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
Unreal
May 28th, 2010
7:06 am
Mr. Barr you are living in the land of the free. How else would you be able to read, processes normal documents then, rearrange the meaning in your mind, justify your agenda by by leaving out the actual meaning of the document and then post it for the world to see. How much more freedom do you need? shame on you that you actually think people reading your posts are so ignorant to believe census workers can just walk into your place of residents. The damn landlord cant even do that with his own rental property without 24hr notice. Stupid man Stupid man stupid man to the poster that said Bob is a great guy, sorry no human set out to manipulte everyone he comes into contact with deserves nothing more than evil status because there is always a hidden agenga behind every action unfortunatly this does not apply only to polititions
P.Henery 'liberty or death'
May 28th, 2010
7:09 am
Byron Mathison Kerr
May 26th, 2010
7:23 am
“Scary! Good incentive to take those few moments to fill out that simple census form.”
Moron, there is no “good incentive ” to give away any freedom and liberty, it’s cowards like you that would rather live on his knees before the All Powerful Federal Beast, than Live free and die if necessary. Good thing cowards like you are in the minority.
Mike
May 28th, 2010
7:10 am
I think they hired most of the 400,000 census workers from rejected TSA applications. The next best thing to raiding luggage is ungated access to all those luxury apartments!
GOOOoooooo DAWGS!
May 28th, 2010
7:11 am
Rita
iRun
You two are F*UCKING IDIOTS. One of you in a Kool-Aid stupor, and one of you thinking this is some kind of f*ucking quaint a$$ed geneology dig.
GEEEEEZ! When are you sheeple going to WAKE UP and realize that this is the soft revolution of boiling frogs.
I answered “4″ on my census and mailed it back the very next day. No taunting remarks, just the facts. Some alcoholic F*AG came my door, I swear, not two weeks later saying how I “DIDN’T” send in my form at all. I begged to differ with him and told him that if he planned to lie to ME to get answers, lying was all he would get in return.
I skinned out five hundred bucks and informed him this would gladly cover the fine, but he was getting nothing more than was Constitutionally mandated and would he like to be carried in numerous small bags or mopped off my porch if he did not remove himself from it immediately?
He asked if I was threatening him. I said “No, mister, its a promise.”
He left.
I anticipate an audit, which I pay dearly to avoid every year, so BRING IT ON YOU TEAT SUCKLING B*ASTARDS!!!!!
And Cynthia>>>>> YOU RAWK.
Greg Webber
May 28th, 2010
7:12 am
I’m glad I don’t rent, but if I did and I caught a census worker in my home his guts would be turned to kraut by my shotgun.
Art
May 28th, 2010
7:12 am
The purpose of the census is to count people. If no people are present at a residence, what business does a census worker have there? Are they going to count bed sheets and then make a grand assumption as to how many live there? Is that not legally the same as a resident “estimating” how many live in their abode, and is that not against the law as stated on the form?
I think, rather, this is meant to show the American people who the real boss is around here, and it isn’t us. It might be a good time to start leaving gallons of paint precipitously balanced on the top of your front doors …… as a welcoming gift for the hapless census worker.
Bob
May 28th, 2010
7:12 am
And when I arrive home and find a stranger in my apartment, they will be in grave danger of being shot.
GOOOoooooo DAWGS!
May 28th, 2010
7:14 am
And rufus levin can gof*uckhimself.
Unreal
May 28th, 2010
7:14 am
Let me tell you how ticked off I am about this article i am posting for a second time. Hey Barr. Please write and article of truthfulness, write something we can believe in to actually rally around a conservative cause. So, just know this Barr your credibility is in the pisser. All this because you have to make something up just to be an ALARMIST are you really in that much need of attention ? unreal
P.Henery 'liberty or death'
May 28th, 2010
7:15 am
rufus levin
May 28th, 2010
7:05 am
“…I have been working with the census…., and so that we can collect a few statistical data points to help plan for schools and social services over the next ten years…”
Could you please show us where in the Constitution this info. is required to be given?
