| Author | Message | ||
| David R. (Rodsky)
New member Username: Rodsky Post Number: 41 Registered: 3-2003 |
Take Arthur and Doody's advice - HOA board members will get nervous if they did not follow the rules in the CC&R's and if they dont carry insurance for personal liability. Trust me they probably dont understand their responsibility to folow the rules. This political posturing is all about power which if you start to get tangled into - will be a no win proposition. | ||
| Jay P. Ross (Eilig)
Junior Member Username: Eilig Post Number: 156 Registered: 8-2001 |
Thanks ALL for your kind words and very good suggestions. I'm out of town for the weekend but wanted to post a brief followup. I was able to do some sniffing around yesterday before leaving and learned there's significantly more behind the story of the speed bumps! Turns out there's a few folks on the property who apparently have been quite vocal in their opposition to-date regarding the existance of the prior two speed bumps (i.e. the ones that existed before the recent re-do). They hated them and were constantly bugging the property manager and board to get rid of them entirely. The manager and board apparently got so tired of hearing it, that they decided to not only increase the height of the speed bumps, but add a third speed bump. It is speculated that the manager/board are in hopes that this recent offending action will enrage those who had opposed speed bumps on the property to the point they will just MOVE OUT. Not gonna happen, I'm told by these folks. So the good news is that I'm not alone in my opposition to the now higher and more numerous speed bumps. But the bad news is that now that I know all the background and ugly politics behind the situation, I can see it will be a far bigger battle than I had even initially anticipated. Turns out those blasted speed bumps were installed with the mission of acting as instigator to those in opposition. Okay, that gasoline idea is sounding more and more attractive! I had fully planned the letter signed by an attorney... but now that I've learned how the battle lines were already drawn before I even got involved, I can see how potentially ugly this could get. It sounds like the property is on the verge of all out warfare... Can you believe this sh*t!? | ||
| Drstranglove (Drstranglove)
Member Username: Drstranglove Post Number: 412 Registered: 4-2003 |
I know for a FACT that reg Gas will melt asphalt. Just dump some on the offending bumps on the top. After about four hours of soaking in, the bumps will yeald to your, or anyones, tires. DrS | ||
| Jason Fraser (Jfraser)
Member Username: Jfraser Post Number: 375 Registered: 3-2001 |
I'm lovin' this thread....(Jay sorry to hear about your misfortune)...The three things that push my buttons like nothing else...speed bumps (include any form of ramp that isn't nose friendly), home owners' assoc. & management companies....I can feel my blood pressure rising!! I think the fellow Fchatters have given you plenty of ammo to write a suitably acidic letter (have a lawyer submit it, that way they'll know you aren't going to take any ••••). I particularly like Art's suggestion, there's nothing quite as satisfying as stuffing self important twits with their own rule book!!. I'm not even going to start about HOA's...It'll put me over the edge......where's my Vikedin? Jay, I'm living vicariously thru you....GO GET 'EM!! | ||
| Kristoffer Hansson (Maverick)
Junior Member Username: Maverick Post Number: 144 Registered: 3-2001 |
I hate those speed bumbs too. In sweden they have gone mad and put em up all around. To get home with my Corvette c4 I have to drive a major way around the worst bumps. In one street they made 11 bumbs in 400 yards. Freaking idiots... | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 2333 Registered: 9-2001 |
Mail a certified letter to the management company advising that the speed bumps are too high and will likely damage your car. Since it is your only way of ingress and egress demand that they be repaired within 10 days. And, further advise that if your car is so damaged that you will expect them to pay for any such damage. That should prompt them to take action. | ||
| john roberts (Jr328gtb)
New member Username: Jr328gtb Post Number: 13 Registered: 5-2003 |
Taylor rental probably rents a jackhammer for the day... | ||
| David McGee (Damcgee)
New member Username: Damcgee Post Number: 12 Registered: 2-2003 |
Arthur, your wisdom in legal matters is invaluable to everyone on this board. There is often an easy way to solve things like this when you have sufficient legal grounds, and in this case your suggestion is brilliant. Hopefully opening the boards eyes to something as simple as this will make any legal action unnecessary. Good luck Jay | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 192 Registered: 3-2003 |
Jay, sorry to hear about your troubles. I know in England this is strictly regulated, but Home Owner Associations in America are often completely power-mad Nazi-type organizations. I would contact an attorney. I wish you luck, and in the meantime, it might help save you some time to mark where you place the wood with some spray paint, and get 6 pieces. That way you can line them all up beforehand, and once you are out of the parking lot, you only have to make one quick run to gather them up. It might also help to offer each of these board members a ride, and then force them to hop out at each bump and do this for you... Best, Faisal. | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 716 Registered: 4-2003 |
