HOA Tows Woman’s Car From Her Own Driveway, Internet Helps Conspire to Get Revenge

Homeowners associations are often referred to as the bane of people's existences — numerous folks have waxed on about just how much they can't stand these governing bodies that seem hell-bent on collecting fees from residents while, in some cases, stringently policing what they do with their properties.

One homeowner, Dystanee Brooks, learned first hand just how petty HOAs can be after she came home one day and noticed her car missing. Thinking that someone broke into the gated community she lives in to burgle her vehicle, she called the police to let them know her whip was gone.

However, Dystanee was informed by authorities that her car wasn't stolen, but rather towed by the homeowners association that she and other residents in her community contribute money to each and every month. From what she shows in her clip, it seems that the HOA decided to pull her car away because she parked it on an angle.

She shared her frustration in a viral TikTok which she posted under the handle @dystaneeb. Numerous folks who responded to her video shared ways they thought she could get back at the HOA, with many stating she could probably get them in big trouble if she requested an audit of how they allocate the funds they collect from residents.

"OK, I came outside to walk the dog and realized that my car was missing. Boo-hoo, crying, calling 911 like somebody stole my car out of a gated neighborhood. They're like OK, what's the address?"

The TikToker went on with her story stating, "I give [the address] to them and they're like oh no ma'am, the HOA." She looks off camera after revealing who the culprit behind her missing vehicle was.

"Because, I was parked like this," she says, before flipping the camera around to reveal the reasoning as to why the homeowners association decided to pull her car from out of her driveway, pointing to the marks left on the ground that occurred as a result of the tow.

"Yep, the good HOA," she said. It appears that the homeowners association didn't like that her vehicle was parked at an angle on her driveway.

She added in a caption for the post: "Woke up thinking somebody stole my car and no the HOA hit me with 'no Jody I STOLE MY CAR.'"

Folks in the comments section were outraged by the HOA's decision to take her car for what seemed like an arbitrary reason. One TikTok user simply wrote: "HOA should be illegal."

While someone else said that this was a prime example as to why living in HOAs is generally just a bad idea.

"And what have we learned?! DO NOT LIVE IN HOA NEIGHBORHOODS!!!" another person replied.

Some commenters who responded to Dystanee's video couldn't believe that HOA reps had her own car towed out of her own driveway: "Wait out of the driveway?"

The TikToker confirmed that this was indeed the case, and there were several other folks on the app who would have wanted to get back at the HOA for such a move: "Towed out of your own driveway?!?! NAHH I woulda been plotting on the whole HOA."

One person expressed that they couldn't understand what would've been so difficult about knocking on the door and asking her to park her car differently instead of immediately going to a tow: "They couldn’t knock on your door and tell you to move your car. That’s why I could never do HOAs."

But there were others who suggested getting authorities involved to help the HOA mind its p's and q's: "Please tell me you made a report on them. Cuz that’s ridiculous. My mom had to go off on the HOA and they left her alone after that."

Another person stated that they believed many homeowners associations mismanage the funds they receive from residents and if an audit was ever requested, then they'd probably be quaking in their boots as a result: "Sue the HOA and name the tow company in same lawsuit. Also open up an HOA audit claim and make them show how they been handling funds. They mishandle."

So coupling a lawsuit along with an official audit would probably get them back into a corner they'd rather not be in.

What do you think about HOAs? Are they as bad as everybody says? Would you stay away from them like so many other folks in the comments section of Dystanee's video recommended?