[billethkid]

We all know they are useless eye wash and so does TV developers. Sooooo, how do you think they justify spending $$$ like today to "...update the software..."?

In a search on the subject I did see some comments about the gates generating a false sense of security.....really??? Every house is either adjacent to a road or highway or golf course or cart path......does anybody think that even if the gates were resident only regulated the security would be improved? Enhanced? Not if you are a realist or have ever lived in a truly gated community.

I suggested in the survey they take them all down and refer the maintenance and payroll to something more real in TV. I get a kick out of hearing residents complain when they are not working or stuck...

Just shows that even something useless can be nurtured, valued and even propagated (no PUN intended).

BTK

[cabo35]

I would like to know a lot more about the security gate system before it is deep sixed (seaman's parlance for tossed overboard). I believe there is little consistency in gating. For example, some gates are manned, some are not. Some Villages can be accessed without going through a gate. Questions I'd like answered included:

Are there really cameras in the gating system?

What gates have cameras and what do they take pictures of? Who monitors them? Where are the monitoring stations? Does the Belvidere gatehouse monitor everything south of 466? Are there monitoring stations north of 466?

When you don't have a card and press the button what happens? I have witnessed a mysterious voice that talks through the box to you and always raises the gate. I have seen the gate rise with no mysterious voice, like magic.
What is that all about?

Do the gates record the carded access numbers of users?

Are contractors, landscape and maintenance personnel logged in anywhere?

What is the total payroll for the security gate staff? Sounded like Watergate for a senior moment.

BTK, while I usually find myself agreeing with many of your posts, I have a divergence with you on the gates. I believe they do have a limited deterrant effect but, they are certainly not fullproof.

From past experience I can tell you that most miscreants are opportunists who look for the easiest target. Access to a non-gated home is an easier target. I am not saying because you are gated, you are completely safe. In the same manner that a home that displays alarm protection warnings around the house may be less likely to get "hit" than a neighbor that does not. Similarly the house with a large barking dog is less likely a target. My point is that the gates do have a limited deterrant effect.

Given that, their potential to increase their effectiveness by reviewing and evaluating the whole gating system may be worth considering. If there are in fact cameras at the gates that should be tastefully but conspicuously displayed. That is a deterrant to crimes of opportunity.

I've actually considered volunteering for a neighborhood security committee to evaluate The Villages gate system, but golf, softball, motorcycle riding and the benefits of The Villages lifestyle have left little time for work and since I don't use my watch for anything but tee times, I don't do meetings well anymore.

The answers to the above questions could be a start for evaluating the system and determining, as BTK suggests, whether it is cost effective or whether it can be modified to be cost effective while actually increasing security.

[Sidney Lanier]

Clearly this is not a gated community. Frankly I'm uncomfortable with a gated community, because it means, among other things, that if there were a problem or disaster, there is only one way out--and everyone is stuck there at the same time! And even though TV is not a gated community, there are villages within it that are like gated communities in this sense--only one way in and out--that I would not be comfortable living in. I think of the gates functioning primarily to slow traffic down analogous to residential streets being designed with curves rather than straight as arrows, more so than serving a security function.

[samhass]

I wish gate cards could be read through the car windows rather than having to roll the window down. I wonder how many people wear out the mechanisms on the electric windows with the constant up and down.

[chacam]

Gate cards can be read through your car windows if you get close enough.

[samhass]

Chacam, some will and some won't. I can go into Winifred and my card will read thru the glass. Most others I go thru will not.

That's correct. I have experimented and the security gate only reads the pass through windows at some of the gates. This was usually when it just started pouring near a gate that I have had to try this experiment.

[swrinfla]

I remain "persuaded" that the gates do, in fact, help a very little bit in keeping out the "riff raff!" I came from a private street, permanently gated at one end, permanently open at the other. The value was that car traffic was "minimal" because of the lack of free flow, but foot traffic, not being impeded in the same way, was sometimes heavy, and, sadly, almost always "dangerous." The fact that at least some gates have a real live person at them may, hopefully, deter the really bad guys!

