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Article and Video Courtesy of
WPBF -- Channel 25
Published October 13, 2009
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 Watch
VIDEO
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WEST
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When Doug
Prince drives through his gated Terracina community, he finds himself
giving a guided tour -- but he never thought it would include stops like
this.
"We
had a pimp that lived there," he said, pausing outside of one
well-kept home. "That house right there was a meth lab," he
said, of another.
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Prince
and his wife bought their home for more than $500,000. He said it's now
worth 50 cents on the dollar -- and with so many foreclosures, about 33
percent of homeowners are delinquent in their homeowner's association
dues.
"(It's
a) pretty high amount, substantial -- especially when you try to budget
that," said Prince.
Now,
the community is trying something new. Liens are only marginally working,
so the HOA board has invested in new security
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software
and a car transponder system that will cut conveniences, like entry into
the community -- until they pay up.
"These
are break on removal," said Prince, who explained that if a homeowner
doesn't pay his or her dues, he or she won't get a transponder.
"(With)
these transponders, we can also delete, suspend, assign times," said
Prince. "If you don't pay your HOA fees, we can turn it off."
When
the old gate clickers are turned off next week, people like Jean Amie and
his guests are going to know how well the new system works.
"I
cannot get nobody in at all," said Amie. "Everybody that comes
to me I have to go to the gate and pick them up."
Behind
in his dues, Amie drove out and clicked in his guest -- but next week, he
won't be able to do that.
Attorney
Robert Rubinstein is an expert in community association law. He said
Terracina's plan is smart, but they must let homeowners in.
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"They
have right to go into their own home and they have a right to park
there," said Rubinstein. "And you can't stop that,
rightfully so. But you don't have to give them total
convenience."
Just
the threat of having to use the guest lane has brought in nearly
$50,000 in back HOA dues; however, WPBF 25 News' Cathleen O'Toole
found not everyone plans to comply.
"I'm
going to get in," said a man who would not identify himself.
"I'm not sure (how), but I'm going to get in."
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