Arizona State Senator Thinks HOA Off-Leash Fining is Mostly Very Silly

I fully support Senator Lori Klein’s comment that the off-leash fines issued to homeowners (which she quotes as 25% of all HOA fines) are, as she states, “Most of it is very silly.” I would actually go further and find that most all fines handed out by HOAs tend to be “very silly.”

The problem is I think Senator Klein is picking the wrong fight – highlighting off-leash rules is one that can be easily refuted using real life experience. Even in my own life a close friend’s dog (who was on leash) was viciously attacked by an off-leash dog which charged off  its owner’s front yard. The only reason her dog is alive is because of a local neighbour bludgeoned the attacking dog with a bike lock until it released its grip on her dog. The attacking dog was later removed from the owner and put down. Her dog was put through excessive vet bills. Something she was never compensated for.

I’m also familiar with an acquaintance who laughed at the fact his dog jumped his backyard fence and killed two dogs walking by. This was especially cruel as the dogs’ teen owner was right there with them, and failed to save them.

Senator Klein highlights an elderly resident that keeps getting fined for her tiny Chihuahua. Agreed, this example seems very silly, and I would hope that the HOA realizes fines are not a tool to enforce compliance, but a last resort after trying other methods.

Leashing dogs in public, based my own experience, is a necessary evil. Good dogs are sadly affected by leash laws, but they are required to help control those that are uncontrollable.

Arizona state lawmakers are currently considering a bill put forward by Senator Klein to allow insured dogs off-leash. I would have to say I object to such allowance.

Chris Brown, the Anti-Model Resident for a Condominium

There is a lot that seems to be accepted as fact here – multiple loud parties, dog racing in the hallways (that’s a new one from me) and parking in handicap designated spaces by a non-handicap driver. Where to start –

It’s likely that the condominium (a building with only 7 units, so likely the entire building) is faced with a nightmare resident that disregards the entire condominium by-laws and treats his residence at the condominium without any regard for neighbours. I’ve always indicated that living in a condominium is a communal living experience, and has significantly more limitations on an owner’s rights than detached housing. Does that register in people – often not, and from personal experience the greatest violators of the communal living experience (requiring due respect of one’s neighbours) is younger owners. Chris is 22.

As well, he’s got a criminal record for assault, the records show him uttering death threats, and he runs dogs in the hallways. I will assume that he can be a very intimidating person to deal with, and likely works that angle strongly, which limits the ability of the building to deal with him.

Currently the building is in conflict with him. I am uncertain about the rules in California about boards evicting owners, but it can be done in many jurisdictions (that is, evicting on grounds other that failure to pay the condominium contribution or in the US the HOA fees). Given the tough boy role Chris has, I would simply move to pursue the legal remedies to have him removed. It’s annoying, but it’s the least confrontational approach at this time.

A condo isn’t a Crib, as it has other people who live there. For 1.6 million (the cost of the unit) he could have easily afforded a detached dwelling instead of communal living – with all the allowance for noise and off track racing he would wish. It’s hard to have sympathy for someone who simply makes terrible decisions – and it’s his decision to have his lifestyle take precedence over the other owners.

Fame, celebrity status, and money. That’s an awesome combination matched with someone with little respect over their neighbours.