Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence
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?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,749 comments Add your comment
Reasonsjester
May 27th, 2010
10:27 pm
These liberals who think that the Obama administration’s activities are standard fare in a free country are simply out to lunch. It’s best not to even argue with them – they are irredeemably hopeless and hapless products of the state-run public miseducation system.
Everything will seem OK until a disaster comes, and then they are the first ones running around asking conservatives what the hell to do and why the government isn’t doing more. Here’s a newsflash – the government loves crises because it gives them something to fix and they usually wind up giving the government more power and control. That is why the government is “inept” and a “conspiracy”!
Incidentally, the government is organized as a conspiracy, as in political elites conspiring to keep themselves in power. Do you think a 90%-95% re-election rate for incumbents in most election years is a coincidence? That 95% of teachers, professors, and journalists are state-worshiping morons? Oh yes, you group-thinking intellectuals along with your lower-class miseducated wards of the state share a brain, and yet you liberals always seem to think you are intellectually superior to everyone else. You are laughably useless idiots, all of you.
Dr. Bunson
May 27th, 2010
10:27 pm
Dog food for my Doberman. It can read resumes.
seanmom
May 27th, 2010
10:28 pm
In my red state, most of the workers are not liberals. Most of them are conservatives. Moreover, they do NOT work for ACORN. Given the stringency of the background checks and the way ACORN seems to have no standards for their workers I would be surprised if any ACORN workers got through. The people that have the best “in” to this temporary federal job are veterans and disabled veterans.
As for the nonsense going around about cooking the books on labor stats, this is a misunderstanding of the enumerators who are telling these stories in the NYPost. Census workers are hired for a period of two months. Like any federal temp worker, when one’s badge is expired, one has to be re-hired. This is not unique to the census. It is a common security and personnel process in federal work. Also, there are several different census operations in this short period of time, which have different sets of training. Thus the claim in the NYP that enumerators are being trained and released is accurate, but only because in many areas the work itself doesn’t take very long, but it doesn’t matter how long it will take, the training is the same.
I don’t really understand why YOU want to waste the taxpayers’ money. If you didn’t send in the form, or did it wrong in some way, instead of costing YOU 49 cents, you forced the Census to test, hire, train, and send an enumerator after you, and that worker gets paid for his time and his mileage. The more times they have to put a note on your door, the more MONEY YOU are enabling them to make, which comes from YOU, the taxpayer.
Save time, save money. Answer the question. By the next census there will be so much centralized data on you anyway (not to mention the universal ID and medical card they are ALREADY working on which will contain your fingerprints), 90 percent of census work won’t be needed.
Somehow, I don’t think you’ll like that a lot better. I know I won’t.
Dr. Bunson
May 27th, 2010
10:28 pm
(can’t)
joe
May 27th, 2010
10:29 pm
Cynthia when will people like you and Barr realize that it is not the goverment that is the threat to our privacy but the free enterprise corporations that provide Internet services like google,etc. As a census worker I can attest to the unlimited snooping capability that the free enterprise Internet companies allow one to do. To show you how stupid you are you are insulting some one who probably remembers your arrogance, remembers your address because of the unpleasant visit and can easily obtain your name and phone number with the grreat number of reverse lookup services that our wonderful business persons supply us with. And meanwhile you do not even remeber the moron’s name . right?
margarete richmond
May 27th, 2010
10:29 pm
The census worker came to my apartment complex several times to try to talk to people and he never asked the manager to open any door. I don’t know from where this is coming from. That didn’t happen here.
Hamish
May 27th, 2010
10:30 pm
To all of you complaining about Bob ‘reading into things’ or ‘blowing this out of proportion’; consider this… The Census started as a simple head count, how exactly did it evolve into the current brobdingnagian expanse we’ve encountered today? Simple, ask the Obamas about being salt Nazis or some other perfect example of ‘do-gooder-ism’ that is so rampant today…
John Stark
May 27th, 2010
10:30 pm
The only thing we filled out on the form was the number of people in our household. That’s the only information required by law, as far as I’m concerned. If someone from the Census tries to enter our home (which we own outright) without our permission to get more information, they better hope B.O’s medical program is already operational.
