[GRACEALLEMAN]

It makes the gatekeeper feel "big and important and friendly and gives him extra money for poker games. LOL

[Rosebud1949]

Originally Posted by thelegges

Two lanes merging to one. Gate keeper holds car next to them, to give small head start space for car at card gate.

Other than that gate keeper does not give the allusion of security.

CORRECTION Gate keepers are supposed to alternate vehicles coming thru the gates WRONG...so many do not How many of you folk have had to avoid the trucks and other vehicles who are let thru as your barrier goes up and you move forward. Carts "playing chicken" ad the barrier rises does not help

[mrf6969]

They got the idea from "Checkpoint Charlie" Worked for them...

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by JohnN

maybe we can do like the NFL and just get cardboard cutouts of gate guards.

"illusion of security" is the exact correct term.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by Carla B

At the Morse gate @ 466 they are essential to keep northbound cars from colliding with each other and with golf carts crossing Morse just behind the gate. It is a demanding job.

That's about the only one I can think of that seems really necessary.

[djwill27]

Originally, I think they were controlled at one time, but the Morse Family took tax money from the state or Feds to maintain the roads which in effect made them public. In a subsequent lawsuit, the Morse family was required to allow the public on The Villages streets and what we have now is the compromise. The cameras do record traffic and have been used to solve some criminal activity that has taken place such as breaking into homes. So not all bad.

[Alaska Butch]

I suspect the security helps reduce insurance rates. Also the “illusion” of security does reduce the likelihood someone unfamiliar with the fact they can be waived through will attempt entry.

[airdale2]

Some of your property taxes goes to maintain and police the streets which makes them public streets.

[airdale2]

Talk to one whom has worked those booths and hear some of their stories of the abuse they sometimes must tolerate.

[Hockey dude]

The gate attendants are there for traffic flow control, directions and Assistance for visitors or new TV residents.

The majority of us are also CPR trained and have phones and radios to call in for emergency assistance when needed.

Each manned gate also has “word maps” that can get you to any street that is nearby that gate. We pass out a fair amount of word maps and directional assistance.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by Rosebud1949

CORRECTION Gate keepers are supposed to alternate vehicles coming thru the gates WRONG...so many do not How many of you folk have had to avoid the trucks and other vehicles who are let thru as your barrier goes up and you move forward. Carts "playing chicken" ad the barrier rises does not help

you said it!! entrance off 466 has golf carts merging with cars, the paths there are on the road, & can be very scary for a driver when a cart pulls out in front of you. and all those gate workers are friendly--say hello on slow days, exchange a few words-you may even get a smile when they remember you they do help by allowing safe roads (@ least the ones i've met). one guy had to call out to warn cart drivers who think they have right-of-way here. he was ready to pull out in front of the beast-car i drive

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's a combination of things.
1. traffic control, especially with gates that merge with golf cart traffic
2. customer service - notice the visitor gate is closest to the gatehouse. If a visitor needs directions, the gate attendant is trained to assist them in getting where they're trying to go.
3. a deterrent to trespassers. It's not a preventative. But it does remind people that someone is always watching. If that can scare off even one house-burglar, then they've proven their value.

That's it in a nutshell.

The reason that Wal Mart and a few other stores has greeters is not to be friendly. It's because studies have shown that would be thieves are less likely to steal when they know that an employee has spoken to them and can recognize them. Store greeters are part of their security. I believe that the gate attendants are the same.

[FredJacobs]

Originally Posted by djwill27

Originally, I think they were controlled at one time, but the Morse Family took tax money from the state or Feds to maintain the roads which in effect made them public. In a subsequent lawsuit, the Morse family was required to allow the public on The Villages streets and what we have now is the compromise. The cameras do record traffic and have been used to solve some criminal activity that has taken place such as breaking into homes. So not all bad.

Originally, TV was a "gated community." When the roads needed repair work, the Developer went to the county and was told that as long as the community had private roads, the community was responsible for repairs. What, spend money on road repairs? In the blink of an eye the roads were turned over to the county.

TV advertising never claims that this is a "gated community." The gates are there to space out vehicles so that nearby side roads can have a chance to enter or cross the road. For example, the gate on Belvedere. A few feet south of the gate are two streets - Hialeah Avenue and Green Hill Trail and a little further is Churchill Downs. If it weren't for the gates, traffic from these streets would wait forever for a break before turning North or South.

[giorgio1948]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Where can i apply to be a cardboard cutout?

I think CVS...let us know...

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

It's a combination of things.
1. traffic control, especially with gates that merge with golf cart traffic
2. customer service - notice the visitor gate is closest to the gatehouse. If a visitor needs directions, the gate attendant is trained to assist them in getting where they're trying to go.
3. a deterrent to trespassers. It's not a preventative. But it does remind people that someone is always watching. If that can scare off even one house-burglar, then they've proven their value.

Yes, and it is a shame that the newest villages don’t have them. I like a person in the gatehouses for all the reasons you mentioned