Guest Passes Are NOT Being Checked

[Buckeyephan]

Had family visiting last week and got passes for all four of them. Husband, son and grandson played ping pong at Seabreeze. No passes were checked. Son took both grandkids to Bradenton pool for nearly two hours and never got checked. Not sure who is trying to convince us that we don’t need to be concerned that nonresidents are using our facilities.

[dhdallas]

Had family visiting last week and got passes for all four of them. Husband, son and grandson played ping pong at Seabreeze. No passes were checked. Son took both grandkids to Bradenton pool for nearly two hours and never got checked. Not sure who is trying to convince us that we don’t need to be concerned that nonresidents are using our facilities.

I cannot believe that there are people who are so self-important, pretentious & petty that they are upset about how many people are having their passes checked. There are no hordes of outsiders invading the facilities. Even if there is a non-resident using a facility here and there, is this such a huge concern. Do you want to have to get out of the pool or stop your pickle-ball game just to have your ID checked for the 4th time or more in one visit to a facility? Or having to get out of the pool and run home to get your ID because you forgot it? I certainly don't want to be bothered. Having to have your ID checked constantly reminds me of those Iron Curtain countries; "Show me zee papers or vee send you to Siberia." The attendants don't get paid a lot and they do a good job. If you see someone who shouldn't be there, then report them if you must. I say, Live and let live. Life is too short to make such a big deal out a non-issue.

[Bill14564]

Yes, it is true, there is not a Rec Center person stationed at every pool all day long. There is some (hopefully random) schedule for checking IDs at pools. I've seen IDs checked about 50% of the times I have visited the pools.

I have had my ID checked every time I have entered the smaller Rec Centers. Regional Rec Centers are difficult and Seabreeze more than some of the others.

At the larger centers like Seabreeze, IDs are often checked at the doors for individual meetings rather than at the main entrance. I assume this is to get a count of how many attended a particular event. If I just walk in to take a look around but do not enter an event then my ID is not checked. Ideally, Rec Center personnel would also walk through and check the IDs of those using the game rooms and other facilities (pools, pickleball courts, bocce courts, indoor shuffleboard, etc). Perhaps this is not being done as frequently as it could be, but my experience has been that IDs are occasionally in these areas as well.

At Seabreeze, Everglades, and possibly others, governmental meetings are held (CDD, NSCUDD, PWAC, Sumter BoCC, etc). These meetings are open to the public and that is why IDs are not checked. Attempting to check IDs of everyone entering these Rec Centers would cause confusion and problems for those that are coming in only for the public meetings.

It would be interesting to calculate how much additional staffing it would take to station someone at all the rooms and all the pools and all the courts all day long. I don't want my amenity fee increased to pay for all that, but it would be interesting to know how many additional people it would take.

[BrianL99]

It will get much easier and much less intrusive, once the implanted microchip program is implemented.

[elshackovillages]

Had family visiting last week and got passes for all four of them. Husband, son and grandson played ping pong at Seabreeze. No passes were checked. Son took both grandkids to Bradenton pool for nearly two hours and never got checked. Not sure who is trying to convince us that we don’t need to be concerned that nonresidents are using our facilities.

Passes being checked should be the least of your concerns. Try living in an area where The Villages does not enforce any rules, in hopes you will get so angry, you put your home up for sale. Then, The Villages makes another profit from the sale of your home. I have homes near me with RV's in their driveway, trailers and boats in their carports, actual work areas in their carports, commercial vehicles in their driveways. Some homes have 3 generations of families living there, sometimes with children under 19. The Villages gets reports about these violations, yet does nothing. The Villages has no idea how many under 55 live here, because they don't care. Selling homes is their only concern, not your safety or peace of mind.

[Papa_lecki]

If we are going to check IDs at ALL the pools, then we should also check at all the pickleball/tennis courts. I don’t care enough about it to count how many recreation and pool facilities there are, but staffing them all for 8 to 10 hours a day 360 days a year would be expensive. Then we hear the complaints about the amenity fee going up.
What happens when the person working your pool calls in sick, do we close the pool for the day?

