up for this homeowner. They take up fights for t-shirts on school teens, why not this guy's fight?

Here's the kicker being considered for Ohio; It would take a unanimous vote to dissolve one. Normal votes to change by-laws and such would only require a 3/4 majority. Imagine, all it would take is one jerk-off to be the naysayer, holding everyone else hostage. Unbelieveable.

Ohio Considers HOA Law - H.B. 220 (http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_220) Old as this is, it still gets kicked around from time to time. Probably not the best time to suggest this wonderful bill with the housing market in the toilet and all.

[Hot Lips]

What if this were a vehicle with anti-war, anti-military, etc decals on it? Would the HOA be vilified then? The rules are agreed to by those who choose to live there for a reason. Everyone seems to like rules until it doesn't work for what personally perceive to be an exception.

I know of communities that have rules about the colors you can paint your home. And people complain about it right up until strangers move in to their community and start painting homes bright mint green, hot pink, bright orange, etc and then sellers are faced with buyers that "dont' want to live next to or within sight of that house".

It's great that he's so proud of his service and wants to promote support of the troops... as long as he's OK with others doing the same with what they want to support as well. If not, that may be why he chose to live were there is a HOA to begin with?

[LineDoggie]

The Issue is the Marine Decals are considered Advertising.

Almost every Automobile has a Dealers Plate Cover and or a Dealers Decal/Chrome Nameplate on them. Most Vehicle owners dont even notice it

So, It is selective on what this HOA is choosing to enforce.

The Rules are clear, All such advertising then has to be removed. Have a Mercedes, Sorry, the little Mercedes emblem is advertising


See how that can be argued.

[Hot Lips]

Did I miss a link to their official rules?

There may be a distinction between decals and plate covers, but certainly they could probably flag those for exclusion as an advertisement as well. Unless perhaps it came assembled with the vehicle.

The official emblem is part of a vehicle. If a Lexus decal was placed on a Saturn vehicle, it could be declared an advertisement because it is not an assembled part of the product. So, no, I don't see how you could successfully argue that as a matter of law.

[martinexsquaddie]

cretins many many years lived my mum on a private road had a residents committee similar to a HOA but no power except to send nasty letters.
When my mother who was a district nurse had broken her car again she had a pool car for with East Sussex health authority.
so got a nasty letter about no trade vehicles parked in the close.
That weekend I was away with the TA don't like trade vehicles guess there love a company's worth of four tonners and landowners turning up for tea. little Hitler who ran the residents committee went berserk :) organized an emergency special meeting.
Where much to his surprise several elderly retired army officers took turns to insult and belittle him. and kicked him and his mates off the committee

[3rdMillhouse]

Goddamned communists, what kind of world is this in which an old veteran can't even express his patriotism anymore. That red cancer still lies everywhere.