The HOA fine was taped to my boat windshield. $500. Reason, unauthorized fishing and watercraft use. I stood on the dock staring at the paper while my fishing rod rested against the seat behind me. My boat was tied to my dock on my lake beside land my family had owned for more than 40 years. Yet, the Pine Hollow Homeowners Association had decided I needed permission to fish there.
I read the notice again. All watercraft operators must display a valid Pine Hollow Lake permit. Second violation, subject to towing. Third violation, subject to permanent lake access suspension. I almost laughed.
Permanent lake access suspension from my own land. Then a white golf cart came rolling down the gravel path beside the water. A woman in a bright red jacket sat behind the wheel. I recognized her immediately. Rebecca Sloan, president of Pine Hollow HOA.
She stopped near the dock and climbed out carrying a clipboard. Mr. Brooks, that's me. I see you received the violation. I see you put it on my boat.
Yes. I held up the paper. You fined me for fishing? For unauthorized lake use? I looked at the water, then at her.
This is my boat. That does not matter. This is my dock. The dock is within Pine Hollow's recreational shoreline zone. This is my land.
That is disputed. There it was. The favorite sentence of every person who wants something they do not own. Disputed. Rebecca pointed toward my small aluminum fishing boat.
You also launched from an unapproved location. My dock? Yes. The dock my father built? She sighed.
Mr. Brooks, Pine Hollow has rules. I'm sure it does. Then follow them. I'm not in Pine Hollow.
That is not how the lake works. I folded the fine. How does the lake work? All residents and surrounding property users are subject to the lake management rules. I smiled.
Surrounding property users? Yes, that's a creative phrase. Her face tightened. This is not funny. Then a Pine Hollow security cart arrived.
A man named Paul Jenkins stepped out. I knew Paul. He had waved at me plenty of times when I was fishing. Good guy. He looked uncomfortable.
Morning, Daniel. Morning. Rebecca pointed toward my boat. Document the violation. Paul looked at me.
Then the boat. Then the dock. Miss Sloan, isn't this the Brooks property? Yes, but the lake is HOA controlled. I stared at her.
No, it isn't. She turned toward me. Pine Hollow maintains it. Part of the shoreline. We maintain the dam.
No, our contractor does because my family allowed it. She crossed her arms. Long-term maintenance creates management rights. I laughed. Not ownership.
Then she said something that made me stop laughing. You may own your little strip of shoreline, but you do not own the water. I looked across the lake. About 80 acres, long and narrow, trees on one side, pine hollow homes on the other. Then I looked back at her.
You really believe that? I know it. Paul looked away. He knew something she did not. Because Paul had lived nearby longer than Rebecca.
Before Pine Hollow existed, before the clubhouse, before the pool, before the HOA signs, the lake had a name, Brooks Lake, and it was part of Brooks Farm, my family property. The neighborhood had been built beside it 21 years earlier. My father had given residents permission to fish, canoe, and use part of the shoreline free. He liked people. He liked kids.
He especially liked teaching children to fish, but permission was not ownership. Rebecca apparently never learned that part. She pointed at my boat again. You have 48 hours to pay. No.
If you refuse, the fine increases. No. If you continue using the lake without a permit, we can restrict your access. No. You keep saying no.
I own the property. You own land beside the lake. I shook my head. Rebecca, you should check county records before continuing this conversation. I don't need to.
That confidence is going to be expensive. She looked angry. Then she turned to Paul. Place the suspension marker. Paul did not move.
The what? Rebecca took a red tag from her clipboard. Boat access suspended. She handed it to him. Attach it to the dock.
Paul stared. Here? Yes. He looked at me. I shrugged.
Your call. He handed the tag back to her. I'm not putting anything on private property without clearer instructions. Rebecca's face changed. I am giving you instructions and I'm asking whether this dock belongs to Pine Hollow.
The shoreline is under HOA management. That wasn't my question. Good man. Rebecca grabbed the red tag herself. She walked toward the dock post.
I stepped to the side. Did not touch her. Did not need to. Before you attach that, I want you to understand something. She stopped.
What? If you put HOA enforcement signage on my land after I've told you it's private, I will remove it. You will be interfering with community property. No, I will be removing your sign from mine. She stared at me, then slapped the tag around the post.
Anyway, fine. I took a picture, then another. Then I removed it carefully and handed it back. She looked shocked. You can't do that.
I just did. You've now committed another violation. I smiled. Added to my account. You think this is a joke?
No. I think you don't understand where you're standing. Then I pulled out my phone and called my attorney, Rachel Monroe. She answered, "Morning. " I got fined. For what this time?
That made Rebecca glare at me. Fishing. Silence. Then Rachel said, "On Brooks Lake. " Yes. Another pause.
Please tell me you're joking. No. Rebecca stepped closer. Who are you talking to? My attorney.
Her face tightened. Rachel asked, "Did they actually issue a fine? " 500. Take pictures. Already did. Anything else?
They tried to suspend my dock. Now Rachel laughed. Rebecca heard it. That lawyer clearly doesn't understand HOA authority. Rachel was on speaker now.
I understand exactly enough. Rebecca froze. Rachel continued, "My client owns the lake bed parcel. the dam parcel, the western shoreline, and the access road subject to limited recorded rights. If your association believes otherwise, send me the documents. Rebecca's expression changed slightly.
Only slightly. Then she said, "Pine Hollow has permanent recreational rights. " Rachel answered, "That is different from ownership. We have control authority. Show me. " Rebecca looked at me. You'll receive the documentation.