General Discussion

Jilly_in_VA

(12,718 posts) Fri Jul 18, 2025, 07:43 AM Jul 18

Man fined $650 due to cooler, 'free water' sign in driveway [View all]

A Phoenix area man is trying to get over $600 in homeowners association fees waived after he was cited for leaving a cooler and a “free water” sign in his driveway.

David Martin first set water out in his driveway back in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, he told USA TODAY on July 16. In his driveway, he set out a cooler, a bowl of water for dogs, as well as a sign encouraging people to keep hydrated.

He got his first warning from his neighborhood homeowners association (HOA), the Canyon Trails Unit 4 West Community Association, in 2022, according to documentation reviewed by USA TODAY.

In a citation issued in May 2022, the violation was listed as “other – store items out of view.” Since then, he has been embroiled in a back-and-forth with the HOA and management company FirstService Residential, and he has been charged $650 in fees.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/07/17/hoa-cooler-free-water-sign-fine-arizona/85257978007/?tbref=hp

More HOA naziism. We should sue to abolish HOAs!

36 replies

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Man fined $650 due to cooler, 'free water' sign in driveway [View all] Jilly_in_VA Jul 18 OP

HOA Nazis! OC375 Jul 18 #1

'Betcha if he sued the HOA for violating his religious practices that includes reaching out to those in need... hlthe2b Jul 18 #2

Great idea! Would you consider contacting him to see if he could run with it? TheRickles Jul 18 #15

I'm a perfect stranger and I don't know how to contact him. I'd guess others may be suggesting this hlthe2b Jul 18 #23

HOAs are magnets for the Karens of the world Ocelot II Jul 18 #3

I lived in a neighborhood where there was an old man "Karen" milestogo Jul 18 #32

I just never understood wanting to live somewhere with an HOA Johnny2X2X Jul 18 #4

Sometimes we don't all have choice, that's why. flying_wahini Jul 18 #16

Apparently, some people love that sort of order. They are welcome to it. Srkdqltr Jul 18 #28

Thank you for your attention to this matter! Ol Janx Spirit Jul 18 #5

Arizona is a hell hole. BradBo Jul 18 #6

Rednecks must punish kindness! . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jul 18 #7

HOA, the birthplace of all Karens. twodogsbarking Jul 18 #8

And Kevins Srkdqltr Jul 18 #29

Thank you for adding that. I should have. We all need help sometimes. twodogsbarking Jul 18 #33

In techno-bros utopia all local governments are HOAs. hunter Jul 18 #9

Sounds like my kind of neighborhood! n/t Random Boomer Jul 18 #17

In other words, normal life. niyad Jul 18 #21

I wouldn't put up with that nonsense either! SheltieLover Jul 18 #25

Easiest way to get around HOA bullshit Orrex Jul 18 #10

Exactly SickOfTheOnePct Jul 18 #12

Where's that? Never-Never Land? Gimpyknee Jul 18 #19

Then dont whine when you get called out for breaking the rules Orrex Jul 18 #20

Absolutely correct, obviously! SheltieLover Jul 18 #24

I couldn't agree more! I would never put up with someone telling me what to do on my land SheltieLover Jul 18 #22

I live in a co-op and we have a board. Easiest way to get around bullshit is to elect better people next year. Scrivener7 Jul 19 #35

I once owned five acres which banned animals other than cats and dogs. rickford66 Jul 18 #11

Why buy in an HOA? KentuckyWoman Jul 18 #13

I agree with your first point... SickOfTheOnePct Jul 18 #14

How dare you be kind to strangers? barbtries Jul 18 #18

Options? OC375 Jul 18 #26

I'm reminded of the adage "No good deed ever goes unpunished". Grim Chieftain Jul 18 #27

Has anybody else noticed an interesting little detail? He started this "free niyad Jul 18 #30

Bunch of anti Jesus nazis Blue Full Moon Jul 18 #31

If you don't like Greg_In_SF Jul 18 #34

Unfortunately many local governments like HOAs. hunter Jul 19 #36