Backwalker
May 28th, 2010
7:15 am
I married and moved to my husband’s home. I still work with patients out of my former home. I filled the census form out for my new addy and don’t even recieve mail at the old house, so never got a census form there. While I was working the other day, the census worker showed up and triggered the motion sensor outside the door. She never knocked or let me know she was there. I stuck my head out and was informed she needed info for the census. I told her I was working. She insisted I make an appt with her for a later time. I told her I was working and could not talk to her at this moment. I watched out the window to make sure she left, instead, she took my business card off the table and wrote in the info onto a form she was carrying! So If she was filling out “my” census form it was all incorrect info. I had already filled out my census form.
Jose Noway
May 28th, 2010
7:16 am
I DEMAND that AJC or Bob Barr cite the source that this is legal and lawful. What is the law, its code, etc.? As your article is now, it is strictly opinion, and you have not cited ONE instance where this has happened, or backed up your claim with documents. Otherwise, this is fear-mongering propaganda LIES.
jlwm
May 28th, 2010
7:16 am
To all of you folks saying that the census only has 10 simple questions….. Look up the “American Community Survey.” This is the other census that you are apparently unaware of. You’ll be amazed at the intrusiveness. It’s not done every 10 years either, it’s mailed out on a monthly basis to a number of citizens as to keep it somewhat under the radar. In other words, the long census form that everyone was complaining about and many never returned in 2000 NEVER went away. This is their sneaky way of conducting it. You will all receive it sooner or later when your number comes up. It’s like the old long form that asks you what time you leave for work, where you work, your income, etc. I received one and am NOT sending it in. Look it up and educate yourselves. The 10 question “regular census” is a red herring. You will receive the “American Community Survey” eventually. And your reply “is required by law.” Bull, it’s blatantly unconstitutional.
Jami
May 28th, 2010
7:16 am
I guess no one understands their 4th amendment right? It prohibits unlawful search and seizure. Here’s what the law states about administrative searches:
“Administrative searches: In some cases, the government can conduct administrative searches. These are searches done for purposes other than law enforcement; for example, for a fire inspection. Court authorization is required for involuntary administrative searches, although the standards are lower. The only time the government doesn’t need a warrant for an administrative search is when they are searching businesses in highly regulated industries such as liquor, guns, strip mining, waste management, nuclear power, etc. This exception to the warrant requirement clearly does not apply to the average homeowner, activist organization or community group.”
Notice where it says, COURT AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED. i.e warrants.
Also, think about it. What information can they gather if no one is home? They can’t account for how many live there that way, they can’t account for your race, they can’t account for the ages of the persons living there. When will common sense prevail?
Paul
May 28th, 2010
7:17 am
The half-blind leading the blind. I’ve never read such incredible nonsense in my life.
raajlil
May 28th, 2010
7:19 am
I don’t know about the truth of this article, it seems too obviously illegal to be credible, even for the Obamanation administration. But I do know what I was told by a census worker (who was very polite and pleasant btw) He said he was told that the reason the form asks so many questions about race is so the government knows how to distribute funds to certain areas that are more “in need”. Now if that isn’t a blatant admission of redistribution of wealth I don’t know what is.
Sheri
May 28th, 2010
7:21 am
I find it hard to believe that people will believe all the crap the Whitehouse puts out but will not believe that the Government is intent on getting more control over our lives. Census workers may be told to not enter any home, but the law allows those who wish to enter in your house if warranted. Interpretation of this law by Bob is not far fetched in the least. When it does happen to you, I told you so would not be so funny.
raajlil
May 28th, 2010
7:22 am
I agree with Brad–it undermines our credibility when we insist on spreading rumors like this. We accuse the Left of fear-mongering, let’s not stoop to the same level. We have truth on our side.
smarter than you democrat
May 28th, 2010
7:23 am
The so-called community survey put out by the census bureau has about 10 pages of intrusive questions, that even the most willing; don’t want to answer. Much personal info has been “lost or stolen” .
