Agree with xbox, walking the neighborhood will give your message much more weight. Emails come across as minimal effort and dedication to your cause. I know from experience on both sides.
Side note: it sounds as if your board acted without consulting HOA lawyers, as legal should have noted the limitation straight away (it is a common limitation). If they did consult legal before they set the $500, then your HOA should probably look for new legal representation. If the board didn’t consult first, that is a sign of a board that shoots from the hip.
