The handwritten note appeared beneath our windshield wiper the morning after we moved in: “One car per house!” At first, my husband Jack and I laughed. Both of our cars fit comfortably on our own driveway without blocking the sidewalk or the street. A few days later, our neighbor knocked on the door wearing a pastel pink cardigan and introduced herself as the unofficial voice of the neighborhood. She insisted the homeowners association allowed only one car in each driveway and warned us that everyone was expected to follow the rule.

We ignored the demand because the actual neighborhood documents said nothing about it. Three mornings later, we stepped outside to find both of our cars hooked to tow trucks. Our neighbor stood nearby with a satisfied smile. Before she could celebrate, I looked at the bright orange tag on my windshield and laughed. “You just made a very expensive mistake,” I said.