Outrage as AZ Homeowner Fined $100 Repeatedly for Giving Out Free Water in Heat Amid Clash with HOA [WATCH]

In a saga that has stirred emotions across Arizona and beyond, Goodyear resident David Martin has found himself at odds with his homeowners association over an act of kindness.

Offering free bottles of cold water to neighbors and passersby during the state’s punishing summer heat.

For the past five years, Martin has placed a cooler filled with bottled water in his driveway for anyone in need—children playing outside, dog walkers, delivery drivers, and anyone simply enduring the desert sun.

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The gesture began in 2020, born out of the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I figured, what better way to be an asset to the community than cold water,” Martin told local outlet KPHO in August 2024.

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

Together with his wife, Martin decided that a simple cooler filled with cold water could bring a sense of connection and compassion during a time of uncertainty.

“It’s for the kids, the delivery drivers, the couple holding hands walking down the street,” he said. “It’s for the little kid who has to walk his dog in the heat.”

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But what began as a small act of goodwill has now snowballed into a bureaucratic battle between Martin and the Canyon Trails HOA, managed by FirstService Residential.

Last year, the HOA fined Martin $50 for keeping the cooler in view of the street, citing community rules about the visibility of stored items.

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

When Martin refused to pay, believing the fine was unjust, the HOA escalated the penalty—charging him $100 for non-compliance for three consecutive months.

“Here we are in July, the hottest day of the year, and we are still talking about a water cooler with free cold water,” said Martin.

“It’s ridiculous that they are adding violations to a total that’s not going to get paid because I’m giving out free water.”

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

The HOA maintains that Martin is not being fined for giving away water but for the manner in which he displays it.

“The Association does not object to a resident providing water bottles within the community; however, the community’s rules do not allow a resident to advertise water bottle distribution from a portable ice chest, located next to their garage that is visible from neighboring property,” the board stated.

To Martin, this reasoning is more about control than community. Refusing to back down or pay the fines, he began looking for another route to resolve the issue—and found one: democracy.

Martin launched a petition to remove three of the HOA board members he believes are behind the excessive enforcement.

He needed 100 signatures from the neighborhood and successfully gathered the required support.

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

“I am hoping with three new board members that get elected, they’ll see that wasting time and money on a water cooler that’s helping the community is just that, a waste,” Martin said.

“I stand firm on the fact that I’m not paying the fines. The cooler is not going anywhere, and I’ll fight it.”

A special meeting was held on July 10, attended by about 24 residents and two board members not targeted by the recall effort.

Out of 210 ballots submitted, 190 voted in favor of removing the three targeted members—well over the threshold needed for removal.

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

While the board initially recognized the supermajority vote, the situation quickly turned murky.

The targeted board members disputed the results, arguing that Martin had not gathered enough valid signatures.

The board then held an emergency meeting to invalidate the vote, citing a lack of 24-hour notice and questioning whether 210 ballots represented a valid quorum for a community of over 1,000 homes.

Despite this, Martin produced a notice from FirstService Residential and its legal team supporting the legitimacy of the vote under Arizona state law.

Image Credit: Screenshot, YouTube / 12 News

Now, Martin is preparing for what may become a legal showdown—but he remains undeterred.

“It’s not just about water, it’s about the community as a whole,” he said.

At the heart of this dispute lies more than just a cooler full of water.

It’s a battle between bureaucracy and grassroots kindness, between regulation and compassion. Martin’s stand is resonating with many as a reminder that sometimes, the smallest acts of generosity are the ones worth fighting for.

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