Law Says Homeowner Groups Can't Bar Flag Flying

Local 6 (Florida) ^ | July 25, 2006

[Stoat]

Law Says Homeowner Groups Can't Bar Flag Flying

 

POSTED: 11:09 am EDT July 25, 2006

UPDATED: 12:25 pm EDT July 25, 2006

 

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush signed a bill on Monday that would bar condominium and homeowner associations from restricting how the American flag can be displayed.

Sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., the resolution would prohibit those groups from preventing residents from displaying an American flag on their own property. It was passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate.

  "Americans have long flown our flag as an expression of their appreciation for our freedoms and their pride in our nation," Bush said in a statement.

"As our brave men and women continue to fight to protect our country overseas, Congress has passed an important measure to protect our citizens right to express their patriotism here at home without burdensome restrictions," Bush said.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Ok, good law, bout time.

Now

The BORDERS????

This is a tempest in a tea pot compared to our REAL problems.

[pogo101]

Mixed feelings. I'd hate to see a restrictive HOA barring a "normal" flag display, particularly on holidays, but imagine a "neighbor from hell" who decides to hang a circus-tent-sized flag from the balconies on a daily basis ... when you're trying to sell your next-door condo ...

[sourcery]

While I find the idea of Homeowners' associations putting such restrictions on homeowners to be repugnant, I also find no language in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to make a law such as this.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[gdani]

Another bad law meant to save people from their own poor decisions. I feel little pity for those unwise enough to willingly abandon their individuality to uptight, hyper-reactive HOAs. Why people continue to invite such authority into their lives is beyond me.

How HOAs treat flag-wavers is simply none of the Govt's business.

[pageonetoo]

...imagine a "neighbor from hell" who decides to hang a circus-tent-sized flag from the balconies on a daily basis ...

I'd help him hang it!

[VeniVidiVici]

Here's a big raspberry for all of you that love HOAs.

[TChris]

FYI: The federal government is given authority to regulate HOAs in Article CLXVII of the New International Expanded Version of the Constitution.

[philsfan24]

i dont see how a law such as this is necessary. government should not be interfering in private homeowner business.

[knarf]

It can't be private if the HOA's have the constitutional right and power to control the tenents.

The trees have hidden the forest .. or the forest has hidden the tree .. or the cart is before the horse .. or ... Hell ... I don't know anymore.

[Steve_Seattle]

I agree that this law is federal overreach. People who join these homeowners' associations know what they're getting into; it's a freely chosen tradeoff of limiting your rights in exchange for guaranteeing a clutter-free - and presumably aesthetic - environment. Some people want to make that choice, and the feds shouldn't intervene.

[sandbar]

>>>It can't be private if the HOA's have the constitutional right and power to control the tenents.>>>

They do if you sign a contract GIVING them that power and right to control you.

[Old Professer]

Building codes are very favorable toward HOAs; I like this law, it serves as a check on petty fiefdoms.

[CholeraJoe]

It was passed unanimously by both the House and the Senate.

Amazing! Not even Baghdad Jim McDermott voted against it?

[top 2 toe red]

Oh, pleeze...is your glass always half empty?

[Steve_Seattle]

"HOAs and condo associations are just like another layer of intrusive "government" with the power to take our money and tell us what to do."

So people who don't like them should find housing elsewhere. It's not different in principle from an apartment owner prohibiting pets or smoking; he makes a tradeoff between losing possible tenants and maintaining his property in the best possible condition. If he can't find tenants on those terms, he will change the terms or get out of the business. If HOA's can't find people willing to abide by their rules, they will change the rules.

[top 2 toe red]

Well, I do...we live in a new development and until it is 65% owner occupied, the damned developer IS the HOA...so, whatever, he and his minions want to restrict, they restrict.

Yes, I know, no one forced us to buy in this development.

[RebelBanker]

Having a nosy-neighborood "authority" tell you what to do on your own property is, in my mind, a flagrant violation of individual rights.

I thought so to, Tony, until I saw just how stupid and inconsiderate some neighbors can be. One jacka$$ probably cost me thousands of dollars when my wife and I were trying to sell our well-maintained townhouse - his house (2 doors down) was a dump and he and the HOA were suing one another about forcing him to fix it.