[Mikeod]

It's interesting that those who report deed restriction violations are deemed "unfriendly" while those that either intentionally or unintentionally violate the restrictions are not.

I lived in a community with CC&Rs, i.e., restrictions tied to the property. We had a couple of homeowners who chose to ignore them and were called on it. They were informed of who reported it and the result was a chilling effect on neighbor relations. But whose fault was it? The reporter or the person who knowingly ignored the rules?

I understand the concern about someone who would drive around TV looking for violations. But how hard is it to read and understand the restrictions you agreed to when you purchased your home. Then follow them. Ignoring these is a slippery slope. I believe there is a legal concept that holds if you ignore a violation repeatedly over a period of time, that restriction becomes invalid. Simply understand the rules, follow them, and if reported, comply. They are not oppressive.