Panagiota Kontos
May 27th, 2010
10:30 pm
Good post Jeff Johnson, but think about this…is there really a need to segregate NAMBLA, the CPUSA, ACLU, Black Panthers or CAIR, when they’re all part and parcel of Biraq’s Democrat Party?
Yeah, the Dems (who ran the Senate in the first term of Bush thanks to Jumpin Jim Jeffords, BTW) voted in the Patriot Act, and then again this year they extended it with further erosions.
Hey Misinformation-x dude, we get your point, we now know that you’re real proud to work for Soros and the SEIU.
Rowdy
May 27th, 2010
10:31 pm
“The only problem I have had is some people’s attitude because they lack the knowledge
just how the Census helps them,”
This is a crock too Jimmie. The only thing a census helps are politicians. It’s called “redistricting”. You know, all those areas with a gazillion illegals? They jack up a population…despite the fact they aren’t legal residents of THIS country.
Simon Jester
May 27th, 2010
10:31 pm
There is nothing legitimate or valid beyond the count. Period. If/when they show up to ask for more, they will be told the number and asked to leave. If they remain beyond that time they are trespassing and the Sheriff’s Dept will be called. You are welcome to answer anything you like.
Lisa
May 27th, 2010
10:32 pm
” I may ask for your DL and have you wait while I make a copy.”
B-man, while I make a point to carry my DL in my pocket with me during my Census travels, I would not let you make a copy of it. I would, however, let you see it. Also, anyone working the Census & coming to your door should have a Census ID around their neck & show it to you.
HAHAHAHA
May 27th, 2010
10:33 pm
America…. love it or leave it…. so I left!
Simon Jester
May 27th, 2010
10:33 pm
I really don’t care if they have Obama around their neck – it doesn’t change anything.
Chic911
May 27th, 2010
10:36 pm
Well, if Mr or Miss Census worker shows up at my house they’ll get the number of people who live there answer and nothing more. Anything above that, they had better have a warrant. And if they try to come in uninvited, then they’ll get a first hand introduction to what the 2nd Amendment is all about. You see, we have the Castle Doctrine thingy here in Ohio and….
KJ Gifford
May 27th, 2010
10:38 pm
Bob your an idiot. The Census workers cannot demand access to your property if you are not home. They can ask but they can be refused. They also cannot demand any information other than the number of persons who may be living at the property. I don’t know where you get off saying they can do these things but I suggest you get your facts straight.
The Ghost of Spalding Smails' Booger
May 27th, 2010
10:38 pm
“There is nothing legitimate or valid beyond the count. Period. If/when they show up to ask for more, they will be told the number and asked to leave. If they remain beyond that time they are trespassing and the Sheriff’s Dept will be called. You are welcome to answer anything you like.”
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. The Supreme Court has ruled on the issue over FIFTY years ago. The Census has NEVER been simply a headcount. NEVER.
The ignorance in this country is amazing.
Don H.
May 27th, 2010
10:42 pm
I’m a conservative, but I don’t like FALSE INFORMATION being used to spread fear. GET A BRAIN. THIS STORY IS COMPLETE BS. It’s sad when everyday people can refute your ‘facts’, Mr. Barr.
Joe Schmo
May 27th, 2010
10:42 pm
@ Ghost & Jeff Johnson
Liberal =/ Democrat. What is logically consistent and principled is not always – or often – politically viable. That said, I don’t like either party, for many reasons, foremost of which is that their primary (and sometimes sole) motivation is successful reelection. As for baselessly grouping me with NAMBLA and The Communist Party, I commend you on the attempted strawman. The only group of the bunch I support is the ACLU, mostly because they’re non-partisan and generally serve as a check the government’s overreach.
The Patriot Act is big government but I don’t hear you protesting that. I disagree with the Patriot Act on the same grounds that I disagree with arms restriction: the guarantee of security is not an acceptable reason to legislate against freedom.
seo-cook
May 27th, 2010
10:44 pm
А мой сайт http://seo-cook.ru так и не включили
misinformation * 9
May 27th, 2010
10:45 pm
WRONG – Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence
RIGHT – Census workers can enter your apartment BUILDING in your absence
A manager should give access to an apartment building OR provide names… one OR the other..
