Speeding isn’t just another pesky issue. It has potentially fatal consequences, and at the very least, drivers who speed make other HOA owners feel unsafe.

The magnitude of a speeding problem is quite different for a large-scale community with 5000 homes versus a community with 200 homes, but the concerns are the same.

It’s the solutions that will differ. There are things that HOAs can and should do to address speeding or failure to stop, but the course of action will depend on the association’s size, budget and location.

Read on to find out how other HOAs have dealt with speeding troubles.

Table of contents

• Private versus public roads: Why it matters
• Enforceable traffic rules must be recorded in writing
• How to deal with speeding in an HOA
  • Speed limit signs
  • Radar boards
  • Speed cameras
  • Off-duty police
  • Traffic calming

Private versus public roads: Why it matters

Before making any action plans, it’s important to know if your HOA’s roads are publicly or privately owned.

Publicly owned roads

If the roads are governed by the city or county, then the HOA doesn’t have the authority to create parking rules, adjust speed limits, or make physical modifications on its own.  

Communities are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency to assist with enforcement. In many cases, the traffic division will agree to assist and enforce local traffic laws as needed.

Privately owned roads

If the roads in your homeowner association are private roads, law enforcement is limited in its jurisdiction to enforce speed limits. However, the association is in a position to take control of the problem.

Once you have confirmed that the roads are owned by the community, the next step is to consult with the governing documents.

Enforceable traffic rules must be recorded in writing  

Your HOA’s CC&Rs, bylaws, or rules and regulations must empower the board to adopt traffic rules and impose penalties for breaking them. Without that authority, it’s unlikely you’ll have success putting an end to the speeding.

For example, a driver could not be issued a fine for moving 10 miles above the speed limit if there is nothing about speeding within the governing documents.

Furthermore, rules must be enforceable, fair, and uniformly applied. If you impose fines or penalties, the HOA may need to issue a notice, host a hearing, and/or follow appeals procedures, depending on the community’s enforcement policy and any relevant state statutes.

Finally, to penalize someone for speeding, the HOA must have proof of the violation. Often, that means using radar guns, speed cameras, or witness statements. Vague assertions are weak and make it difficult to prevent drivers from going too fast.

In cases where fines or suspensions are not a practical option, legal action can be taken, but again, the HOA must have strong proof that the driver was traveling too quickly.

How to deal with speeding in an HOA

Overview

Solution	What It Entails	Advantages	Challenges
Post speed limits	Use signs to inform drivers about the speed limit	Sets clear expectations. Creates a basis for enforcement	Does not stop drivers who are intentionally exceeding the speed limit
Radar board	Use a radar display board that shows the speed of the driver, or instructs them to slow down, as they approach the board	Non-punitive feedback. May encourage drivers to slow down	May lose effect over time. Won’t stop drivers who are intentionally exceeding the speed limit
Fines	Treat speeding as a rule violation. Send notices, impose fines	Financial loss discourages drivers from speeding	Fines must be authorized by governing documents, and usually cannot be issued without following a structured process (warnings and hearing first)
Speed cameras	Install devices that detect speeding and capture license plate information. Issue fines	Automated detection. Strong speed deterrent	HOAs must ensure the use of such tech is permitted under law
Off-duty police	Hire security or off-duty law enforcement to track speeds and enforce traffic rules	Instant ability to enforce rules. Strong speed deterrent	More expensive than some solutions. Possibility for inconsistent enforcement. May need to obtain special permissions
Traffic calming	Use speed bumps, speed humps, raised crosswalks, narrow streets, etc., to get drivers to slow down	Passive enforcement that works most of the time	May require engineering studies. Speed bumps can interfere with emergency vehicles and snow plows

So, let’s say the board has considered fines, but has concluded that this method will not be an effective deterrent on its own. What else should it consider?

Below are some real solutions that HOA communities have implemented to reduce or stop members from breaking traffic rules.

Speed limit signs

This is often a “first step” for communities. Speed limit signs continuously remind drivers of how fast they are allowed to travel within the HOA. They are affordable, but easy to ignore, making them less effective than some other speed reduction strategies.

Radar boards

Radar boards give real-time feedback to drivers. They might display the driver’s speed, or instruct them to “slow down” if they are moving too fast.  

Some communities have asked their local police departments to loan them radar boards for a short period of time. One board member reported that the boards were effective in slowing traffic.

This board member also collected and analyzed compliance data, and discovered that speeding was more problematic than they had anticipated. As a result, they installed speed bumps at critical spots. 

Speed cameras

Speed cameras capture license plates and can issue tickets or fines automatically. Some owners may see them as invasive, while others welcome the added enforcement.

Before an HOA installs a speed camera, it should ensure that state laws and its governing documents permit it.

 Off-duty police

Some larger communities pay the sheriff’s department to enforce traffic laws with real tickets. HOAs that have done this recommend speaking with the department first to determine the process. One member shared that they had to get all traffic signs Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant, as well as get the board to approve the agreement with county commissioners.  

Once that part was completed, the roads could be patrolled like any public street. The HOA pays for 2 weekly shifts that last 4 hours each. Patrol cars may be marked or unmarked.

Once members become aware that they can get real tickets, driver’s license points, and increased insurance rates, the speeding drops significantly.

While this is a more expensive solution, it is incredibly effective.

Traffic calming

Traffic calming began in the Netherlands in the 1960s with the design of “Woonerven,” or “living yards.” These living yards integrated motor traffic with pedestrian and bicycle traffic on shared street space.

In the late 1970s, Germany began working on a similar solution that it called traffic calming. A few communities in the U.S. began applying the principles of traffic calming, but it has taken many years for this strategy to gain popularity.

Nevertheless, when done properly, traffic calming can lower crash and injury rates anywhere from 20% to 80%.

Traffic calming solutions involve the use of physical measures to alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. Options include:

• speed bumps
• speed humps
• raised intersections
• narrowing streets
• introducing street parking
• chicanes
• curb extensions

While this is the most permanent solution, it is also very effective, and does not require human oversight.

HOAs that have installed speed/humps or bumps point out that they are not accommodating to emergency vehicles or snow plow trucks.

One large community narrowed its roads, and the change actually worked. Though it did not completely stop people from speeding, there was definitely an impact. 

Conclusion

Speeding is a problem that should not be ignored. Drivers who speed are far more likely to seriously injure someone else in the community.

HOAs are encouraged to proactively address speeding by establishing traffic rules, informing owners about speed limits, and implementing speed reduction solutions when necessary.