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This is perhaps the most important issue in the entire discussion.
OP, do the neighbors have another access route other than the private drive mentioned? Do they have an easement or some other legal access to the private drive?
I don't think anyone is questioning whether a census worker can legally enter upon property in order to perform their legal duties. But neither do census workers have carte blanch to trespass. A census worker can enter upon my neighbors property in order to collect the neighbors information. However, I don't believe that a census worker has the legal right to enter upon MY property in order to collect my neighbors information.
The neighbors have an easement to get to their property. Your last sentence is exactly the question (or one of them) for which I am trying to get the real answer.
Probably not. You do know that criminal acts on property sometimes are discovered days, weeks, or even months after they happened? This is not in a city, it is in a rural area.
In today's age of scams and identity theft, I would never, ever give someone regardless of "ID" who comes to my door any information. In fact we don't even open our door because that is one of the oldest tricks in the book for burglars.
So you just live barricaded behind locked doors and drawn blinds and never leave the house?
There are some people who have legal access to your property, even if it is posted: firemen, policemen and other law enforcement, tax assessors, border patrol agents.... And I'm pretty darn sure that census takers are included in that list.
The problem is that anyone can masquerade as a census taker (tax assessor, fireman, policeman, etc) just to gain access to your property, your loved ones, your children. It's wise to be a little paranoid in 2019/20.
The neighbors have an easement to get to their property. Your last sentence is exactly the question (or one of them) for which I am trying to get the real answer.
As I recall, if a roadway passes through a private property and out the other side, and is not barricaded, it is a public road. That was the case in Florida.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoffD
Census workers are fine. I save my firepower for Jehova’s Witness.
Issue is if census workers have an inherent authority to disregard "no trespassing" signs.
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Issue is if census workers have an inherent authority to disregard "no trespassing" signs.
Actually, the OP said the signs stated "Private Property" and "Private Road." He did not say there were any "No Trespassing" signs. There may very well be a difference in how such signs need to be treated, which probably varies by jurisdiction.
Issue is if census workers have an inherent authority to disregard "no trespassing" signs.
No, that isn’t the issue.
I think it’s pretty clear that census workers can enter upon YOUR property to gather YOUR data. The issue is whether they can cross YOUR NEIGHBORS property, to gather YOUR data.
I saw those, too. That’s possible, but I still would expect that they would have to contact the landowner whose property they trespass THROUGH to reach the unverified address, simply out of courtesy. Our own address was verified right from the start.
This kind of loophole opens the door to criminal activity.
I doubt it. The Census is a constitutionally mandated activity. Your private property rights don't trump a constitutional mandate.
And a privately owned road does NOT mean that govt. workers cannot access the road. It doesn't even mean that non-govt. workers cannot access the road, depending on circumstances.
Also, just my opinion, but these seems just a tad paranoid on your end. Why would you be frightened of a govt. Census worker? It's just some schlub trying to gather data. Not sure why they would be scarier than a postal worker making deliveries, or any other necessary govt. function. If anything, they should be the ones who are frightened, with all the off-leash dogs, gun nuts, and crazies in our society.
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