“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.”
It’s called reading comprehension people.. not so good these days…
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000223—-000-.html
Taquoshi
May 27th, 2010
10:46 pm
During the 2000 census, a friend and her family ended up being harassed by a census worker. They filled out the form, stating that there were three people living in the house and wrote down that their race was “human”. Apparently, that was upsetting to someone in the offices and a worker was sent out. My girlfriend’s husband answered the door and the worker got uppity with him. He’s a European and after her opening remarks, he switched into his native language. She asked him if he was here legally. He refused to answer. She threatened to call the police unless he answered her questions. My girlfriend’s husband closed the door in her face. She called the local police and reported that there was an illegal alien living there. The officer that was dispatched knew the family and advised the worker to let it go. She came back two more times, once when I happened to be there. My girlfriend politely requested the census worker leave the property. She got in her car and sat at the end of the driveway until the local police squad car that my girlfriend called pulled up. No one could figure out why this woman kept coming back to the house. I am sure that not all census workers are like this gal, but it got to be really creepy.
MyBulbBurnsBrighter
May 27th, 2010
10:49 pm
Why weren’t all of you right-wing, “socialism”/”Show me your birth-certificate”-screaming wing-nuts bitching & moaning about the Patriot Act under Bush?!?!?!…oh, I forgot, this is a MUCH bigger erosion of your rights…as if it were true. Please, for everybody’s sake, Get a clue….
Simon Jester
May 27th, 2010
10:49 pm
The Constitution specifies that an enumeration will be made to determinate the number of representatives allotted to each state. An enumeration – pretty straight forward. Not what race/ethnicity, not ages, not sexes, not any of these other things that have been asked over the years.
The Supreme Court has also ruled (incorrectly) on the Commerce Clause. They are far from infallible and fart from unbiased. They often exceed their own Constitutional limits.
Osamas Pajamas
May 27th, 2010
10:50 pm
I don’t always think about sex. Sometimes I think about overthrowing the government.
Simon Jester
May 27th, 2010
10:50 pm
PATRIOT ACT was an unconstitutional piece of garbage as well. Of course, it was supported (and renewed) by the current bunch of losers in Congress – The Democrats. Both Republicans & Democrats are big government parties.
The Ghost of Spalding Smails' Booger
May 27th, 2010
10:53 pm
Do you know what Necessary and Proper means? The Congress has authority to Tax and Spend to promote the general welfare of the people. Demographics are essential to accomplish this goal.
If that doesn’t do it for you, consider this. The Census has never been a simple enumeration. Never.
Don
May 27th, 2010
10:53 pm
I’d rather read the enabling legislation for that myself before getting all wound up. Can the author of this article or anybody cite anything that supports what’s in this article please?
Osamas Pajamas
May 27th, 2010
10:55 pm
Smash the United States government — and every level of American government — and replace it.
What this country needs is a truly LIBERAL president, congress, and government! And I forgive the reader for suspecting that this must be some kind of bad joke!
But the Democrats — and the champions of this agressive and intrusive census believe in “statism” — not “liberalism.”
They benefit from the imprecise American political terminology —- we say “the government” here in the USA —- rather than “the state.” And that’s a dangerous problem. Famous brands of statism in recent centuries have been Nazism, socialism, fascism, communism, and welfare statism —- this last is sort of a mix of fascism and socialism.
Liberalism, on the other hand, is a political philosophy of small, cheap government —- it is a constabulary —- and the job of a liberal government is to enforce human rights within its own jurisdiction. I speak of the inalienable and perfectly-natural and universally-valid human rights of life, liberty, private property, and the pursuit of personal happiness.
The first article of private property is “the self” and all other rights are derivatives of and flow from these cardinal rights. These rights —-The Rights of Man —- are the gift of nature or of nature’s god —- and they belong to all human beings, everywhere.
Show me a Democrat who subscribes to all of the above, without qualifications or weasel words. The words “liberal” and “liberalism” were hijacked by the Democrats and socialists and fascists long ago —- and it was the mistake of conservatives and libertarians to let them get away with it.
