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Welcome! my name is Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. I am a real biker, and a real California Biker and Motorcycle Lawyer.
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11/03/06
Brain Dead in Canyon Lake, California; Who would want to live there?
05:45:13 am, by Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. 
, 515 words 
Categories: News, Articles, Biker Rights, General Legal, Editorial
Imagine buying a home in a gated city called Canyon Lake, in Riverside County. You move into your new home with your family; everything is great.
Then imagine jumping on your motorcycle to ride to work, no biggie right? Wrong!
In Canyon Lake, California, which is a gated city consisting of around 4300 single family homes; riding a motorcycle anywhere in the city has been banned by the Homeowners Association.
Yes, you heard me right; you cannot ride a motorcycle anywhere in this city. If you are caught riding a street legal and properly licensed motorcycle in this city you can face fines that start progressively up from $100.00, including possibly losing your home!
I recently read about Canyon Lake in a newspaper article here. The homeowners association will not let you ride your motorcycle to or from your home either.
Bikers must park their motorcycles outside of the city limits or trailer their bike in or out if the don’t want to be in violation of the law here.
Recently a group of bikers and their supporters attempted to change the homeowner’s association bylaws but failed. They say they will keep trying to change the rules.
I say that the homeowners association of Canyon Lake is Brain Dead! I am stating this as my own personal opinion.
This is an ominous development as far as I am concerned. Who knows, maybe the city of Riverside will outlaw riding motorcycles on city streets next.
Some people may say that since the majority of homeowners voted to ban motorcycles, that it is ok because it is democracy in action. Wrong; our Country and system of justice is set up to protect the rights of the few when the actions of the majority usurp the minorities constitutional rights.
Back in the 1960’s there were laws that allowed persons or establishments to discriminate against minorities just because of the color of their skin. The Court system, and eventually the Congress enacted laws to prohibit this type of discrimination.
In the case of Canyon Lake, I recommend that the bikers there get a good lawyer and take appropriate legal action against the city and its discriminatory practices against bikers.
It seems to me that the State of California and the vehicle code take precedence over the Brain Dead majority of Canyon Lake. It seems to me that so long as the State allows Motorcycles to legally ride on City Streets, that State law would take priority over Canyon Lake Law. I know that Canyon Lake will argue that they are a private city, bla bla bla. However, they are a quasi city for purposes of the law.
I sure would like to see how a lawsuit would pan out against Canyon Lake and their ban on motorcycles.
One thing is sure, I will never go there, I will never spend my money there, and I do not recommend that other bikers do so either. I feel sorry for the poor SOB’s that bought homes there. They cannot even ride their motorcycles home.
By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. , Copyright 2006
15 comments
I have seen many voluminous C&R's over the years. I have seen some C&R's which require a lawyer to interpret!
C&R's which are patently unreasonable and discriminatory should be challenged in Court. That is my opinion.
Norm
I moved to Canyon Lake knowing full well that motorcycles were not allowed to be ridden within the gates of the community. Sounds crazy, no?
Well, no. I knew that the rule would be overturned one day, and I wanted to be part of the force that was behind such a shift in this community. I was also aware that it would make me appear to be a heretic to some property owners, but those same people are the ones we must FIGHT with all our strength.
So, you can be with us in our fight against discrimination, or dismiss us as Troglodytes that deserve it. Stand up for the rights of motorcyclists, or potentially let MORE communities pass laws restricting our passion.
Your decision.
Ride safe and proud!!!
I think this community is way out of line and something definitely needs to be done to protect our rights before other communities jump on this bandwagon. It seems it should be harder than this to make something perfectly legal illegal, and we should all be worried about what freedom they will try to take away next. I support you in your fight to overturn this ordinance.
Fight the good fight, and ride safe and free.
Imagine buying a home in a gated city called Canyon Lake, in Riverside County. You move into your new home with your family; everything is great.
Then imagine jumping on your motorcycle to ride to work, no biggie right? Wrong!
In Canyon Lake, California, which is a gated city consisting of around 4300 single family homes; riding a motorcycle anywhere in the city has been banned by the Homeowners Association.
Now if this happened to you, many of your neighbors would be mocking and having fun at your expense, because when you purchase a house in Canyon Lake, before you close escrow, the CC&Rs require your signature. And being an attorney, I would hope that you would read before you sign. And guess what, you'd learn that your motorcycle is not welcome in our fine city.
Sorry---go buy elsewhere--the people have spoken.
I would say that you people are brain dead. I for one would never, ever waste a dime of my money anywhere near Canyon Lake because of your discriminatory practices which may in fact not be legal. I would love to challenge your Association in Court! If I were to prevail, you would be paying a portion of the judgement.
Because of my article, many bikers now know about your asinine CC&R's restricting them from riding motorcycles in your BS community, and will look elsewhere to purchase. How many of your 4300 single family homes are now vacant?
Your case is a good example of the many discriminating against the few. If I were you, I would be ashamed.
Norm
As for testing it in court, that's already been done, twice. Motorcycles lose every time. The citizens of the city have voted many times on the ordinance and every time the motor cyle ban is upheld with voting results like 90-10 in favor of the ban.
As for spending money near Canyon Lake, sorry, no impact of consequence whatsoever.
Just because the homeowners vote on something, or the board makes some kind of decision, does not make it legal. In 100% of the Homeowners cases that I have taken on, I have won for my clients.
I will not discuss any impending legal action against your HOA.
I have read the previous Court papers against your HOA. Fortunately for you, in my opinion the previous legal actions were done all wrong.
I would do them in Federal Court, under theories that have not been argued in your previous cases because there are constitutional issues involved. I would not do my case in State Court.
You don't seem to realize that in some cases a majority cannot violate the constitutional rights of the minority, even if it is voted on. That is why we have a constitution, to protect the rights of the minority when people like you would usurp those rights.
You know full well you are being impacted monetarily. Your property values have gone way down, you have substantial vacant houses, and after motorcyclist read my article about your ban on motorcycles, they will probably not be buying houses in your community. You have shut out an entire affluent market of home buyers. Have you read the income demographics for Harley Davidson owners?
In any case watch your vacant houses increase, and your home values decrease, as you ban a whole sector of potential buyers from Canyon Lake. If it were my equity on the line I would probably be more reasonable.
Norm
example
How is the homeowners association discriminating when 90% of the community supports the ban? Again, if you want to buy a house here, fine, but up front you're told you can't drive your motor cycle.
And we all know that living in a community that bans motorcycles is a huge asset and something very desirable. We don't care about the small market segment who own Harleys, or any other bike. Banning increases property values and keeps the community much more quiet.
90% of the community don't want motor cyles and that's the way it is. Nice to see democracy working for a change and people not having to live by the ruling of some judge. Laws made by people, not judges and attorneys. Imagine that.
You see, the constitution exists to protect the few from the many when they seek to violate the minorities constitutional rights.
Good thing there are judges to protect us from the many, when the many want to violate the constitution. You should maybe try going to school and learning about the United States Constitution and why it was enacted.
You are buying too much into that conservative line of bullshit that has almost destroyed our nation.
You forgot to mention the vacant houses that dot Canyon Lake!
In my area, the prices have remained the same, imagine that. We don't discriminate against anyone. Imagine that!
I am going to have the last word with you via this post. Let's agree to disagree until a Court or common sense changes the discriminatory practices of Canyon Lake.
Norm
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