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Cars in Driveway where tags have expired for more than several years

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Capricorn1964, Feb 26, 2021.

  1. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Have people noticed there are some cars on the homeowners driveways that have expired tags for a number of years - There was one or two cars, for example, in a driveway in Southern Walk whose license plate tags have not been renewed for a long time now (more than three years).

    QUESTION: Does the HOA regulations allow vehicles that have expired tags for more than a year or more be parked in clear view of the public or must the car be INSIDE the garage itself if license plate tags have been expired for a number of years?

    MY TAKE: I doubt that the HOA has any teeth to do anything about vehicles that have expired tags for a number of years on their own driveways. I think its pretty much left up to the County/State authorities to do something about it instead. Likewise, if cars are impeding the sidewalk/driveway apron, the HOA doesn't have any teeth to do anything about it -- they pretty much leave it up to the county/state authorities --which they never do anything about it despite the fact that have been called a number of times when these vehicles are clearly blocking the driveway apron/sidewalk forcing -- for example -- parents with strollers or kids with bikes to go into the street to "go around the vehicles" that are in the way creating an unsafe situation.

    Just an observation that some things are beyond the HOA's control/regulations. I have a friend in Florida that lives in a HOA and they are much stricter than Broadlands HOA is....they have on their HOA books that cars with expired tags are immediately ticketed and cars blocking sidewalks are also ticketed (and towed). I understand our HOA does not involve themselves in situations like this for a good reason. So unless our local county/state police actually gets involved, we are never going to be able to eliminate issues like this.

    With some things, we have to take situations like this with a grain of salt. In short, we grin and bear it and live with it regardless.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2021
  2. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    HOA can and has had cars towed for blocking sideways. I also "think" they can tow vehicles on HOA controlled streets for violations, but not sure they ever have enforced. IMO I do not think they should.

    As for expired tags, if the vehicle is not up on blocks or parked in the front yard... WHO CARES!
     
  3. kevinq

    kevinq Member

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    According to Broadlands HOA documentation, which is available on the Broadlands HOA website, junk or derelict vehicles may not be parked or kept upon any portion of the Common Area or on any portion of a Lot Visible from Neighboring Property Broadlands HOA’s definition of a junk or derelict vehicle includes not displaying a valid state license/registration or inspection sticker. In addition, the documentation states that all vehicles must conform to Commonwealth of Virginia and Loudoun County codes, ordinances and statues. Also, all vehicles must bear current license plates, registrations, sticker and certifications as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia and Loudoun County.

    I have seen Broadlands HOA and Loudoun County correspondence on vehicles on the street that fit this description. I am glad to see enforcement because there should be an attempt to consistently enforce all HOA, County, State rules and laws.

    https://www.broadlandshoa.org/wp-co.../Parking-Regulations-and-Storage-Vehicles.pdf
     
    Excelsior likes this.
  4. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    T8erman....so when you say "Who cares"....does that mean you don't agree with the Broadlands HOA definition of a "junk or derelict vehicle which INCLUDES not displaying valid state license/registration or inspection sticker......Also, all vehicles must bear current license plates, registrations, sticker and certifications as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia and Loudoun County." If you disagree with that, then why not lobby the HOA to have this declaration/regulations, etc REMOVED/REPEALED from the HOA documents. Im sure you'd be content if the HOA did remove that from the documents/enforcement actions. There is a good reason why they are on the books but enforcement is another thing because I have seen some owners COVER the cars with tarp/car covers to block anyone from checking the stickers/certifications, etc so they don't get a ticket or towed.
     
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  5. Excelsior

    Excelsior Southern Walk||IMPERIUM IN IMPERIO||

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    I agree with the two posts above. I hope enforcement is consistently pursued and followed.
     
  6. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    NEVER is consistently enforced- I’ve called the county Sherriffs and they ignored it- They don’t even enforce the speed limit on the neighborhood streets let alone Claiborne Parkway. There were two trucks parked NEXT to the stop sign blocking it from oncoming cars- called for that as state regs ban blocking of stop signs- they didn’t even bat an eye to that! They ignored it.

    I’m told that the reason for lack of enforcement is they are severely short staffed because the lion’s share of the county’s budget goes to LCPS instead. Go figure.

    So I no longer call Sheriffs unless there is a car accident, otherwise it’s a waste of my time. Hell, they don’t even ticket anyone for not shoveling sidewalks here in the winter. Laws may be written but what good are they if they aren’t being enforced by county sheriffs if they are short-staffed, ya know?
     
  7. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    At what cost do you want this enforcement? Our Sheriff's department would most likely have to increase 10 fold to enforce these petty issues county wide. Tags and such are nothing more than money generators and not a danger while driving and that is where I want enforcement done. And instead of calling the police, why don't you just nicely inform your neighbors that their tags have expired or that their inspection is over due, they might appreciate it.
     
  8. kevinq

    kevinq Member

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    As noted in the March Covenants Corner of within the March 2021 Broadlands newsletter, "Please understand that while an issue may seem to be trivial or insignificant to you, your neighbor may feel that it is very important to them. Please be respectful of your neighbors, community and those that take pride in their homes." Also, "Going forward, try to look at your home the way that a new buyer would." If I saw multiple vehicles with an expired registration or safety inspection, which could be a danger while driving, near the house I was about to purchase I would think twice before making that purchase as it could be a sign of recurring covenants violations.