Don't you love it what the British call these? "Sleeping Policemen" :-D Jack | ||
| Nick Berry (Nickb)
Junior Member Username: Nickb Post Number: 87 Registered: 8-2002 |
Advise your local fire dept. If their truck's will be slowed or impeded by the bumps they will have them removed or at least reduced in size. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1758 Registered: 6-2001 |
Jay: Go through your CC&Rs very carefully. You'll probably find a section concerning improvements and modifications. If my experience is any guage, I'd bet that they never got approval for any modification for the roadway, just repair. If you point that out to them, and advise them that because they didn't follow the rules, you have the right to sue for an injunction, they just might make a change or two to accomodate you. Let me know if this works. Art | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1106 Registered: 11-2001 |
fyi - most states or municipalities have official road design and safety regulations regulations documented on paper. this regulations would probably stipulate what a "standard" speed bump would be. now you're on private property, so those rules don't necessarily apply EXCEPT that if they built something well in excess of the "community standard" or "state law" then they'd be even more so liable in case of damage. doody. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1105 Registered: 11-2001 |
when i owned a condo i got on the board quick - it's the easiest way to make sure stupid crap like this doesn't happen. there's no way they can make unreasonable changes to the grounds that radically reduce your enjoyment of your home. they have to hear you out and they have to fix it - especially if it was shoddy work. condo boards have a way of paying attention when you threaten legal action. especially if they don't carry insurance against personal liability for board members. doody. | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 268 Registered: 4-2003 |
No, but I have heard of some shade tree mechanics trying to lower their cars that way. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 911 Registered: 10-2001 |
I would send a registered letter to the board about how the speed bumps are a hazard, and any damage to your car will result in legal action. You might also mention that any visitors will also be suing them should their cars be damaged as well. That should at least prompt a hearing. I don't know what the legalities are, but I would think a condo cannot discrimitate against you for a low slung car. Check the laws about it. | ||
| Ken Ghiringhelli (Kenny94945)
Junior Member Username: Kenny94945 Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2002 |
I have heard diesel gasoline melts asphalt. Then hammered or scraped away. Has any co-member ever heard of anyone trying to lower speed bumps in this manner? | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 3729 Registered: 9-2001 |
sol, you should get on the board or pay someone off  maybe you could argue they are denying you access to your property etc etc | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4800 Registered: 8-2002 |
Jay, If they are private streets you may be out of luck. Check with your local city building inspector to verify your local rule in regards to height. It's could pose issue if a medical emergency arises. Good Luck Matt | ||
| Jay P. Ross (Eilig)
Junior Member Username: Eilig Post Number: 155 Registered: 8-2001 |
I live in a condo and they recently repaved a large portion of the parking lot, including the speed bumps. These asphalt monsters are now the highest I have EVER seen, and they are so poorly done... they are not even on the top, and range anywhere from 4 to 8 inches in height. My ZR-1 BARELY gets over them without scraping, but my Z06 won't make it. The only way I can get this car over them is to take wooden blocks and maneuver them in front of each wheel as the spoiler approaches the speed bump. Three speed bumps and 5 minutes later, I'm out of the lot. But what a pain in the #$!@%*&!!! Not to mention the fact that I've TWICE replaced half-shafts on my LT-1 that sees daily driving duty, and has probably been driven over the old (lower) speed bumps thousands of times!! And the oil pan on the Z06 comes dangerously close... and I worry that if I inadvertantly hit one of the "high spots" on said poorly crafted speed bumps, I could do serious damage. So of course I go to the property manager and condo board to make my voice heard. The property manager refuses to hear anything of it, and says the bumps are staying, AS IS! The board refuses to hear it for a vote (90% of these losers drive SUV's and of course speed bump height is a non-issue for them). As you might have guessed, the bumps plus management's apathy is about enough to prompt me to just move... but I'm not in a position to do that at present... it will take me a year or so to get out, for various reasons. So my question for anyone in the know is -- are there any kind of state or federal guidelines that establish any rough parameters for speed bump height, characteristics, etc? Any info that any of you could provide would be greatly appreciated. It may require me contacting an attorney, but I hate to have to push it this far... Thanks! |