How do police, ambulances, fire trucks, etc. get into gated communities?

[raccoon]

I was just reading about a neighborhood in a nearby city wanting to put up gates, and I wondered.

[Xithras]

1. Depends on the community, and the gate.

Generally the fire department is simply given the code to the gate so they can open it. Dispatchers know which addresses are gated and can look up their code before the truck gets there. And if the call about the fire is coming from someone at another home in the gated community, the dispatcher will usually just ask that person to open the gates to make things even quicker.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. You know, that makes me think - gated communities should have it privatized.

if we aren't good enough that we have to kept out by a gate, then our tax money should also not be good enough to pay for their emergency services.

Every community should say: "Feel free to be a gated community, but once that gate goes up, everything inside that gate is your responsibility - the roads, police, fire, water treatment and sewage, whatever. Nothing public goes inside those walls. Up to you."

[CBGLuthier]

3. They Pay Taxes Too.

The mere presence of a gate would be a foolish reason to deny services to taxpaying citizens, even if they are obnoxious "rich" people.

[Chan790]

5. How is this different than private roads?

My mom's neighbors have a 3/8 mi. private road with 7 houses on it. The city does not pave it, clean it, maintain it or anything along it. All the trash must be taken to the intersection with the public roadway. So do the school kids. The police respond no further than the end of the road without exigent circumstances to enter or an arrest warrant for an occupant. Ambulance and fire depts. respond along its' length but there are no hydrants the length of the road.

The city's stance is whatever happens to Turner Ln. isn't their concern. Been that way for 50 years.

[CBGLuthier]

6. Don't know. But it IS different in my city and I imagine most cities.

Perhaps this stretch of land is not in their city?

[Chan790]

7. Perhaps...

It's right smack dab in the center but 50 years ago when it was built most of town was unincorporated land belonging to the regional water company. We're home to 7 reservoirs that serve downstate CT locations and into NY...it possible it's an island of land not part of the city.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. So do the rest of the community - yet the rest of the community is refused access to public roads

and what should be public areas in the gated community.

Can't have it both ways.

If I'm paying for a road and some asshole who lives on that road tells me I'm not clean or pure enough to use that road, then I feel quite free in telling them "Okay, then don't use my police or fire department".

[MicaelS]

11. What if the roads, streets and common areas

Are not paid for by the public? If a developer paid all the fees for roads, streets and common areas in a development, and their maintenance is entirely paid for members of the HOA, what then? The way I see it is the roads, streets and areas are private property not public. You as a taxpayer are not paying anything for those areas. Private property rights are held in very high esteem in this country both legally and individually.

The members of the community are still paying property taxes, state and local sales taxes, and state income tax in those states that have it. And they deserve the the ability to access fire and police services that their taxes pay for. Unless you going to start letting them not pay anything at all, which I'm sure some rich people would just love.

By your logic toll roads would not be permitted, and we both know they have been in existence for a very long time. Try driving on a toll road without paying and see what happens. You will be fined or arrested.

[SunnySong]

8. And the gated community doesn't have to pay property taxes???

That may be the most popular referendum ever... I could see everyone but the poor getting in on the gated action.

[NV Whino]

4. They have a fire key

It's a generic override for any gate. They are required in CA these days.

[MicaelS]

12. Fire Department Key Box...

http://archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/specialties/75-firedeptkeybox.html

Fire Department Key Box

Fire department key boxes are small boxes that house keys, key cards and, occasionally, floor plans for buildings that may be locked when the fire department arrives. The box, which is secured with a master key that only the fire department owns, allows responding fire fighters to gain access to a building without waiting for the owner to arrive and without damaging a door or window to gain entry. This type of box is commonly called a Knox Box, however this is a proprietary eponym referring to the key boxes sold by the Knox Company.

Fire department key boxes are most often used on commercial and institutional buildings that do not have 24-hour maintenance or security staff to respond to alarms. Although it is uncommon, key boxes may also be installed at large multi-family residential complexes. Architects should consult with the building owner to determine if a fire department key box is required.

Prior to specifying a fire department key box, the architect should contact the local fire department to determine the local keying requirements of the box. Many fire departments prefer specific manufacturers or box types. Installing the correct box can save the owner the costs of re-keying.

Looks like this

http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-M-2010-Fire-Department-Switch/dp/B00283RVOA

[jp11]

9. Most of the ones I've seen are setup to open when they use their warble/siren.

I haven't seen it in action but more than a few have it written on them.

[jobycom]

13. Ever watch TV?

Obviously they just crash through the gates by speeding up and hitting it really hard. Works in every movie.

[RandomThoughts]

14. LOL Maybe it is crashing the gates of a community

Or you could think of it as as bunker buster cars

:rofl:

:shrug:

it is a funny concept either way.