It is long past time that liberalism be reclaimed, defined, and explained by its rightful owners —- by the champions of freedom, i.e.: not by Democrats.
Well, how about “progressivism?” Whuzzat?! “Cancer” is “progressive,” too. Isn’t “progressivism” just another statist cancer? It chews you up, piece by piece, in the name of Da Peepul? Eat Da Rich? Moral cannibalism, anyone?
Friends of freedom! Friends of peace-through-strength! And friends of prosperity! Declare yourselves to be “liberals,” then —- and kick over the bloody coffee tables — and overthrow and trounce the Democrats in 2010 and 2012!
Oh. By the way. The US Constitution authorizes a “head” count and nothing more. Those who threaten the use of force and penalties to demand otherwise should “lose” their “heads.” Heads on a stick! Heads on a stick! Heads on a stick!
seanmom
May 27th, 2010
10:55 pm
One more thing. This Census can’t be laid at the feet of the current administration. Nearly all the planning, design, and strategy was done long before Obama even ran for President–some of it before he was a senator! It is true that he tried to wrest it from Commerce and hand it to White House for oversight, but by then it was too complex to move, and he dropped that plan. So, it pains me to say, if any president can or should be blamed for the current census operation, it would be George W. Bush (and, just for the record, I am probably the only conservative that didn’t abandon him for the prescription drug program and no Child Left Behind.) Honestly, though, this is too wonky and bureaucratic to be political. Every item and process at every level is cross-checked and double checked, and the only favoritism is toward veterans–and against criminals, federal loan evaders, and people who have been fired.
Robert
May 27th, 2010
10:58 pm
I am a Census worker and people freak out about fines, jail time, etc.
1. How many people were fined or imprisoned in the 2000 Census? ZERO
2. We got instructions not to go into people’s house even if they invite us in.
3. Also in training we are instructed not to push any issues that a person doesn’t want to answer.
DaveLCAC
May 27th, 2010
10:58 pm
Come into my house without permission and the federal law will be met with the Second amendment.
Sieg Heil, Nobama
May 27th, 2010
11:00 pm
Nothing like giving ‘License to Steel’ to all those parolees and Acorn workers.
Better watch out, I just might be hiding to get a good shot off.
Cilla Mitchell, Galveston Texas
May 27th, 2010
11:01 pm
Bob, I seriously doubt your credibility. By the way , that is a dang good way to get shot in Texas. Someone entering your premises without permission.
Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence « Socialism is not the Answer
May 27th, 2010
11:02 pm
[...] Source: [...]
B-Man
May 27th, 2010
11:03 pm
You would let me see it? How long could I “see it”? And how does a person know what an “official” Census ID looks like? Do I have to do some homework before I open my door (and my personal information)to a complete and total stranger? I understand you and the people working on the census have a job to do…I really do. However, you refusing to let me make a copy of your DL with your personal information on it as you quietly walk away with mine may not work for me. But! I do understand why you would not allow that to happen. It would probably be a bit uncomfortable hmm?
bar thom
May 27th, 2010
11:03 pm
Not true in my census training. Not true in my son’s. I don’t believe a word of it. The Census is, however truly a constitutional provision. You should complain about the IRS and the income tax and the health care bill. Now THAT”S illegal.
Simon Jester
May 27th, 2010
11:04 pm
Unfortunately there are two kinds of Liberals/Progressives – The Naive/Ignorant and the Liars.
They are apparently incapable of understanding the difference between “Promote” & “Provide” – The Constitution says Promote the General Welfare, NOT Provide it. If you are too ignorant, or perhaps, just illiterate, get someone to explain it to you.
DC is Broken. Has been since that Tyrant Lincoln did his best to destroy the Constitution. Obama is doing his best to replicate Lincoln’s Failures – so far he’s doing very well. Lincoln only has a few edges on him in locking up tens of thousand of people that didn’t agree with him as political prisoners, shutting down newspapers that spoke out against him and being responsible for the death of approximately 700,000 Americans. I think Obama will exceed both of those goals. He is a far greater threat to the lives of free people in this country than any external terrorist.
