I'm really hoping someone can help me. I live in a townhouse and just recieved a fine of $100.00 because I left one of my daughters bikes outside for 2 days. I left it out for a friend to pick it up for her little girl. She's strapped for cash so we let her have our daughters smaller bike. She works a tight schedule and wasn't sure when she could get it so we left it out for 2 days by our steps behind bushes where the bike couldn't really be seen from the street. Is there anyway to avoid this fine? I am going to send a letter to the association but I don't know if it should be nice or mad. I'm leaning toward nice, my husband toward mad. I have to say this is the 2nd time we've gotten this fine. The first time we didn't know about it. We paid the fee and never did it again. I don't know if there's anything legal I can cite or not. We live in Bergen County, NJ if that's any help. Again, if anyone has advice thank you so much in advance.

When you choose to live in an area that has a HOA, you choose to live by its rules. Any rights that you have to appeal this fine are contained in the HOA documents. There is no law that prohibits the HOA from levying and collecting such fines.