[j_vermilya]

If anyone thinks this is a small issue, they are woefully unaware. Non villagers using pools, pickelball courts, and many other amenties happens frequently. Yes I would not mind having to stop whatever I am doing to show my ID. Those outside frequently are quite proud of the fact they don't live here but have never been asked for ID. At family pools, at neighborhood pools, at pickleball courts, these I have experienced in person. Something really needs to be done soon

[Bogie Shooter]

If anyone thinks this is a small issue, they are woefully unaware. Non villagers using pools, pickelball courts, and many other amenties happens frequently. Yes I would not mind having to stop whatever I am doing to show my ID. Those outside frequently are quite proud of the fact they don't live here but have never been asked for ID. At family pools, at neighborhood pools, at pickleball courts, these I have experienced in person. Something really needs to be done soon

How many of theses many instances have you reported?

How many have told you they are proud? What did you tell them?

[rhood]

I agree, I’d checks could be more frequent, but from what I’ve seen, it isn’t a big deal. So what if a non resident is using a pool which happens occasionally. I don’t care. What is the cost of a few non residents in the pool? Quit your whining!

[oldtimes]

The Villages has gotten far too big to check IDs and enforce deed restrictions. They would need to hire many more people and they are not going to do it.

[MrChip72]

I can't see the appeal that any local non-resident would have to want to use our pools and have to listen to Villagers complain about the prices at Publix or gossiping about where the new Trader Joes will be located.

[cjrjck]

I get checked frequently. Maybe I am the only one.

[Bill14564]

I can't see the appeal that any local non-resident would have to want to use our pools and have to listen to Villagers complain about the prices at Publix or gossiping about where the new Trader Joes will be located.

or loudly describing/discussing their current medical issues. TMI!

[Decadeofdave]

I swim at 730 am, even cold mornings, only one in the pool. They checked me.

[ithos]

Passes being checked should be the least of your concerns. Try living in an area where The Villages does not enforce any rules, in hopes you will get so angry, you put your home up for sale. Then, The Villages makes another profit from the sale of your home. I have homes near me with RV's in their driveway, trailers and boats in their carports, actual work areas in their carports, commercial vehicles in their driveways. Some homes have 3 generations of families living there, sometimes with children under 19. The Villages gets reports about these violations, yet does nothing. The Villages has no idea how many under 55 live here, because they don't care. Selling homes is their only concern, not your safety or peace of mind.

Is the problem north or south of 44. Just curious since I have never seen these issues around my area. Just renters parking in the street once in a blue moon.

[huge-pigeons]

They should check for passes frequently on the courts and in the pools, in the rec centers. We are the 1’s paying to live here, not the outsiders. Go to big cypress or Rohan in the mornings for pickleball and see the long lines and you find out there are a few people are playing that don’t live here.
Maybe TV should post a sign that says if you don’t have a pass you are trespassing and could be fined or prosecuted by the local police for a deterrent

[La lamy]

We get our IDs checked pretty much every day where I play pickleball. Even if the staff knows us very well, they still want to see it. I guess different rec centres have various policies.

[GizmoWhiskers]

The Villages has gotten far too big to check IDs and enforce deed restrictions. They would need to hire many more people and they are not going to do it.
With the exception of annonymous complaints waking T V up to compliance fines that cost only SOME homeowners, the ones who erroneously purchased homes with violations they missed prior to purchase out of ignorance (or not), thousands. You know the selective enforcement thing T V is really good at.

[kendi]

I cannot believe that there are people who are so self-important, pretentious & petty that they are upset about how many people are having their passes checked. There are no hordes of outsiders invading the facilities. Even if there is a non-resident using a facility here and there, is this such a huge concern. Do you want to have to get out of the pool or stop your pickle-ball game just to have your ID checked for the 4th time or more in one visit to a facility? Or having to get out of the pool and run home to get your ID because you forgot it? I certainly don't want to be bothered. Having to have your ID checked constantly reminds me of those Iron Curtain countries; "Show me zee papers or vee send you to Siberia." The attendants don't get paid a lot and they do a good job. If you see someone who shouldn't be there, then report them if you must. I say, Live and let live. Life is too short to make such a big deal out a non-issue.

