Arizona Man Fined for Sharing Free Water in the Heat — But He’s Fighting Back

What started as a simple act of goodwill in the sweltering Arizona heat has spiraled into a showdown between a determined resident and his homeowners association.

David Martin, a resident of the Canyon Trails community in Goodyear, Arizona, has been offering cold bottled water to anyone passing by his home for the last five years. Whether it’s delivery workers, kids biking through the neighborhood, or people out for a walk, Martin keeps a cooler by his driveway as a small gesture to help people stay cool.

But while many view the act as neighborly and compassionate, the local homeowners association (HOA) sees it differently—and they’ve been penalizing Martin for it. What began as a $50 fine has escalated to $100 monthly penalties, all because of the visible cooler he keeps outside his house.

Martin began his water giveaway during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He and his wife wanted to offer something helpful to those enduring long days under the relentless Arizona sun. “Anyone out in the heat deserves a cold drink,” Martin said in an interview. “Why not be a good neighbor?”

However, the HOA—managed by FirstService Residential—soon took issue with the setup. Their argument? The cooler, visible from the street, violates community guidelines. According to the HOA, it constitutes a form of advertising, which is strictly prohibited.

In a statement, the board noted: “Community rules prohibit advertising or distributing bottled water from a visible, portable ice chest on private property.”

Martin was stunned. “I’m not selling anything. I’m not promoting a brand. I’m literally just giving out free water,” he told local news. “To be fined for that—especially during the hottest days of the year—is absurd.”

Rather than cave to pressure and remove the cooler, Martin decided to take a stand. He launched an effort to oust members of the HOA board, believing that the leadership no longer represented the values of the community. With help from neighbors, he gathered signatures to trigger a recall vote.

On July 10, a special meeting was held. Of the 210 ballots submitted, 190 voted to remove three board members—a clear supermajority. But the board swiftly challenged the outcome, citing procedural issues. They claimed that proper notice wasn’t given and that quorum rules had been broken. In an emergency session, they invalidated the vote.

Still, Martin isn’t backing down. With legal advice and apparent support from state officials, he’s preparing to take the battle to court.

“This is about more than water bottles,” he said. “It’s about community values. It’s about standing up for decency and doing what’s right.”