An ancient police axiom says, “Bad police work makes for bad case law.” A parallel in journalism is, “Careless writing makes for bad libel law.”
Somehow, you’d think some semblance of that wisdom would get through to some of the 335,000 Homeowners Associations in our country, especially those who’ve been well-described as “the lawn nazis” or the “condo commandos”. In many such neighborhoods people don’t talk to each other or have folks over for dinner.
Maybe that’s why so many state legislators are beginning to pay attention and talk about enacting laws to tap down the “little hitlers’ who seem to enjoy causing pain and distress among their neighbors.
Parking on the street overnight can bring such fines as $650, or for a fellow in Buckeye, “$1600”! Yes, there’s a madness afoot in this country, but at least one state, Arizona, has passed new parking legislation that says, “You can’t fine somebody for parking on a city-owned street.
Gosh, you’d think some bits of wisdom would be second nature!
But they’re not.
Thus, the law.
(original source)
This is what I call a “feel good” law. I has no effect on those currently suffering with the street parking issues. What happens to the person that comes to visit for a few days because of a funeral, wedding, graduation, or some other reason? They get their car towed away so some snippy nosey neighbor doesn’t get their view of the black top blocked! How about going to bed earlier so you don’t see the cars parked overnight…isn’t that a novel solution?
Whitney Benes of Phoenix said she constantly requests that her HOA stop people from parking on the street to no avail. She argues that when the HOA board ignores the CC&R, she’s not getting what she pays for — which is to live in a neighborhood that keeps up appearances. She said the new law “feels like they’re slowly trying to take the rights away from HOAs.” Ms. Benes, of all the people that need to read Ward Lucas’ book you are the ONE person I would highly recommend it to. If you get on the board the neighborhood is doomed. I can already see the lawsuits being filed in Maricopa County! I pity your neighbors, I sincerely do.