💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
Can the BOD vote to lower the speed limits where the country engineer already stated that 25 MPH is the state speed limit for residential areas?
There are no posted speed limit signs anywhere in the community except for a few 15 MPH Caution Children signs at three different areas of the community where children play or cross the streets to enter or exit the community for school.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
I say if private road the association can control the speed limits. This then raise the issue of how they enforce such, but another subject.
ArtL1 (Florida)
Posts: 140
Posted:
At least in FL, it's possible for the HOA board to grant the city PD permission to enforce speed and other traffic laws on private roads in a gated community.

Whether or not the speed limit can be lowered by the board (as opposed to by some kind of vote by the members), I can't say.
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
That's the problem,there is no enforcement. I brought that up at the last meeting about hiring the police to conduct saturation patrols because the key
problem we have are stop sigh runners. The 15 MPH caution children are at only 3 spots in the community, at both gates and by the park. One resident is always complaining about "speeders" I'm more concerned if the HOA can legally lower the speed limits that was already set by road engineers and the NRS.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
So a HOA member or Board member is to stand outside with a radar gun measuring speed? How does that work? You can't tell a person's speed by standing still. I believe speed enforcement is the Police job not individuals. Lowering the speed limit can be viewed as setting up "speed" traps. They do that in an area here on a major highway. They lower it to 45 MPH just through town then bumps up to 55 MPH right after. Doesn't stop people from speeding. It just increases your chances of getting a ticket.

People may view the speeding enforcement in your HOA as a bit crooked over safety. Where is the money going to go that is collected? Will it not be taxable if it's not part of dues collections? Watch that "selective enforcement" line...

Former HOA President
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
As others have said, if they are private roads, the Assocaition may lower the speed limit.

Options to remind drivers:

Temporary driver feedback signs, shows your speed and posted speed - perhaps borrowed or rented from local police.
Permanent driver feedback signs, similar to these (first one on an internet search)
Traffic Calming devices expensive to add due to changes in the road itself.
Articles in newsletter and on website

Options if public roads:

Petition the City/County to add an additional fine if caught speeding in the area (I've seen $200 additional as pretty standard). The HOA/County pays for posting the signs about the additional cost to speeders.

Actual enforcement (if private streets):

Off duty police officers (hired by HOA)
Private security force issuing violations that the Board then holds a hearing on (note: many liability issues here - check to see if it's really worth it)

Actual enforcement (if public streets):
Talk to the local police chief/sheriff.
GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By LetA on 02/25/2018 7:18 PM
That's the problem,there is no enforcement. I brought that up at the last meeting about hiring the police to conduct saturation patrols because the key
problem we have are stop sigh runners. The 15 MPH caution children are at only 3 spots in the community, at both gates and by the park. One resident is always complaining about "speeders" I'm more concerned if the HOA can legally lower the speed limits that was already set by road engineers and the NRS.

We have the exact same conversation going on here right now. We may have been at the same meeting via quantum entanglement. People have all kinds of ideas about what can be done and the prevailing thought is, unfortunately, that we need more speed limit signs. The board is set to approve a $400 expense for new signs this week. Many of us think more signs will do nothing. There's a prominent Speed Limit 15 MPH sign right inside the front gate so there's no excuse for anyone to say they weren't aware of it.

Some want the local Sheriff's dept. to come in and enforce the speed limit, but they're not going to do that unless we pay them. Someone spots a 40 mph repeat offender speeder at 2 PM and is outraged. They don't notice, though, that the other 23.9 hours a day there's hardly even any traffic, never mind speeders. Some want to fine offenders, but the HOA doesn't own a radar gun.

We're not sure what we're going to do. Shunning is probably in store for the scofflaws.
TimM11
Posts: 354
Posted:
Been there too. Having a rule on the books, and the ability to enforce it, are sometimes two very different things.

EdwardB5 (New York)
Posts: 4
Posted:
I have read most of the posts on this subject but still, need advice . . .

We live in a gated community, privately owned roads with a well-posted 25 mph speed limit. Two entrances and exits, one manned, one with a card reader for residents only. After exhaustive research for a remedy to our speeding problem (only on the "main drags" to either gate), we have come up empty. Oh! Did I mention it is an over-55 active community?

Our committee has proposed reducing the speed limit, "Your speed is XX" signs, speed bumps, humps, tables, you-name-it. The sheriff, who will come in here, is only able to appear v e r y sporadically due to reduced resources. He has however temporarily placed 2 radar boxes which over 8 days confirmed we have a speeding problem, with a few drivers doing 49mph. Compounding the problem: We have residents who refuse to believe there is a problem. In the last month, we've had 3 accidents in the community, one of which caused minor injuries. With no sidewalks, we have pedestrians who cannot be without blame themselves who also show a degree of carelessness. Our proposals have met with great discontent from the homeowners. It's almost as though they don't want the problem mitigated if it will slow their trip to get home to watch Dr.Phil.

Any ideas?
EdwardB5 (New York)
Posts: 4
Posted:
Sorry, my location is Florida (not NY).
GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276
Posted:
My gated community has 1 way in and 1 way out. Speed limit is posted 15 mph on all roads. We have, I estimate, perhaps one or 2 violations each day. How many man-hours does anyone think the local PD or Sheriff's Dept. is going to devote to policing the speed limit in such a community? They could be here an hour a day and if they miss the people speeding in the other 23 hours then that's not a very efficient.

Some people here discussed the use of radar a few years ago. It didn't go very far. Sure, you could do it but at great expense. You can't just sit someone with a radar gun on the side of the road. When was that radar gun last calibrated? Does the person using the gun receive any training on how to use it? If we ever fined anyone for violating the speed limit and they contested it to the point of a court case, we'd probably lose.

Getting automatic equipment with the ability to measure speed and take photos of violatprs (like those mobile trailers that show "your speed is ...") might be expensive. We never got as far as looking at just how expensive.

I suggested we change our speed limit from 15 to 30 mph. No takers.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

  • ✓ Ask follow-up questions
  • ✓ Share your experience
  • ✓ Get expert advice
  • ✓ Access 350,000 discussions
Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here