Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence

[SuperDuper! 230]

Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence

6:00 am May 26, 2010, by Bob Barr

Thousands of census workers, including many temporary employees, are fanning out across America to gather information on the citizenry. This is a process that takes place not only every decade in order to complete the constitutionally-mandated census; but also as part of the continuing "American Community Survey" conducted by the Census Bureau on a regular basis year in and year out.

What many Americans don't realize, is that census workers — from the head of the Bureau and the Secretary of Commerce (its parent agency) down to the lowliest and newest Census employee — are empowered under federal law to actually demand access to any apartment or any other type of home or room that is rented out, in order to count persons in the abode and for "the collection of statistics." If the landlord of such apartment or other leased premises refuses to grant the government worker access to your living quarters, whether you are present or not, the landlord can be fined $500.00.

That's right — not only can citizens be fined if they fail to answer the increasingly intrusive questions asked of them by the federal government under the guise of simply counting the number of people in the country; but a landlord must give them access to your apartment whether you're there or not, in order to gather whatever "statistics" the law permits.

In fact, some census workers apparently are going even further and demanding — and receiving — private cell phone numbers from landlords in order to call tenants and obtain information from them. Isn't it great to live in a "free" country?

http://blogs.ajc.com...n-your-absence/

Edited May 28, 2010 by Hopp

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I doubt that this is true. There is no link to a gov site and it's another blog spreading false info.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I doubt that this is true. There is no link to a gov site and it's another blog spreading false info.

Title 13, Chapter 7, Subchapter II, § 223 of the US Code. The section prevents the owner or manger of “any hotel, apartment house, boarding or lodging house, tenement, or other building” from refusing to provide a list of the buildings occupants or providing access to “such premises”. This means a building’s owner or manger cannot refuse to let a census worker into or out of the building and cannot refuse to provide a list of occupants for the purpose of the census count. The penalty for refusal is $500.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000223----000-.html

Nothing to do with entering private dwellings....

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Title 13, Chapter 7, Subchapter II, § 223 of the US Code. The section prevents the owner or manger of “any hotel, apartment house, boarding or lodging house, tenement, or other building” from refusing to provide a list of the buildings occupants or providing access to “such premises”. This means a building’s owner or manger cannot refuse to let a census worker into or out of the building and cannot refuse to provide a list of occupants for the purpose of the census count. The penalty for refusal is $500.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000223----000-.html

Nothing to do with entering private dwellings....

Why not quote what is posted in your link?

Whoever, being the owner, proprietor, manager, superintendent, or agent of any hotel, apartment house, boarding or lodging house, tenement, or other building, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary or by any other officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, acting under the instructions of the Secretary, to furnish the names of the occupants of such premises, or to give free ingress thereto and egress therefrom to any duly accredited representative of such Department or bureau or agency thereof, so as to permit the collection of statistics with respect to any census provided for in subchapters I and II of chapter 5 of this title, or any survey authorized by subchapter IV or V of such chapter insofar as such survey relates to any of the subjects for which censuses are provided by such subchapters I and II, including, when relevant to the census or survey being taken or made, the proper and correct enumeration of all persons having their usual place of abode in such premises, shall be fined not more than $500.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Census workers are instructed to be "politely persistent" in demanding your personal info. Just politely refuse by giving just your age and gender and number of people living in your residence. THAT is all the constitution requires. DON'T let them in your house or Apt. DON'T be intimidated.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Census workers are instructed to be "politely persistent" in demanding your personal info. Just politely refuse by giving just your age and gender and number of people living in your residence. THAT is all the constitution requires. DON'T let them in your house or Apt. DON'T be intimidated.

They don't want to enter your house or apartment. They want to know how many people are living there and they prefer to complete the entire questionnaire as it helps determine many things for future needs and changing demographics. The census isn't out to intimidate anyone. I can't believe the paranoia.

[William33 110]

Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence

6:00 am May 26, 2010, by Bob Barr

Thousands of census workers, including many temporary employees, are fanning out across America to gather information on the citizenry. This is a process that takes place not only every decade in order to complete the constitutionally-mandated census; but also as part of the continuing "American Community Survey" conducted by the Census Bureau on a regular basis year in and year out.

What many Americans don't realize, is that census workers — from the head of the Bureau and the Secretary of Commerce (its parent agency) down to the lowliest and newest Census employee — are empowered under federal law to actually demand access to any apartment or any other type of home or room that is rented out, in order to count persons in the abode and for "the collection of statistics." If the landlord of such apartment or other leased premises refuses to grant the government worker access to your living quarters, whether you are present or not, the landlord can be fined $500.00.

That's right — not only can citizens be fined if they fail to answer the increasingly intrusive questions asked of them by the federal government under the guise of simply counting the number of people in the country; but a landlord must give them access to your apartment whether you're there or not, in order to gather whatever "statistics" the law permits.

In fact, some census workers apparently are going even further and demanding — and receiving — private cell phone numbers from landlords in order to call tenants and obtain information from them. Isn't it great to live in a "free" country?

http://blogs.ajc.com...n-your-absence/

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I like Barr quite a bit, but yeah.....just give the census workers the info.

Would it surprise anyone that I voted for Barr?

Edited May 28, 2010 by Sousuke

[William33 110]

Without reading other responses, this is bullshite. Only Law Enforcement has the right to enter your house without warning, but only with a warrant.

Census workers are usually elderly folks and seek the information they need from neighbors, if you are not at home or ignore the doorbell. I have been queried about neighbors 4 times by Census takers.

They may have the law on there side, but nobody wants to get shot...Who would disagree with that?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

As one who served the Census Bureau last time around I can assure you no such authorization to enter dwellings was given, nor was such a thing suggested. This article is indeed bullshite, although I imagine there are a few around Off Topic who will buy it hook, line and sinker.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

As one who served the Census Bureau last time around I can assure you no such authorization to enter dwellings was given, nor was such a thing suggested. This article is indeed bullshite, although I imagine there are a few around Off Topic who will buy it hook, line and sinker.

Probably more than a few.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Without reading other responses, this is bullshite. Only Law Enforcement has the right to enter your house without warning, but only with a warrant.

Census workers are usually elderly folks and seek the information they need from neighbors, if you are not at home or ignore the doorbell. I have been queried about neighbors 4 times by Census takers.

They may have the law on there side, but nobody wants to get shot...Who would disagree with that?

Did you snitch on your neighbors, did you tell them what your neighbor's sex and age were? Seriously what's so scary about the census?

[Welshcookie 17]

I personally dislike census forms because they ask too much personal info and yet continue to say 'what's so scary about a census?'..unless I am claiming something that the government is paying for, they have no right to demand I tell them how many people I have living in my house. ####### off!

[William33 110]

Did you snitch on your neighbors, did you tell them what your neighbor's sex and age were? Seriously what's so scary about the census?

I participated in the census like a good American citizen. That said, I only offered residential habitant estimates for absent neighbors. Did I miss something to gain that harsh response?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I personally dislike census forms because they ask too much personal info and yet continue to say 'what's so scary about a census?'..unless I am claiming something that the government is paying for, they have no right to demand I tell them how many people I have living in my house. ####### off!

The Constitution mandates it.