Residents required to show ID

Started by NancyM20 • 8 replies • 1064 views

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NancyM20 (Florida)
Posts: 1

Posted:

The gates in our gated community are often broken; therefore, they are left open. The HOA now wants RESIDENTS
to show ID to the guard everytime they enter. This can be multiple times in one day. The HOA ignores suggestions
such as providing car window sticker to allow guards to easily identify residents. It is annoying and often causes
backups at the gate. Is this legal?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

So you want security but not secure measures? A window Sticker doesn't provide security. Anyone could be driving that car. Where I work we have to show our ID's everyday. Plus be subject to random car searches. Matter of fact we used to have window stickers in addition. They got rid of those. Plus they left plenty of residue on the windshield when removing. It was a pain if you ever sold your car. You had to remove it and turn it back in. Plus get a new one. The wait is several hours.

Could there be better ways? Yes. However, you may want to leave that to the experts. I am sure those guards have a few suggestions.

Former HOA President

DouglasM6 (Arizona)
Posts: 724

Posted:

It could be a pass that lays on the seat and you pick it up and show it. Doesn't have to be the actual state ID.

More importantly, why are gates being damaged? Why are they not repaired? If the covenants say the gates have to be maintained in good working order, then the board has no choice other than maintain it.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Our windshields have a little sticker on them that show we're residents. The guard does look at them. They are not a pain and we update them every 3-4 years.

I don't know about "legal," but I think you do want to know who's coming into your premises or else there wouldn't be a gate & a guard. AS private property, I assume it's legal to keep out non-resients who aren't vouched for by a unit owner, right?

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

Well this story will certainly provide meat for the anti-HOA "private government" wackos.

Seems to me your HOA has a choice of what to do between now and the time the gate gets fixed. No security at all or check ID. If there is a groundswell of support for no security I'm sure you can persuade the BOD.

One would hope that the gates get fixed long before stickers could be printed up and distributed.

By the way you should probably regard gate security as mostly a feel-good measure that will partly discourage riff-raff and the casual thieves.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NancyM20 on 10/18/2017 4:48 PM
The gates in our gated community are often broken; therefore, they are left open. The HOA now wants RESIDENTS
to show ID to the guard everytime they enter. This can be multiple times in one day. The HOA ignores suggestions
such as providing car window sticker to allow guards to easily identify residents. It is annoying and often causes
backups at the gate. Is this legal?

Probably.

CarlJ2 (Texas)
Posts: 194

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By FredS7 on 10/18/2017 6:27 PM
Well this story will certainly provide meat for the anti-HOA "private government" wackos.

Meh, I'm quite Anti-HOA Governance and I think ID checks are reasonable.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By FredS7 on 10/18/2017 6:27 PM
By the way you should probably regard gate security as mostly a feel-good measure that will partly discourage riff-raff and the casual thieves.

This is true. A determined bad guy is going to get in if he really wants to get in. A security gate is a deterrent. Ours deterred looky loos for years, apparently. While our gate was out of commission for 2 weeks after Hurricane Irma, one resident's car was stolen right out of their driveway by joyriding kids. That never happened when the gate was working. It's only one data point but it is what it is.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Yes it's legal. The question you should be asking is why is the BOD spending around $25.00 per hour per guard to check ID's.
for that kind of money you can fix the gates, install shark teeth on the sides of the gates. The BOD can instal cameras with plate readers. The board can fix the gates so only one at a time per car can enter. The board can even upgrade the entry method to be a plate reader in lieu of clickers. If you have enough space at the entrances you can split the lane for visitors and residents.

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