[Mike&Silvia]

You provided me with a good laugh to start the day. Thank you!

[MrFlorida]

If the rec center people did their job, and checked ID's the system we have now would work, I have been checked at pools and rec centers. There seems to be a shortage of ID checkers here.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

If the rec center people did their job, and checked ID's the system we have now would work, I have been checked at pools and rec centers. There seems to be a shortage of ID checkers here.

Note that every village rec center (VRC) has an employee on duty for every hour that the rec center is open. In addition to the rec center building, their job is to check IDs around the building (pickleball, shuffleboard, etc.) and 2 or 3 pools in the area. If the pools are an issue, surely they could visit them often enough to verify IDs and discourage freeloaders. In my opinion, these employees do not seem to be overworked. The problem is lax enforcement, especially by management who supervises the rec center employees.

[Switter]

I agree that an electronic system would be very expensive.

I have been asked for my ID about three or four times since July 2023. I rented in an Airbnb for two months then bought in mid-August and slowly moved in.

At a minimum, I think they should have signs at all the pools stating their policy: "use of the villages amenities requires having a valid villages ID on your person. If you do not have a villages ID with you while using the amenity, you will be asked to leave."

When I first came here and stayed in an Airbnb, I didn't see any signs telling me I had to have a villages ID. It has to be in a place that's clearly visible and easily seen.

I'm not gonna pretend that that would actually be much of a deterrent but it would give the person checking IDs a little more weight when they ask people to leave. They could just point at the sign and say sorry, it's community policy.

If they do have a person who is being paid to check IDs, that person should be vetted to make sure they can handle confrontation, much like a security guard. If a person won't leave then management should be brought in. You also don't need one person at every the anmenity all day, just someone who can make rounds. They would have to be assigned an area.

For people who forget to bring their card with them, it will only take one or two times being asked to leave and they'll begin to remember to bring it the next time.

All that said, nothing will work if there's nobody at the pool checking IDs. I bought my house in August 2023 and I've seen what looked to be an ID checker one time at the sports pool by my house, and I used it almost every day during the fall.

One thing that would be nice is to have an electronic ID that you can carry with you on your phone. It would have to have a barcode that could be scanned. People don't forget their phones that often. There's probably a cost of that though.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by kansasr

The cost would be much more than just $50 for each individual for a new card. The systems that would have to be in place to accepts these new cards would be excessive.

Math:

$50 per resident. There are approximately 150,000 residents in The Villages.

150,000 * 50 = $7,500,000 revenue to off-set the expense of the new system. I've never priced out new systems at pools but - maybe seven and a half million dollars would be enough to cover it? The cards themselves only cost a dollar when you buy them in bulk, uncoded.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Switter

One thing that would be nice is to have an electronic ID that you can carry with you on your phone. It would have to have a barcode that could be scanned. People don't forget their phones that often. There's probably a cost of that though.

People who don't forget their phones, can put those little silicone card holders on the backs of their phones. Their ID and gate card fit in them very well, nice and snug.

People who drive their cars to the pools have their drivers license with them. And probably a place where they keep their drivers license. Like, a wallet, for example. They can keep their ID and gate card in their wallet.

People who drive their golf carts to pools usually have their gate cards with them too. They can keep their ID in the same location that they keep their gate card. On the clip-board attached to their steering wheel, or in the little clip on the overhead shelf, or in the cup holder, or - in their pocket.

The likelihood of people forgetting to bring their identification with them is low. The likelihood of people thinking they're too important to bother and they intend to get around the rules instead of following them is much higher.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by CaddyWapus

That’s not at all how the law works you cannot trespass without first asking the person to leave. They must leave and then come back to the property to be legally trespassed. Old people in “The Villages” are miserable, whining, entitled, cheap crybabies. Just think there are real problems close by homeless, hungry etc ������������

Who's actually the one that thinks they're entitled, the person paying for the amenity using it or the person not paying for the amenity and using it? I would suggest the latter. People who think they can knowingly break rules are people who think they are entitled.

Sure, there's problems in the world. Should we just stop in forcing anything because there's problems in the world? Maybe Disney should stop checking for passes when entering their amusement park. Or maybe forest Rangers should not ask to see passes when entering a state or national park, at least for those that require a pass.

If you were paying for something and couldn't use it because of people who weren't paying for it using it, and who were breaking the rules and no one was enforcing them, you would complain too. Or, you would just stop paying for it.

