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In response to
"We can have this conversation. I am cooled off. There are no rules in the bi-laws against a commercial vehicle. "
by
Bacon
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Here's what I'm thinking as a board member, and having dealt with bylaw violation conflicts before, maybe it'll help
Posted by
Max
Mar 19 '13, 16:23
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(again, speaking frankly from the mindset of a board member, so you can try to have some influence on the outcome if you're allowed to speak on it before a vote:
First, you're not going to get your way if you piss me off. If someone comes to the board and pitches a fit complaining that the rules are persecuting them and this is communist that and nazi that, I'm more likely to dismiss their argument. So don't raise your voice or make accusations or threaten to sue. (In some circumstances, you should sue, but "I'm gonna call my lawyer" never scares a board member who's regularly in touch with the HOA lawyer and has most likely dealt with the issue before anyway.)
Second, don't seek an all or nothing decision. If I'm a board member in this case, I'm thinking about the size of the vehicle, it's condition, and it's commercial appearance. Ask if the rule is designed to prevent advertising, and if so, would you be able to park that vehicle if you used a vinyl to cover up the logo whenever it's on the property. Ask if the rule is more focused (focussed? dammit!) on size - I googled sprint van and they seem pretty large, and a concern might be that your vehicle extends beyond a normally sized parking space. Maybe you could get a minivan with your logo on it instead of the sprint van. Ask if the rule is designed to prevent the appearance of working-vehicles, so you don't have trucks decked out with ladders and paint cans and dents from loading docks.
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