[tony]

Here's how it can get out of hand.

When my daughter was college age she was at home alone when she saw a man looking in the window. She was terrified because we live in the country and had no neighbors at the time.

She erred and called me at work instead of calling the police. Not thinking clearly myself I immediately headed home from work. When I got home I found a petrified daughter, who calmed down enough to explain that she thought the guy was in a country car.

I has a suspicion and went to visit the property assessor at the courthouse. I explained that he would not be welcome again without proper notice. He said the agent apparently erred, but that he may be back again without notice. I explained he would be injured if he looked in the window again. He was alarmed and said he was going to call the police. I invited him to go with me to the district attorney's office upstairs and that I would repeat the agent's infringement, and my promise. He declined.

I explained that if he wanted to examine my house again he must set up an appointment, or have a court order.

Then I went up to the district attorney alone and explained what transpired and how somebody could get hurt in the future.

The visits by the agent stopped even though before this incident they apparently had been occurring annually while all the others in the county were not visited at all.

I took a stand. And I didn't regret it. Later over a dinner the district attorney said he was appreciative I pointed out the agent's actions, and said he was reprimanded. He explained that I should not go around frightening the assessor, though.

Fair taxes are based on fair and timely inspection and assessment, but we don't have to completely relinquish our right to privacy and to unreasonable inspection.

This could have all been averted by the county with a telephone call or a postcard informing me of the approximate time of the visit, but he still would have no right to peer into the house. It could be dangerous.