Lastly, you just unfairly demonized all old people in the villages.

[JGibson]

This is all a pipe dream. If you want that type of security move to a real gated community that requires ID to even step foot on the property.

TV is just not set up this way and never will be.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

People who don't forget their phones, can put those little silicone card holders on the backs of their phones. Their ID and gate card fit in them very well, nice and snug.

People who drive their cars to the pools have their drivers license with them. And probably a place where they keep their drivers license. Like, a wallet, for example. They can keep their ID and gate card in their wallet.

People who drive their golf carts to pools usually have their gate cards with them too. They can keep their ID in the same location that they keep their gate card. On the clip-board attached to their steering wheel, or in the little clip on the overhead shelf, or in the cup holder, or - in their pocket.

The likelihood of people forgetting to bring their identification with them is low. The likelihood of people thinking they're too important to bother and they intend to get around the rules instead of following them is much higher.

Yeah, I get what your saying and I don't necessarily disagree but it is far easier for me to forget my wallet than to forget my phone. I also don't like bringing my wallet to the pool and leave it sit on a bench while I swim. At least my phone is secure if it gets stolen, you'll never be able to get into it. Lastly, just about everything I do is on my phone. It's just the way it is nowadays. Even our payment systems are starting to move onto our phones, such as Apple Pay. I just think it would be a great convenience.

[IndianaJones]

Originally Posted by JGibson

This is all a pipe dream. If you want that type of security move to a real gated community that requires ID to even step foot on the property.

TV is just not set up this way and never will be.

This is the answer - this is a community with gates, not a gated community. TV is open - as are the pools, etc. - to the world “outside the bubble”, like it or not. While somewhat insulated by the sheer size & number of senior residents, it will never be “locked up secure”. Plus, as noted, there’s a gap in the ability to enforce access & rules. Live with it, ask for help if someone is being a nuisance, or move to a gated, secure community. More card readers & gadgets won’t fix it!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Switter

Yeah, I get what your saying and I don't necessarily disagree but it is far easier for me to forget my wallet than to forget my phone. I also don't like bringing my wallet to the pool and leave it sit on a bench while I swim. At least my phone is secure if it gets stolen, you'll never be able to get into it. Lastly, just about everything I do is on my phone. It's just the way it is nowadays. Even our payment systems are starting to move onto our phones, such as Apple Pay. I just think it would be a great convenience.

I have one of those silicon card holders on the back of my phone, so I never have to decide whether or not I'll bring my wallet. I have GPay, so I don't need to carry credit cards. My ID and gate card are in the card holder on my phone.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by JGibson

This is all a pipe dream. If you want that type of security move to a real gated community that requires ID to even step foot on the property.

TV is just not set up this way and never will be.

I don’t think the issue is safety (although that;s a concern).
Owners, who are paying the amenity fee, should have access to the amenities.
Someone who lives outside the villages shouldn’t be a regular at pools, or tennis courts.

I don’t think it’s a huge deal at all the facilities, but there are probably pockets of pools, etc where it is a problem.

[Cliff Fr]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I don't blame the rec center employees because they are only doing what they are told to do. But, if management hires someone to do a job, they should require them to do it. Why have ID cards and employees to scan them if you don't enforce the rules? It is a waste of money. Do you really want to pay someone to check ID's if they let everyone in anyway. I don't agree that people would need to be forced to leave. Most people would leave if they were told to leave. But, if necessary, you can call the police for a trespassing crime. I have seen this happen at restaurants in The Villages. The police are happy to remove a trespasser.

That's a totally different situation

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by asianthree

How is the un named paper think it can influence or accomplish anything in TV, other than stirring a bigger pot

exactly. the other rag has no integrity & is mainly a hit piece publication. i'm willing to bet half the stories aren't even true, or exaggerated to the point of amusement.

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by Garywt

I understand what you are saying but in many cases the worker knows the person as they might have entered 3 times a week for 6 months and you get to recognize people. No different when you go into Dunkins and they already know your order. In addition employees etc have access to a database that has all of our ID’s loaded in it so it can easily be looked up. I do agree that you need to have an ID, just might not be on you.

i agree. we have the same guy all the time who knows us by face. we do get checked & the 1 time there was a differnt guy & someone in our party forgot their card, i drove home to get it. no big deal. i just carry mine with me all the time, & leave the card out on the table with my stuff before its even asked for. sounds like a non-issue