‘This is what our country is coming to,’ fumes veteran fined $500 by HOA for home decoration – it sparked major outcry

A HOMEOWNER fumed after being threatened with fines by his homeowner’s association and told he had to remove his Marines flag outside his home.

The veteran’s passion and social media post sparked a wave of complaints forcing the HOA to make a change.

LOCAL 12

LOCAL 12

In 2017, Scott Wallace posted a notice from Triple Crown Homeowners Association in Union, Kentucky — about 70 miles north of Lexington.

His HOA told the veteran he faced up to $500 for breaking the association’s rule about not flying a non- United States flag.

“Marine flag not permitted (US flag only)”, the warning read, according to Fox affiliate WXIX .

“This is what our country is coming to,” Wallace wrote on his Facebook page in 2017, according to the outlet.

“I am a Marine Veteran willing to give my life for my family, my country, my God, and for you that I don’t even know.

“I severed Honorably as a United States Marine and yet today, I received a violation notice for having a Marine Corps flag on my garage flag pole.”

He went on to say he could only be fined up to $500 so he was “going to go ahead and pay my $500 fine so I can continue to fly my flag.”

MASSIVE OUTRAGE

Wallace’s post went viral overnight with other neighbors chiming in about their flags.

“Are we gonna say there are no school flags, no professional sports flags, or anything else?” Eric Hingle told local CBS affiliate WKRC in 2017 when he realized he couldn’t fly his Army flag,

“I mean you come out during football season there’s Bengal’s flags all over the place and blow up dolls and all that stuff all over the yards.

“If we’re trying to keep the neighborhood looking good, then I would say then that stuff shouldn’t be out there.”

However, that wasn’t the case.

There were Valentine’s Day flags, UK flags, and flags for opposing sports teams on multiple homes.

Dale Cammack, a neighbor two blocks from Wallace, has flown his US flag and Marine Corps flag for 13 years.

He said he didn’t receive a letter to take his flags down.

What is an HOA?

One in five Americans live in an area with a Homeowners' Association - or HOA. But what exactly is it that they do?

• An HOA is a homeowner’s association – an organization that aims to maintain a clean and cohesive place to live for its residents.
• Entire neighborhoods, subdivisions, condominiums, family homes, or townhouses within “a planned development” will often make up an HOA.
• They also act as a governing body for tenants, who run and fund the HOA through monthly fees.
• Their principal aims are to keep the community functioning and visually appealing and to maintain property values.
• They primarily focus on common areas of a neighborhood, such as roads, parks, and pools – but may also stipulate what residents can do with their properties, such as yards and driveways.
• Often these restrictions enforce uniformity on properties, for example, ensuring most houses look the same and all driveways are clear of weeds.
• An HOA rulebook of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) is distributed to all residents, and an elected volunteer board of directors enforces these regulations.
• Breaking these rules can result in penalties such as fines and even litigation – as most HOAs are incorporated and subject to state law.
• HOAs are often the subject of controversy, with some members feeling that the rules are too punitive and restricting, or that the leadership has too much power.
• But others like that HOAs give communities the power of self-governance, and can ensure a degree of harmony between residents.

“I can’t believe it. This United States that they would come out with something like that. I just can’t comprehend it. Just cannot believe it,” Cammack told WKRC.

“I would completely ignore it. I would fight it to my last breath.”

People approached Towne Properties, which manages Triple Crown, to express their outrage.

The management company does not make the HOA rules but told WXIX a new manager had sent out almost 40 letters telling residents they were violating rules.

In response to the upset residents, Towne Properties made a quick change.

“Towne Properties wholeheartedly supports all members of the United States military and thanks them for their service. Towne Properties is also obligated to support their association and rules set by the association board,” a statement from the management company read, according to WKRC.

“The association manager has spoken with the board and it has been decided that any flag representing the United States is allowed to be flown in the community provided it is in good shape.

“As such, Mr. Wallace will be allowed to keep his flag displayed outside his home.”

The U.S. Sun has previously reported on multiple HOA’s asking residents to take down flags including one in Utah that fined a homeowner $75.