No need for the insults when stating your opinion.

[biker1]

IMO, the current system, based on anonymous complaints, prevents the CDDs, for exterior deed restriction violations, and the Developer, for inside-the-house deed restriction violations, from being accused of selective enforcement. Their responsibility is to investigate deed restrictions violations, when anonymously reported, and if a violation actually occurs to act on it. This removes them of the responsibility of looking for, and possibly missing, deed restriction violations, which is how claims of selective enforcement could arise. While I have no personal experience, there seems to be some suggestion that the Developer is not all that interested in enforcing inside-the-house deed restriction violations. As far as I can tell, the CDDs are diligent in their investigation and enforcement of exterior deed restriction violations.

With the exception of annonymous complaints waking T V up to compliance fines that cost only SOME homeowners, the ones who erroneously purchased homes with violations they missed prior to purchase out of ignorance (or not), thousands. You know the selective enforcement thing T V is really good at.

[margaretmattson]

Passes being checked should be the least of your concerns. Try living in an area where The Villages does not enforce any rules, in hopes you will get so angry, you put your home up for sale. Then, The Villages makes another profit from the sale of your home. I have homes near me with RV's in their driveway, trailers and boats in their carports, actual work areas in their carports, commercial vehicles in their driveways. Some homes have 3 generations of families living there, sometimes with children under 19. The Villages gets reports about these violations, yet does nothing. The Villages has no idea how many under 55 live here, because they don't care. Selling homes is their only concern, not your safety or peace of mind.I recently moved from an area with many renters. No one would stop the infractions because renters did not agree to the deed restrictions. Ugh! Sorry, you are having similar problems. This is not what any of us had in mind when we retired here.

[Topspinmo]

Had family visiting last week and got passes for all four of them. Husband, son and grandson played ping pong at Seabreeze. No passes were checked. Son took both grandkids to Bradenton pool for nearly two hours and never got checked. Not sure who is trying to convince us that we don’t need to be concerned that nonresidents are using our facilities.


So! Unless they have checker at door every second (some do and some don’t every minute) few will just walk right in. People who follow rules would wait to be scanned……see two sides to most every coin:icon_wink:

[Desiderata]

I’d like to see scanner locks at the pool gates and dog parks where your ID unlocks the gates. Pools and especially dog parks are often used by non-residents. Residents pay for these facilities that are often already over crowded during peak season.

[JSR22]

I’d like to see scanner locks at the pool gates and dog parks where your ID unlocks the gates. Pools and especially dog parks are often used by non-residents. Residents pay for these facilities that are often already over crowded during peak season.
They cannot put scanners on the pool gates. Landscapers construction and home improvement people need to use the rest rooms.

[nn0wheremann]

It will get much easier and much less intrusive, once the implanted microchip program is implemented.
Microchips are out, now that people live so much longer. Bar code tattoos will be much more efficient, don’t you think :) :)

[vinnytalk]

I believe tge main reason of checking passes is for insurance reasons. Especially in recent centers when you rent or use a room it's free only for residents if you invite outsiders to your oarty you need a one time insurance policy to protect.

In any xase rules are rules and everyone should only

[Bogie Shooter]

IMO, the current system, based on anonymous complaints, prevents the CDDs, for exterior deed restriction violations, and the Developer, for inside-the-house deed restriction violations, from being accused of selective enforcement. Their responsibility is to investigate deed restrictions violations, when anonymously reported, and if a violation actually occurs to act on it. This removes them of the responsibility of looking for, and possibly missing, deed restriction violations, which is how claims of selective enforcement could arise. While I have no personal experience, there seems to be some suggestion that the Developer is not all that interested in enforcing inside-the-house deed restriction violations. As far as I can tell, the CDDs are diligent in their investigation and enforcement of exterior deed restriction violations.

