Pool Intruders
 

One of the posters on another thread mentioned non-Villagers utilizing our different facilities.

One of these are our swimming pools. At the neighborhood pool I use, I know there are some non-residents using it quite a bit. The rec center workers will check ID cards only on the people on the deck but not of those in the water. I have noticed certain people jump into the pool when the worker will come into the area for card checks and stay as long as she remains in the area.

Since it happens at my neighborhood pool, I can guess it happens at every pool. I would like to see some sort of card scanner as people enter the gate of the pool so only actual residents and their legal guests can use our facilities.

I agree! Wish there was a scanner, like those used for credit cards/debit cards, at the pool gates to get into the area.

Scanners are a GOOD idea!
 

I agree also. While I have not noticed a particular problem at our pool I feel that would be a much better way of securing our pools for those who they are intended for.

When the person checks you ID just quietly mention to her/him you suspect non-villagers are using the pool and they are in the water. See what happens. I would be interested to see how it is handled.

I agree. Judging by the the fact that their are always children at the Paradise pool, one could assume that summer or spring break is a year 'round event. We used to have people there to check ID's but I haven't seen anyone doing that in a while.

I have had visitors here several times (different groups) and no one has ever checked for visitor ID anywhere

I have been carded several times- from the water at sports pools. I have had people tell me this pool is for "RESIDENTS" only. I guess they assume I am younger than 55 so I certainly can't be a resident.

I am 40 and certainly think I look at least 40 ....I don't mind--

I have seen the jump in the pool quick at Gilchrist pool as well. Doesn't bother me--there is enough room and the pool is never over crowded.

I am not sure the swipe at the gate would work-it would go on the honesty level. A resident can open the gate for family/friends visiting from local areas without having a guest pass.

I agree with Mike. But would take it a step further. If they will not do the ID check I would contact the recreation department.
In fact anyone suspecting non-residents using facilities............call the Rec Dept.

Recreation Administration
3325 Wedgewood Lane
The Villages, FL 32162

Phone: 352-674-1800

Report it
 

I also think that you should report this person to the person checking ID's. They need to know that our facilities are being misused by this who have gotten away with it. Unless it's reported, it will continue. It's kinda like the robberies....if Villagers are easy target then the crime with continue. The pools and facilities are very easy targets so they will continue to be misused unless someone one puts s top to it. As for the robberies, Villagers are now very aware and making a difference when trying to catch these thieves. If you see something not right, report it. Doesn't matter if it's our facilities or what's going on around us.

I agree. Have seen this happen more lately. Maybe we should all send emails to the recreation director. Bogie will give us the link.

Whoops. He already DID. Thanks Bogie.

And just "who" are these checkers. Male/female/young/old/residents?

I have never been asked at our pool for ID, but the person asking better have some concrete ID themselves. I have come to our pool to relax, not to be hassled.

Of course, if the Sheriff asks, I would be happy to show my ID.:thumbup::police:

I think the intruders choose pools that have NO one on site such as the adult pools. We have seen some un-villagers at Tall Trees adult pool.


I still say, no ticket, no laundry.


And UNDIP yourself, OR pay the amenity fee.


Un-nice Gracie.

Don't mind having my ID checked at any time but do not want to be scanned into any type of device. Just don't know where that info goes and who has access to it. I don't think that use of the pools by non-villagers is a huge problem but I am sure it does exist. Just continue to ask for ID in a reasonable manor.

I guess you do not go to any club meetings or other functions at rec centers where your ID card is scanned by the handheld scanner of the desk person.

I think people should be checked upon entering the pool. Checking people after they're in is like closing the barn door after the horse is gone. If jumping in the water helps them avoid being verified, checking at the gate is the answer. I know this would be an added expense for the VCDD but maybe just doing it in the high season is the answer. I bet they're are seniors who would jump at the chance to make some spare cash checking IDs at the gate a couple of days a week..

Just wondering how the OP and other posters know that certain swimmers are not Villagers. Please inform the rest of us what to look out for.

I don't understand why checking for ID, at the pool, would be a hassle?
Its done when playing golf at the Executive and Championship courses, using the rec centers, using the outdoor courts, etc.
Always done by employees with ID badges. (Yes many of them are our neighbors.)

Up until 2003/2004, there were pool monitors at all the pools during daytime hours. Of course there were a lot fewer pools at that time, maybe a dozen or so.

These were minimum wage jobs, filled by residents who loved their jobs and took them very seriously. Then, in the interest of saving money (I guess) these jobs were eliminated amid a great deal of consternation by the residents.

This would be a subject to bring up at your next district meeing and find out if these jobs could be brought back a decade later.

We relocated from a SE Phoenix subdivision in which we had similar issues. Homeowners were outraged that "outsiders" were allowed to sneak in. The gate scanners were added and solved 90% of the problem. The remaining 10% was handled by an on-site checker with clipboard in hand.

I totally agree!! Scanning to get in is the only solution!!

