Desert Falls Villas I HOA, Palm Desert CA Members of the Board, Citations handed out like Halloween candy--and no way to combat the practice Palm Desert, California

Not only would I not live in Desert Falls Villas if its Board of Directors GAVE me a condo, I take every opportunity to share my bizarre experience with its citation-mad HOA with friends in the community, some of whom sit, or sat, on boards of other clubs ranging from The Springs and Rancho Mirage CC to Bighorn.

I have been renting a condo at Desert Falls Villas in Palm Desert, California, since July 2009 when I moved here from the San Francisco Bay Area to look after my aging parents.

In less than two years, I have been cited five times by the Desert Falls HOA for infractions--beginning the day I moved in and continuing on a regular basis since that time. The day I moved in, I was cited for having the moving truck in my driveway after 5 p.m. Not yet having received a copy of the rules, I was unaware of this violation until it was too late. Two days later, my driveway was deemed "unsightly" as Ibelieving I was doing my civic dutywas breaking down moving boxes to take to the recycling center.

My list of crimes continues--a garbage can on the curb 24 hours after the garbage company had come and gone (I was out of town and my well-meaning neighbor forgot to move it into the garage); car, in the middle of the night decides, all on its own, to shift out of park and roll down the driveway, straddling the curb.

Most recently, I learn another citation has been issued to me--for a violation of the 25 mph speed limit despite the fact that a) no citation was issued at the time; b) I was 300 miles away preparing my house for sale when this apparently occurred.

What makes Desert Falls' practice particularly heinous is that the Board of Directors holds monthly "hearings" for these citations, but only the homeowner--no renters--can attend. The homeowner from whom I am renting the condo was an elderly lady who, now deceased, was unable to travel farther than the dining room of her Northern California nursing home.

Not surprisingly, the Board of Directors has judged me 100% guilty of these infractions. The garbage can fine was $100.

Issuing citations to renters who have no way to defend themselves at these "hearings" may be an easy way to make a little money for the HOA, but the long-term cost to the community is much greater.

I have come to know dozens of people in the last two years and whenever anyone asks me where I live, I say "'I've been renting a condo at Desert Falls Country Club until I buy a house here. Don't EVER move there because they hand out citations like Halloween candy." Then I tell my story of the citations.

One couple said, "Gee, thanks for telling us. We were starting to look there for a condo. I think we'll reconsider."

Moral of the story: Before you rent or buy in a gated community, attend a Board meeting!