Still, I'd certainly love to have real security and really controlled gates. Sumter County rules and FEMA restrictions may make that a totally unrealizable goal, however.

:dontknow:

SWR

[Frangyomory]

Our ladies group had a presentation by the Sumter County sheriff's department and a representative of Village Watch.

Every gate has several cameras installed. Some where you can see and some you cannot. A photo is taken of every vehicle going through. The Village Watch fellow brought many examples of the photos that had been taken on several different days and at a few different gates.

Now, I can't speak to the "manned gates" over on the other side on any of this.

When we had the rash of burglaries here in Tall Trees, they were downloading the cameras every afternoon to see if there were any suspicious persons/vehicles that came through the gates.

The cameras are only good AFTER the fact in the investigation of a crime committed.

IMHO since we have NO security even at the manned gates, we should just open them up and let go of the people who are working the manned gates and save some money. I don't know what good the cameras are since they are only useful AFTER the crime has been committed.

The made up sales pitch that we are a "gated" community is now totally known to be false so it makes no sense to have the darned gates, gate cards or employees.

Anyone who wants to get in right now can do so just by pushing the button and saying they are visiting someone or working on something. Waste of our money.

I would love to hear an opinion on why we should keep funding salaries and technology on this very useless issue.

[samhass]

The gates obviously make people slow down. That is critical at some of the entrances.

[nONIE]

Originally Posted by samhass

I wish gate cards could be read through the car windows rather than having to roll the window down. I wonder how many people wear out the mechanisms on the electric windows with the constant up and down.

Sam, I agree , It wears out the window mechanism and my pushbutton finger. What an inconvienience it is to have to roll down the indow every few minutes and then back up again. Now I wouldnt mind doing it one bit if I thought it was helping detour unsavory characters comming in to TV. In fact the visitors seem to have it easier, I have seen them be waved right thru. :dontknow:

[samhass]

Nonie, you are so right. Residents gates get backed up but visitors often get waived right through.
Go figure. :dontknow:

[chelsea24]

Does anyone know if there are cameras at every gate. :dontknow: I agree, I see many, many people just waved through. And yet, our Realtor always called these "Gated Communities". Well, I guess there are gates, for whatever good they do.

[Latchhook]

Why does everyone call them "Security Gates" where did Villagers ever get this term, they are just entry and exit gates nothing more!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Frangyomory

Our ladies group had a presentation by the Sumter County sheriff's department and a representative of Village Watch.

Every gate has several cameras installed. Some where you can see and some you cannot. A photo is taken of every vehicle going through. The Village Watch fellow brought many examples of the photos that had been taken on several different days and at a few different gates.

Now, I can't speak to the "manned gates" over on the other side on any of this.

When we had the rash of burglaries here in Tall Trees, they were downloading the cameras every afternoon to see if there were any suspicious persons/vehicles that came through the gates.

The cameras are only good AFTER the fact in the investigation of a crime committed.

IMHO since we have NO security even at the manned gates, we should just open them up and let go of the people who are working the manned gates and save some money. I don't know what good the cameras are since they are only useful AFTER the crime has been committed.

The made up sales pitch that we are a "gated" community is now totally known to be false so it makes no sense to have the darned gates, gate cards or employees.

Anyone who wants to get in right now can do so just by pushing the button and saying they are visiting someone or working on something. Waste of our money.

I would love to hear an opinion on why we should keep funding salaries and technology on this very useless issue.

The gates would probably be a deterrent to people unfamiliar with the fact that it is very easy to get through them just by pushing the red button and saying you are going to so-and-so.

I would not want to see a Villages with armed guards at a gate you check out your vehicle for contraband like at some entrance to a military installation or perhaps one of the US borders.

It seems to depend on neighbors to look out for one another's safety and security at least with respect to burglaries and the like.