Parking a patrol car in an HOA in Palm Beach Fl.

[dilja]

Help. I am a new member and have tried to research this issue but to no avail came up short. I did however read of a case in Broward County also in an HOA that tried to ban a patrol car, but did not succeed. I just recently found out that people in my community are harassing the HOA with trying to get my brothers patrol car to stop parking out in the street, and even in the driveway. I have not been able to find anything out. Some have said that it is an emergency vehicle and that it is exempt from any bylaws. IS this true? There is a meeting tonight and apparently people are going to be bringing up this issue. The one good thing is that the Association board agrees that it is a deterent and that they are fine with it being out in the street overnight as well as in the driveway. Unfortunately i think they are looking for some good proof to give to the community. ANy advice would be so helpful. Thank you.

[Citicop]

I *hate* HOAs.

But I honestly don't know the answer to this one. If he's a member, and its against the rules, I guess he could be fined under the agreement.

But if the board likes it, they can pass a bylaw specifically allowing it, too...

-Citicop.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

So, it's not the HOA that's causing the stink, it's random neighborhood people complaining TO the HOA? If it's not against the bylaws, the HOA should tell the complainers to pound sand.

[Big Sexy]

He should tell them when they need an officer, don't call him.

[Curt581]

He should tell them when they need an officer, don't call him.

Curt581 Likes this

[Chef_Au]

Pardon my Australian ignorance, but what's an HOA?

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Pardon my Australian ignorance, but what's an HOA?

HOA = Home Owner's Association

Homeowner association - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Chef_Au]

Can a HOA even attempt to ban someone from a street, a public place??

We have "body corporates" which are a group of owners of a shared property, ie: apartments/units etc. Who sound pretty similar, but the only way I think they could enforce something like this would be to go via the courts.

[Nole795]

Help. I am a new member and have tried to research this issue but to no avail came up short. I did however read of a case in Broward County also in an HOA that tried to ban a patrol car, but did not succeed. I just recently found out that people in my community are harassing the HOA with trying to get my brothers patrol car to stop parking out in the street, and even in the driveway. I have not been able to find anything out. Some have said that it is an emergency vehicle and that it is exempt from any bylaws. IS this true? There is a meeting tonight and apparently people are going to be bringing up this issue. The one good thing is that the Association board agrees that it is a deterent and that they are fine with it being out in the street overnight as well as in the driveway. Unfortunately i think they are looking for some good proof to give to the community. ANy advice would be so helpful. Thank you.

Several points are different with your brother's situation. The case in Broward dealt with the HOA wanting the patrol car placed in the garage, instead of being parked in the driveway, because they saw it as a 'commercial vehicle.' It took a ruling from the city council to exclude patrol cars from 'commercial vehicles'.

Community tries to force PO to park marked car in Garage

If the HOA is upset about your brother parking on the street then this is a totally different scenario. If the bylaws are that residential members cant park on the street, then your brother is in violation, regardless of the vehicle. If it is a gated community, then the HOA will have more authority then the county maintained roads. It is even more taxing if a neighbor can prove that parking on the street is a detriment to the neighborhood. Now if the HOA goes after him for parking lawfully in his driveway, I would like to see what kind of exscuse they are going to use. If it goes back to 'commercial vehicle' then there is precedent set in another county, but how it would apply to your county would be up to the local government.

HOA is a double edged sword and this is one of those reasons where people really need to review the bylaws before moving into one governed by a HOA.

[Nole795]

Can a HOA even attempt to ban someone from a street, a public place??

We have "body corporates" which are a group of owners of a shared property, ie: apartments/units etc. Who sound pretty similar, but the only way I think they could enforce something like this would be to go via the courts.

In Florida, gated communities normally have HOA whose dues pay for the street maintenance. Ergo, HOA have much more authority on the property of that particular neighborhood. Yes, HOA's can put out mandates regarding parking on the streets. The more affluent gated communities can even force owners to hide any type of advertisements on vehicles that can be seen. These are known as 'commercial vehicles'. Either they are parked in the garage, or the owner buys magnets to place over the advertisements.

[Legoate]

I'm just wondering why any cop would want to draw that much attention to themself. I guess I like my privacy.

[dilja]

I just wanted to thank everyone for thier input on this issue. Just to update, the board unamiously agreed that the police care can be parked in the community. Apparently we are the only sub division in the entire community that has not been hit with any crime. They feel its because of the patrol car's presence. Some even said they prefer it out in the street since it can easily be seen than parked in the driveway. Some of our neighbors asked if the car can be parked in certain areas of the community at certain times to keep as a deterent! ha! We found out that the people that started the trouble about getting the car out of the community, didn't even show up at the meeting, but the rumor is they feel it brings down the value of their homes having the car in the neighborhood. What craziness! We also were told that they were trying to get the car towed. Can they do that since it's a state vehicle? Am i right to want to ring their necks??

[BP348]

I think I'd rather eat glass then move into a neighborhood with a HOA.

[APDSarge]

I'm just wondering why any cop would want to draw that much attention to themself. I guess I like my privacy.

This is a common sentiment I have heard from California officers, however, in Florida it is very common. It is an excellent benefit, and allows for greater visibility of "police" vehicles while the officers are going about their business, such as to the station or court on their days off.

In regards to the OP, there was also a ruling from the Attorney General that a marked police vehicle is NOT a commercial vehicle, for purposes of their by-laws. But it sounds like common sense prevailed already.