My Homeowner association requesting Ron Paul yard signs be taken down!!!

[Eponym_mi]

It seems to me the worst that could happen is them taking you to court. They might win and you might have to take the sign down and pay their legal expenses, but by then, the primary might be over. You might have some pissed off neighbors too. I guess it depends on how much you think they'd push it and your perception of the risks.

 

[mcgraw_wv]

The system sucks.. Where is the freedom of expression ? You can't even put up a sign who you support where you live because of a stupid association..

Communism


.

The point of a HOA, is to band together in order to maximize your property value. It's not forced, no one forces anyone to move into one, its a collective agreement that takes into account what makes the most sense for property value preservation for all... which typically removes most individual expression...

But it's choice... no one forces anyone to live in one.

 

[Dorfsmith]

Find a way around the rule. Put your sign in your front window or something. My HOA had rules about yard signs so I moved the sign to my window and they couldn't do anything about it except give me dirty looks

 

[angelatc]

You can't sign away your rights.

The government can't make a law to prohibit free speech. Private organizations can. It was part of the deal you agreed to when you purchased your house there.

I'm actually ok with it. I'd rather live next to a guy who's grass is a little too long than a guy who sharpens the blade every time he cuts it. But not everybody shares that sentiment, and that's ok too, as long as they stay in their little enclaves and only tell each other what not to do.

 

[the_bee]

tell them to fuck off

Apparently my homeowner's association has put forth a more or less direct challenge to my display of a Ron Paul for President campaign sign in my yard.

Yesterday in the mail I received the quarterly homeowners newsletter which contained a section that read as follows:

SIGNS

Please be reminded of Paragraph 6.8, a portion of which reads:
"6.8.1 No signs whatsoever (including but not limited to commercial and similar signs) shll, withouth the architectural commitee's prior written approval of plans and specifications therefore, be installed, altered or maintained on any lLot, or on any portion of a Structure visible from the exterior thereof."

The Board, and previous Boards, think that this prohibition includes political signs, so please do not place political signs in your yards."

First, my yard is the ONLY yard in my 96 lot subdivision that has a political sign of any type. So it is fairly obvious who this section is directed against.

Second, I cannot base any counter argument to this based on federal or state constitutional law regarding free speech or violation of public policy as every home owner association covenant agreement forcibly removes all remedy to the covenants via a constitutional path. (yes I'm a dummy, but go read your home owner covenants and 99% chance yours does the same thing. The next house I purchase will either not be in a subdivision or I will explicitly not sign or partially sign the next set) Please see (BRYAN v. MBC PARTNERS, L.P.)

Third, there have been numerous commercial signs placed on lots throughout the neighborhood in the past without homeowner policy enforcement. However enforcement seems to be highly subjective and at the whim of the Homeowners Association. Once again please see (BRYAN v. MBC PARTNERS, L.P.)

However, as pre-law student at one time, the statement of "including but no limited to" is a phrase/term of "limited expansion". Which can be defined that as the term “expansion” applies to things that are already generally described in the definition of whatever is being defined, even if a thing is not specifically named in the definition. For example, in the context of "dinner", dinner will be defined as including but not limited to apples, pears, peaches, and bananas. Therefore one can bring in additional items such as mangos, kiwis, grapes etc... as those items are similar in nature to the list, however, broccili, steak, potato's etc.. cannot due to their nature being manifestly different that the stated list of terms.

Ok given this, the Homeowners Association can only restrict signs of a commercial nature so I plan on writing a brief and polite rebuttal inquiring to the legal definition of the statement "commercial and similar signs" with regards to the afore mentioned definition of the term.

If this path is less than fruitful, I can always put up a flag hanging off my house with Ron Paul < whatever > as it seems that people can adorn their lots with american, state, seasonal, or alma mater flags about their houses.

However, I cannot find a single vendor that sells Ron Paul flags of any substantial size. Any help here would be appreciated.

Anyone else encounter these types of Home Owner issues, actions, etc..??

I will at this time refrain from giving out the Home Owner Associations email address for Paul'er comments unless a remedy of some sort cannot be achieved.

Thoughts? Comments?

tell them to fuck off, and do what you want too, think about it there is nothing they can do about it !!

 

[mcgraw_wv]

My hoa says you cant even have "placards" on vehicles. Not even business names.

Then just place the signs at the front of the entrance near the public road where it is public domain....

Just as effective, maybe even more so since there is more passer by traffic!

 

[CelestialRender]

You can't sign away your rights.

That argument doesn't fly. The states signed away their right to make war when they joined the USA. I would imagine there are better precedents in individual rights, but I can't think of any at the moment.

Bottom line: If you signed a homeowner's agreement, just give up on the sign issue. Go sign wave on public streets instead, or whatever it takes.