Talk to some of those who jump in the pool. You might be surprised how many are actually residents here but just don't want to be hassled. They don't want to carry a wallet or purse to the pool and, thus, have no ID card with them. They know that if they're in the water, no one will ask for ID card, so .....

Yes, there are abuses but not as many as seem to be implied here.

good point Redwitch

At the meeting only north of 466 at this time, thank goodness. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just call the recreation department and have them handle it.

Any abuse is too much. It is still taking something that you are not entitled to have. It is akin to the gate at Paradise where the residents of Stonecrest feel they have a right to encroach on private property. If you don't mind people using your property, don't lock your door when you leave home. Same difference.

Those are lazy residents!

I would certainly wonder why the sheriff would have any interest in my ID?????

However if I was asked by ANYONE representing the villages, I would be more than happy to do so. You are SUPPOSED to carry your ID to the pool.

Here we go again! Those dang Stonecresters!!

Checking for Id's would be too much like Voter ID's Supression I think. For all the ideologists out there!

Actually, I am all for Id's for everything.

I would imagine if I refused to show my ID, the checker would think I was trespassing and call the sheriff. Is it a rule I have to carry my ID to the pool?
Probably not written anywhere, at least not that I'm aware of.







boyhowdy

I can't imagine why you would refuse to show your village ID at a place that is supposed to be used by ONLY villages residents and their guests with an ID. Without rummaging through my paperwork, I am certain that it IS written that we have to have our ID at these times. If someone is asked for ID and don't have it, I find it highly unlikely that the sheriff would be called. You would simply be asked to go home and get it.

Yay....boy howdy is right......:rolleyes:

I agree. Another term for taking something you are not entitled to is stealing. It happens everyday day in many ways but it is not necessarily Stonecrest residents.
Many of us are guilty of this in many small ways.

We were told when we moved in that we needed our Id for the pool, etc. We have been asked many times and are happy to present it. I have wondered many times about the people that rushed to jump in the pool. When they would leave we would look to see if they were in a car or cart. Often it was a car so needless to say we became suspicious. We have also seen a number of people in loud arguments when asked for ID. That is just uncalled for. This is such a wonderful place to live and it is because of many of the rules and regulations that we chose to live here.

In the Thursday activity magazine that you receive with the newspaper it states under the pool information that your resident card is to be carried with you. If you do not have it, I see no problem with the "checker" having you go home to get it. I guess some folks feel "privileged" and above the law (rules).

While I amuse myself by imagining a cavernous, subterranean mission control room with hundreds of stacked monitors and The Watchers tracking and commenting on my every move: "It's his club day. Why is he going there? Ah, U-turn. Better pass that along to his wife."

On a slightly related note, can you believe how in high school we all thought the book 1984 was so scary? I was discussing secrecy with a friend recently -- how would I possibly send a private note to someone these days? Couldn't use email, IM, Facebook, blogs, or anything online. Text messages and phone calls are even less secure. Cameras following us in every store and many public roadways. I have no idea how drug dealers do business or coordinate their shipments these days. ;)

Semaphore.:jester:

Been here 4 years. I don't go to the pool frequently, but the times I have, I have NEVER, ever seen anyone come to check for ID's, except 1 water calss. And what good would it do to call someone when there are non residents in the pool. By the time you figured out who to call, and by the time anyone got there, the people might be gone.
I don't understand why people are so quick to say that they don't care if un-invited guests are using our facilities. This is something that we all pay for, and I for one don't want anyone there who is not a resident or a guest of a resident. It is a joke to some of the outsiders to see how much they can get by with in the Villages because they know they can. To keep it real, I have only had 1 person tell me that, and it was in a water class. (which are always crowded) The people come in late to the class-after ID's would have been checked. I just started talking to the person, being friendly, asked them what Village they were from. They said they didn't live here, blah, blah... I didn't say anything to the instructor because I didn't want to disturb the class, and was going to try to find out the persons name. She must have gotten suspicious, because she left the second the class was over. But I bet it happens a lot more than anyone knows.

how about those construction and landscaping people who use the restrooms and make a big mess. I know they need to go, but why are they using facilities at the pool. can they go to Rec Centers. Sometime there are quite a few at once. they do good but mess up the bathrooms, (men)

Just wanted to add for the people who don't see the pool situation as a problem--I seriously doubt that since the non residents know how to do it now, it is not going to just go away-it will continue to get worse. So, while it might not be a major problem now, it would be very difficult and costly to stop it when it does get out of control. It is always better to ...like Barney Fife says:::just nip it in the bud! :)

Didn't mean to single out any particular segment. That was just the one that came to mind and was just recently raising opposition to The Villages trying to protect their property.

i must be the only one that gets checked everytime...i can be the first at the pool and the same person can walk by 4 or 5 people and not check their ids but always stops by me, must be the book i am reading

[quote=asianthree;865066]i must be the only one that gets checked everytime...i can be the first at the pool and the same person can walk by 4 or 5 people and not check their ids but always stops by me, must be the book i am reading[/quote]



Aren't you EVER going to finish Shades of Gray? You must be re-reading certain parts. lol.:22yikes: