I got bored trying to read 121 posts so I'll just jump into this as if I was the first to answer. There is technology out there that would allow installing card readers without having to lay miles of cables. TVs could sell the cards (I doubt TVs would give them away) for a small price that would open the gate to pools, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, rec centers, etc. The purchaser would have to be verified through their green or blue Villager cards. It should have a picture to verify the identity along with an expiration date that requires re-certification of identity maybe every 2 years. Sounds like a PITA but it would eliminate most of the abuse people are concerned about. Maybe it reduce some of the personnel overhead we pay for through our amenity fees.

Then the first rule when they come to check IDs should be "everybody out of the pool"!!!

And another poster stated he called community watch and "there is nothing they can do"???? There is plenty to do starting with calling the police for a trespasser.

As a TV owner and amenity fee payer, this is quite disturbing. And no doubt will continue to worsen as more non TV folks move into nearby new construction (esp apartment folks). Young families et al taking advantage of what seems to be easy pickins to go into
TV and facilities. And the word spreads. And gets worse.
No easy answers… other than Drone surveillance and drop water balloons on the non TVrs.

Absolutely!

And if you don't want to get out of the pool keep your ID handy and next to edge of pool (or on a chair out so can be readily seen) so it can be scanned. It's not rocket science. My goodness.

Those of us at the pools will figure out how to get scanned while in the pool as we'd like all to get an ID scan. In the pool, or out.

I am a frequent user of three different pools, several pickleball locations and several rec centers for over three years.

I have not once saw any person from outside of TV using our recreational facilities. I have discussed this with MANY other people all over TV and have not heard of any first hand accounts of this happening.

If this was a common problem, then I would expect to have at least heard about it happening once or twice. Certainly doesn't seem like something we should be spending extra money on.

How about NO.

I bought here to live in a community, not a daily fee resort for outsiders.

My response would be that I’ll be happy to show you my ID from the pool, since my backpack containing my ID is always at the end of the lane I’m swimming laps in. Once you get out of the pool, your lane is fair game.

You’ve had a unique experience. This is a common problem in the snowbird season particularly.

That is well said and I so agree. Before we got a pool I used our local pools and not once saw anyone who infringed. Once, I think someone came several times to the art room from outside The Villages. That stopped and now we are asked to show our cards frequently. Helene and I really stand out. I know they know I belong. Every once in a while I will forget to throw my card into my wheeled cart that carries all the stuff I need to make art and that is the very day I will be scanned. I got a letter for missing three times a couple of years ago and I cannot tell you how upset that made me. I never ever get in trouble anywhere. I don't think anyone is getting away with stuff........I just don't. I don't mind they check...I just think I am entitled I guess at the age of 84 and after going to Laurel Manor three times a week for fourteen years.

Thank you for your response.

You have not once "saw" anyone. Did you ask for their TV ID? What is your proof here that all you "saw" were TV residents?

What's "first hand accounts". "MANY other people all over TV"? Have you been taking a poll of sorts for this situation? They asked for ID's? Doubtful.

In the Villages that I spend most of my time in, ID's are checked often enough. I'd say a little over every 90 minutes on average. Everytime when I had witnessed people had "forgot" their cards there was always at least someone with a card to legitimately vouch for them.

I swim at 6 different pools in TV that are near me. Probably go 4 times per week. I've only seen IDs checked maybe once every other week.

So, in other words, that assertion was anecdotal and lacked any statistical significance whatsoever. OK, got it.

Now there's a couple of opposites from frequent users of the pools.

Well, this is not impossible at all. I don't mean to be disparaging or brush with a wide brush, but it could come down to your personal situational awareness.

If you were a street cop, or a trained fighter, or someone else who is always looking around, paying attention to people, drawing conclusions about them from presented evidence and observations, then I would be shocked you'd never seen outsiders.

If you spent your career as an engineer or in some other cubicle profession with a hyper focus on detail or the bottom line and not on the macro picture around you and your surroundings, then this is entirely plausible.

It's amazing to me when I can observe and state, "he's on drugs" or, "those are illegals" or, "they're European" or, "that guys a parolee / convict." People sometimes get all bent out of shape and condescendingly demand, "How can you know that? You can't make those judgements about someone!!" Oh, but I can and I do. So do many others. Once you know what you're looking for and seeing - and your personality is one to actively observe others, then of course conclusions are drawn with solid probabilities of accuracy. Different ways of people standing, what they're looking at and how, how they go about what they're doing, how they are groomed and dressed, these are all details some notice casually. For some of us, a constant "game" of risk and threat assessment doesn't end with retirement.

If you know, you know and others can often be oblivious. Like I heard a guy say once, when you're stopped at a traffic light, are you looking at your phone, the car radio, the traffic light in front of you, absorbed in conversation with your passengers, or are you looking around at the other vehicles and occupants pulled up next to you? You know who is always looking around, prepared for someone to approach their car? Criminals and cops.

So, depending on which camp one falls into based on one's life experiences, training, or professional skill development, it is entirely plausible to have spent three years be-bopping around the bubble without having the first clue who is around you - or isn't.

I think it also geographical. The amenities near TV periphery and near the newer outside high density family developments are more likely to have the intruders. The interior locations can be too difficult to get to when there are easy pickings close to the developments. I suspect those that don't see anything are well within TV.

^ Very good point.

Can’t “vouch” for someone - does it work for the police officer who pulled you over when they ask for your driver’s license and your wife say, “Yes, officer, I know he has one, he just forgot”?