 

[amy31416]

You mentioned that you can fly a flag?

Make a Ron Paul flag, it can't be that hard. A piece of nylon or other heavy gauge weather-proof material, get it silkscreened with whatever you want at one of those local places.

Post pics!

I think this is a great idea and will probably do this here myself.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Oh, and bumper stickers are great too....magnets if you don't want to wreck your paint.

 

[CelestialRender]

tell them to fuck off, and do what you want too, think about it there is nothing they can do about it !!

Except remove your right to live in your home.

Think before you give people terrible, terrible advice.

 

[robert4rp08]

Seems like your bound by that agreement. A loophole might be in the definition of a sign as you suggest with the flag idea. You can also paint a "Ron Paul sign" on your lawn/roof/driveway. Or you can "weed wack" Ron Paul into your yard, haha. You can use window chalk to paint a sign on your house windows. You can put a "banner" on the side of your house/garage door.

What about your car? You can put signs all over your car (it's not a structure!) and leave it in the driveway/road. What about seasonal decorations? There's always a holiday somewhere. You can make a generic holiday yard ornament and Ron Paul it up.

P.S. I have no experience as a home owner. Just some thoughts that came to me.

 

[pinkmandy]

Third, there have been numerous commercial signs placed on lots throughout the neighborhood in the past without homeowner policy enforcement. However enforcement seems to be highly subjective and at the whim of the Homeowners Association.

I would write a letter letting them know that you expect these covenants to be enforced for everyone.

And then get creative. No signs? Fine. Decorate your car, windows, doors, roof (Christmas lights?), read those covenants and find a loophole.

 

[TSOL]

put your sign in the window of your car and park it in the driveway or on the street.


If they try to pull crap for that check out how many stickers are on autos in the neighborhood.

Exactly

HOA rules are what they are; bullshit rules, but they also prevent your neighbors from painting their house Hot Pink.

Put the sign in your cars REAR WINDOW when at home.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Ok given this, the Homeowners Association can only restrict signs of a commercial nature so I plan on writing a brief and polite rebuttal inquiring to the legal definition of the statement "commercial and similar signs" with regards to the afore mentioned definition of the term.

If this path is less than fruitful, I can always put up a flag hanging off my house with Ron Paul < whatever > as it seems that people can adorn their lots with american, state, seasonal, or alma mater flags about their houses.

However, I cannot find a single vendor that sells Ron Paul flags of any substantial size. Any help here would be appreciated.

Put a giant decal on your car. They're about $30-$40 on ebay, look good, and they're way more effective than a yard sign. I wouldn't even bother writing them, or whatever. Just get a big window decal. They probably can't say anything about it, and you'll also be reaching people when you drive instead of the same people who pass your house every day.

 

[Brewskie]

This is where libertarianism and myself separate.

I happen to believe that my Rights are inalienable. They can't be taken, bartered, stolen, signed away or compromised.

As far as I'm concerned these Homeowners Associations can kiss my butt.

 

[hawks4ronpaul]

My hoa says you cant even have "placards" on vehicles. Not even business names.

You mean your Fords cannot say "Ford"?

Carmaker name
Auto dealer name
AAA sticker
university parking sticker
HOA sticker
Sunblocking screens
bumper stickers

Police cars and ambulances are not allowed in until they repaint their vehicles a solid color?

http://hawks4ronpaul.blogspot.com/

 

[amy31416]

One of your assanine neighbors complained. Had the same thing happen with my HOA. Look out, some hoa`s carry some clout, if you signed off on the covenance when you bought your house "most likely" then you are bound. It will stand up in court, they will win.

You wouldn't happen to live in MD, would you?

 

[pcosmar]

Apparently my homeowner's association has put forth a more or less direct challenge to my display of a Ron Paul for President campaign sign in my yard.



Thoughts? Comments?

Sell your house and buy one with no HOA.
That shit is worse than renting.

 

[the_bee]

exact problem

Except remove your right to live in your home.

Think before you give people terrible, terrible advice.

Look this is the exact problem we are all facing with everything! the reason this kind of crap keeps happening is people just put up with this kind of shit and besides you cannot sign away and god given right, one other thing to think about is it takes time for all the so called legal crap to happen by then the election will be over

 

[DAFTEK]

My covenant has nothing as far as signs, but i did go a step up to put 3 large signs in my garage windows that face the street besides the yard sign

 

[robert4rp08]

This is where libertarianism and myself separate.

I happen to believe that my Rights are inalienable. They can't be taken, bartered, stolen, signed away or compromised.

As far as I'm concerned these Homeowners Associations can kiss my butt.

Part of being free is the Freedom to Contract and as such by entering into a contract you are bound to the contract, even if it means surrendering some of your rights since you chose, under free will, to enter into the contract.