    In another recent post, you (T8erman) mention being "not partial to gravel." Some may consider that petty. Others may consider that enforcing the HOA covenants. That seems to be the crux of this thread - should you have ordinances that aren't going to be enforced? If you aren't going to or don't have the resources to enforce an ordinance, don't have the ordinance. People who choose to follow the ordinance are then the ones who are penalized (for instance, financially - since they paid to have a current vehicle registration, vehicle safety inspection, or the right stone for ground cover or they are paying fees/taxes into a community/county that promotes having these ordinances rather than an area with lower fees/taxes that does not have these ordinances).
     
    Capricorn1964 likes this.
  9. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Since you disapprove of enforcement of the expired tags, why don’t you LOBBY the HOA to have these HOA rules suspended/removed from the books then instead of making your opinion known you don’t like it? There IS a reason why the rules are on the books! If you don’t like the rules, why don’t you move to Manassas where there are PLENTY of people whose cars have expired tags- It isn’t MY job to enforce the rules that are on the HOA books and County/VA law? If you don’t feel the law shouldn’t be on the books, why don’t you let your OWN tags expire then if you are so against it?
     
  10. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Kevin, I have to wonder how many people on the modification committee does it take to pass an application? If one person out of so many on committee doesn’t like it, does that mean entire application is rejected? I used to be on another HOA’s modification committee and it was deemed to pass IF more than 50% of the committee agreed/approved the application. Moreover, if anyone on committee did NOT like any of their HOA document rules, they were barred from even serving on the mod committee- I found that quite interesting and not all HOAs are the same- some are more liberal than others- some enforce more than others- go figure.
     
  11. shim

    shim shim

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    The blight and 10 car running average at that house should be at the top of the HOA list. Stone Hollow is essentially a single lane road because of the boarding house that is operated there.
     
  12. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Its a boarding house?

    I remember Fairfax County/Fairfax City passed an ordinance barring more than four unrelated people from living in any house back then in the 80s next to GMU ...Not sure if it’s still in force or not....That was to prevent overcrowding in homes and excessive cars around the house...I think Fairfax County utilized it again in Annandale when they found out than they had well over 12 people living in that house that landlord rented out and they were all construction workers. Needlessly, the authorities stepped and found out that some of then were living in tiny closets in basement....told landlord to terminate lease and if they wouldn’t, they would take him to court—- landlord finally cleaned up the place and rented it to a family instead. That house had multiple cars on the front yard and became an eyesore...house was near an ex-girlfriend of mine back in late 80s. What a mess that was! Not sure if Loudoun County has such an ordinance on the books.

    Its probably difficult to to enforce it if such an ordinance does exist. They prolly will lawyer up...HOA and county would have to be delicate about that situation.
     
  13. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like a house on Harvest Green Terrace. Their guests also park on the main road across from the house which is near the entrance to the street. When you are maneuvering around these cars to exit the street you're face to face with a car entering the street. It's even worse at night.

    It's an HOA owned street and any attempts to get a no parking sign fall on deaf ears because it's not a 'designated fire lane.'
     
  14. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Lots of comments about the HOA not enforcing the rules. Has the HOA even been made aware of the violations that some state the HOA is not enforcing?
    Absolutely no specifics in this thread, or even a comment made that the HOA has been called and given the location of the violations.
    That would be a good starting point.
     
  15. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    The Modification Subcommittee has 7 members. It must have at least 4 to have a quorum for a meeting. It takes a majority vote of the members present to approve an application.
     
  16. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Trust me, last year, I have alerted the HOA about that house and even made them aware that they keep garbage bins on the side of the house (They hide it behind bushes, NOT a garbage screen like other houses do.) Plus I have informed them about the cars hanging over the driveway apron at the same house to no avail. I don't even remember what month/day I last called about that but it was some time last year. I gave up when I saw that nothing came out of it and as an aside I continually see people leaving their trash bins in front of their garage/porches/at the curb....I have taken pictures and shared them with the association. Since nothing has really happened, I simply gave up reporting because it simply happens over and over with no change to the situation. That's the definition of "insanity"....doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, which doesn't happen.

    Am I correct that the HOA did hire a covenant inspector? If so, maybe the inspector isn't catching it or not reporting it to the HOA for action? I can't confirm this because I don't know if we have an inspector or not or if the HOA solely relies on neighbors to call in the violations (with evidence, of course).

    I've even called the county police last year some time and they never did a thing about it (That's another story altogether that I've discussed in a separate post elsewhere on the HOA Forum.)

    So I do empathize with those that are frustrated with this particular house -- seems to me that the house is going to continue the infractions ad nauseum. Nothing will change UNLESS real action is taken by both the HOA and county police and probably won't to the chagrin of some of us.
     
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  17. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, Cliff!
     
  18. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    What street are you referring to about the car blocking the sidewalk? Is it a private street or a VDOT street?
    Also, I can ensure you trash can violations are sent out in very large numbers. We have to follow a legal process that, unfortunately, may not be as fast as some would like. We usually have several Board hearings each month on them.
     
  19. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    I can imagine that several board meetings on trash bins. I hope that the board will NOT waive the fees after 1 time waiver. Understand about the legal process and that's a given and I have no issues with that.

    As for the street its on....Stone Hollow Drive and its a VDOT road. I doubt that the HOA can do anything about it but I've called the Loudoun Police about it and they didn't do a thing about it so I gave up.
     
  20. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Oh Cap, this post is so "ramblin man", I truly do not know how to respond. However, with as many posts you have made about people not following HOA rules and general driving rules, one might think you want to be the ENFORCER!
     

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