Patrick Martin
May 27th, 2010
11:06 pm
Easy solution. Shot First, Question Later!
shelton
May 27th, 2010
11:07 pm
E, Masters
I went to the link you listed and in the paragraph – here is the definition of “ingress”
in·gress
/ˈɪngrɛs/ Show Spelled[in-gres] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act of going in or entering.
2.
the right to enter.
3.
a means or place of entering; entryway.
So that still doesn’t mean they can enter with you not there, is that what you are trying to say?
Jeb
May 27th, 2010
11:07 pm
Any of these census a-holes try to enter my house, they WILL leave in a body bag. to hell with this marxist regime. Time for revolution and take back America.
Don
May 27th, 2010
11:08 pm
AJC is meeting it’s goal of going even lower than the National Enquirer, what’s next? “Wild dogs with red eyes hypnotized me, took my baby, and raised it.” That’s almost as bad as “Dingo got meh baybay.”
No wonder this is on a blog and not the actual news, bloggers can say anything without any supporting evidence, actual news folks have to provide citations and stuff to support their claims.
Jeanett
May 27th, 2010
11:08 pm
You have ERRONIOUS info ~ I worked as a census worker and they STRESSED to NOT ENTER ANY HOMES. We are also BOUND by an OATHE SWORN to hold ALL PERSONAL INFO in STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY ~ TITLE 13 ~ residence are required to answer the 10 questions but no more.
And NO references to VIOLENCE was EVER mentioned. QUIT DEMONIZING EVERYONE WHO WORKS FOR THE GOVERNMENT. You may be one of them at some time.
seanmom
May 27th, 2010
11:11 pm
Just to be clear: the “favoritism” I cited above is in terms of hiring. Census doesn’t ask or care about those issues for household respondents. As for the person who told the story about the 2000 census worker reporting an illegal, that can’t happen in 2010. It does not matter if you have a bag of pot and a gram of coke in the front hallway and a hooker on the porch, the census worker can NOT tell anyone about what is going on in your house. If they do, they lose their job (and hope of any future federal job) and risk fines and imprisonment. And they are NOT allowed to ask whether anyone is legal or illegal.
MrObvious
May 27th, 2010
11:12 pm
If you get asked a census question you don’t want to answer – just tell em the answer escapes you at the moment. The only question you are required to answer is how many people live there. Names and phone numbers are not required. Even race is not required. The less extraneous information given to the interviewers the less likely interviewees are to be $pamed by the DNC, unions, community organizers, and related groups later. Expect the government to find a way to exempt specific groups from honoring the “Do Not Call” list sometime before the 2012 elections, even if they have to pass new laws to do it.
Mike
May 27th, 2010
11:14 pm
I am a census worker, part time and temporary (just wanted some extra pocket change), and we are specifically trained that we cannot even touch screen doors. We are also trained that if we are told to leave the premises to do so immediately. Not sure where this craziness is coming from but it isn’t the reality that is being taught in our local census office at any rate.
Panagiota Kontos
May 27th, 2010
11:16 pm
Census workers are leftist tools of Soros, Rahm and the husband of the big, ole, hairy, butt~ugly, Chewbacca “thang” in the White House.
Ain’t no such thing as a conservative who would take a statist job like taking info for the gubmint. All you leftist wieners need to man-up to your inner weakness…and move to Canada.
The Ghost of Spalding Smails' Booger
May 27th, 2010
11:16 pm
First of all, I’m a conservative. Second, I typed that in about two seconds. I understand the Constitution. I’ve probably spent close to a thousand hours studying the Contitution, it’s history and the Supreme Court cases interpreting it.
So please, spare me your tin foil lecture about what it really says.
mike
May 27th, 2010
11:19 pm
Has this $500 fine ever been ordered? Ever paid? I’ve never heard of this.
Lacson
May 27th, 2010
11:20 pm
Article is totally false. Thanks for lying bob. The sad news is a census worker can threaten to fine all ignorant landlords just the same way bob Barr made us believe that census workers can enter our homes.