"Thanks, mam. But in the future make sure he has it with him before he gets behind the wheel. I'm letting you go with just a warning. Now drive safely and have a nice day"
That seems reasonable, don't it? 🤭🙄🤬

In most cases, when trying to prove something you need evidence. Not seeing any evidence being considered anecdotal is extremely strange. That's like saying not spotting any aliens (the extraterrestrial kind) being spotted is purely anecdotal.

Someone saying to the "pool police" that you know someone because they're your neighbor of several years is quite a different situation than the nonsense being presented here.

You did say "every 90 minutes" a person would come by to check ID's. Can I ask, what rec centers or pools you frequent?

So, please go home and bring it back to show. People have been known to lie or various reasons. Like for an outside friend?
Also, having to go get the I'd means they are less likely to forget it in the future. It's all about learning, you see.

So you are Swimming at 6 different pools and nobody checking at the Regional swimming lanes? (Pools that one can actually swim). No lounge chairs just a few benches.

Or are you using 6 family pools at any Recreational Center (pools allowing all ages no swim lanes) with chairs tables, and lounge chairs. That have onsite employees? Usually ID checked about every hour, depending on the employee can ask you leave ID in plain site while in the pool.

Or the 6 pools you are frequenting adult pools (no Swim Lanes) not at any recreation center? Pools to socialize get wet, unmanned? With lounge chairs and tables.
That can have territorial residents in a heartbeat will call CW if you don’t look like you belong?

When you posted “I Swim” my impression was you were actually swimming at a Regional Center, with ids checked at entry.
If you are getting wet at the unmanned Adult pools, usually checked every couple hours by a CW that makes big difference. In our 4 different neighborhoods, the adult pools were usually checked every few hours, but the local residents were the watchdogs.

Every time our daughter goes to any adult pools someone would approach or call to have her ID checked. Apparently at 50 she takes far better care of her skin than other residents.
Which definitely makes her look younger than the required age 30 for adult pools.

Let's flip this around and ask how you knew that "these people coming in to free load" were NOT TV residents.

Looks like a $5 problem with a $1000 solution

Slip of the tongue or out right admissions, mostly. At least that has been my experience.

For those of you who find it difficult, inconvenient, impossible, or distasteful to get out of the pool to show your ID - perhaps you could consider affixing your ID to a little clamp that you can attach to your swimsuit. My swimsuit bottom (I wear a two-piece) has a key pocket that's just big enough for a key and a single ID card. If I'm in the pool and someone wants to check my ID it's right there, no need to get out of the pool at all. I don't bother though, because I'm fine with getting out of the pool to show my ID.

Nice to see there were at least 3 Rec Center people checking ID's outside Rohan Pickleball courts this morning.

Well, for one thing the 11 year old boy diving into the Adult pool with his 16 year old sister while mom casually reads the sign on the wall with the rules, gave me a clue…

Have the trolls who monitor home violations branch out and do it.

First a sign that states "Must Have a valid Villages ID and Show I D upon request". Failure to do so means immediate removal from the area.
Have those who refuse trespassed. Non-residents will be trespassed and a restraining order issued that forbids them on villages property.
Villagers should understand this is for the protection of your rights, property, safety.
It seems a small issue now. Let's keep it from becoming a big thing. If we don't protect our amenities we could end up losing them.

While it pains me to state it, we totally agree on this issue. I would also suggest that it needs to be extended to short term rentals as well, especially Airbnbs

Regional Centers check ids for every event. They are on site.

Recreation centers have an on site staff and sometimes 2 at all times. Their rotation is 60 minutes walk through. Checking on those who are new since the last walk through.

If you are at either a Regional or recreation center you can either walk in the building to an employee or find the employee roaming around the pool area at the regional center to make a complaint.

My guess is you’re speaking of neighborhood pools also named adult pools over the age of 30. Community watch does a round robin of checking IDs as they pass by the pools on the route, the average is about 90 minutes.

If you were concerned, you can always call community watch from the adult pool that you are having issues with your Description of a description of a non-villager resident resident, and ask them to come and check on IDs.

Will usually respond within a half an hour or at least that’s my experience since 2007.
Then again at One of our 4 homes with neighborhood pools, the non-welcome club will hound the crap out of a new person. If you don’t live in this neighborhood, you need to leave and go to your pool.
Sometimes the elderly females are unhappy just not to share a pool for all residents, but sometimes the look of a new resident.

You might want to mention your concerns, sounds like many have free rein of all the pools you frequent, and are questioning their status. Or maybe not recognizing residents who travel from one pool to another to find a quieter pool atmosphere

My wife goes to the pool often. I go occasionally. The “monitors” only check ID’S for those not in the water. People know that. Until that changes you will always have non-residents using our pools.

Nobody is going to take that bait, so why not state what you mean?

Totally agree, rules are worthless unless enforced. If rules are not enforced, word gets out and people take advantage of the situation.

Actually they do not check everyone or even all the time. Been to quite a few club events and there is nobody checking ID's.

Public
 

Other than rec centers and executive golf courses, the general public can go anyplace they want in the villages. To have someone monitor 210 pickleball courts morning to night, check everyone in and out of the water at pools, and everyone who walks in a rec center, is unrealistic. Many times the person at the desk is busy with paper work and can’t monitor the front door. All the monitoring is hit and miss and if a non villages wants to get in a rec center or swim in a pool, not that difficult. Executive golf pretty tough to sneak someone in.