Example of selective enforcement of deed restrictions.
A violation is reported and home owner makes correction, lo and behold the same violation is visible just three doors down and is not reported. Selective enforcement based on anonymous reporting.

[Indydealmaker]

Passes being checked should be the least of your concerns. Try living in an area where The Villages does not enforce any rules, in hopes you will get so angry, you put your home up for sale. Then, The Villages makes another profit from the sale of your home. I have homes near me with RV's in their driveway, trailers and boats in their carports, actual work areas in their carports, commercial vehicles in their driveways. Some homes have 3 generations of families living there, sometimes with children under 19. The Villages gets reports about these violations, yet does nothing. The Villages has no idea how many under 55 live here, because they don't care. Selling homes is their only concern, not your safety or peace of mind.

Check your deed restrictions. For your area, most of what you report is not restricted.

[Pwanderson]

We often have to show our id cards at the pool. If you are in the water they won’t make you get out to show your card. We have never been asked to show id at anything outside.

[nmgirardot]

Not all renters are evil. We have been coming to TV for the past 5 years and make it a point to leave the property better than we found it including pulling the occasional weeds, making minor repairs, with the owners permission, and cleaning it so that the cleaning service wonders why they even came. On the subject of IDs, we carry them with us at all times fully anticipating being checked. Last year during our 4 week stay I was asked once for ID at the pool and I was at the pool most days.

[vintageogauge]

We had landscapers taking care of our lawn when we lived north as did just about everyone in our neighborhood and when they needed a facility they drove to a gas station that was at least 6 miles away or had porta pots in their enclosed trailers. I have no desire to go to a neighborhood pool and many residents feel the same way and therefore have their own pools.

[SeaCros]

Had family visiting last week and got passes for all four of them. Husband, son and grandson played ping pong at Seabreeze. No passes were checked. Son took both grandkids to Bradenton pool for nearly two hours and never got checked. Not sure who is trying to convince us that we don’t need to be concerned that nonresidents are using our facilities.
It was better to have it than not to have it.

[jimjamuser]

I get checked frequently. Maybe I am the only one.
The last 2 months they have checked at the pool frequently. Which tells me that Villagers have been complaining and maybe they have something to complain about.

[Ferndad]

Maybe the person that does the checking recognized YOU and assumed the guest you brought were sponsored by you.

[jimjamuser]

We often have to show our id cards at the pool. If you are in the water they won’t make you get out to show your card. We have never been asked to show id at anything outside.
They ask for ID cards for my tennis group at Paradise courts.

[jimjamuser]

We had landscapers taking care of our lawn when we lived north as did just about everyone in our neighborhood and when they needed a facility they drove to a gas station that was at least 6 miles away or had porta pots in their enclosed trailers. I have no desire to go to a neighborhood pool and many residents feel the same way and therefore have their own pools.
I have ZERO desire to have MY own pool. I am very satisfied with the neighborhood pools.

[Michael 61]

In my 11 1/2 months here—-

1) I frequently get asked for ID at my neighborhood pool.
2) I play pickleball 1-2 times every week - have never been asked for ID
3) I play shuffleboard week once a week, have been asked once for ID
4) Walking into a rec center is hit and miss, more times than not I am NOT asked for ID.
5) Attending a club or event I signed up for in a rec center, I’m ALWAYS asked for ID.
6) When purchasing tickets at the Villages Box Office, I’m ALWAYS asked for my ID.

Being asked to show my ID is never a bother, and reminds me how fortunate I am to live in such a wonderful and beautiful community.

[ThirdOfFive]

We get our IDs checked pretty much every day where I play pickleball. Even if the staff knows us very well, they still want to see it. I guess different rec centres have various policies.
For pickleball and tennis I can see routine checking. Pools are big enough so that three or four extra folks won't make any difference. Those same three or four people taking up one or more tennis or pickleball courts is a whole lot different.

A local center where we often play tennis had been experiencing outsiders using courts when Villagers wanted to use them. They implemented a policy of calling ahead to reserve your court(s). If outsiders were occupying the courts that were reserved ahead of time they'd be required to leave by rec. center personnel. Apparently it is working.