I think the only qualification for that ever daunting census worker is to be a dedicated nag.
It use to be an insult to be called a nagging shrew.
What happened with that?
Oh, no one has blamed Bush so far, called anyone a racist, although a lefty called someone a moron but misspelled ‘ moron “.
Ya gotta love the mis- information ( lies ? )
” Your information is safe with us ” is so cute!
Andy
May 28th, 2010
7:25 am
Yeah this country really stinks huh Greg. Skip your taxes for a year and move to Mexico,Iraq,Iran, North Korea or really anywhere else as we dont need the like of you anyhow.
SockRayBlue
May 28th, 2010
7:25 am
Aw c’mon. Where is the old school spirit? What ever happened to the days of screwing with government employees (even the temporary ones)? Everyone takes this so seriously. Do you have to answer the door every time some one knocks? What good does it do if the dogs are in the BACK yard?
Repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is one step futher! | FortPatriot.com
May 28th, 2010
7:27 am
[...] Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence [...]
bob
May 28th, 2010
7:30 am
to Greg in the Highlands………. take out a loan and use the money to GET OUT!!! you can default on it since yu dont want to be here and wont be coming back. LEAVE if you really want. dont let the govt that you are so critical of stop you. you dont want to be here so put your money where you is and GET OUT!!!
Don
May 28th, 2010
7:31 am
Bob…I love you man….but you’re just wrong here. I’m an enumerator and we’ve been instructed that for those apartments on our list that we do not get an answer at the door, we are to go speak to the apartment manager. He/she has an obligation to help us fill out the forms for those units, based on who was or wasn’t living there on April 1st.
We’re NOT going into apartments….that’s just silly. Listen man, I’m as conservative as they come, and would not be doing this if I thought that it was intrusive. The enumeration forms are very short and simple, and compared to the questions asked of people in say, 1870, this is nothing.
Project Thor
May 28th, 2010
7:32 am
What i have a problem with is when these bone-headed Obama goons come onto POSTED land and confront me in my backyard… and they wondered why i greeted them with 2 Great Danes and a green laser dot in the middle of their chest. I asked if they could read… they said they could. I asked if they read the “NO TRESPASSING” sign at the end of my driveway… they said that it doesn’t apply to them. So, i turned my dogs loose and had THEM show him where the property line was.
Lord, will November ever get here?
DOUGGIE
May 28th, 2010
7:32 am
Is this the good old USA? I thought they only did this in Iran, China. Hey, how’s all that hope and change going? Isn’t this great? We have a bunch of Socialist in charge… for those of you who voted them, suffer the consequences.
Violet
May 28th, 2010
7:33 am
The government forces us to be their slaves. If you sell everything you own, remember to check out US laws. They could care less if you leave, but sorry your money has to stay in the US. I would not be allowed to sell my home and move to Belgium and buy another home under the laws Slick Willie put into place.
Government feels they have the right to destroy our country, just because it helps their cozy relationships with big corporations. Everyone of the politicians that have taken oil money should step down. They should also be put on trial for not protecting the US which they should be held accountable for. All the oil money they have collected from 1973 on should be put in a trust fund for the health care of the people that we are going to have to pay the long term health effects for. Remember 7 workers are still in the hospital due to getting sick from the cleanup.
No coal, nuclear, or oil for energy. I would much rather see tidal energy, solar, of wind power. Sure there isn’t a lot of money in it right now, because it doesn’t harm the people. We could put a whole new generation to work in the next 5 years if we started working on it today. Won’t happen due to politicians greed. Got one word of advise for them. I am watching and leaving messages with my Senators in CA today. If I get no response from their offices by Monday, my vote will be against them on TUESDAY!
Sad, that we live in a country where our kids are being murdered by our government throughout the world, for what? Rich old greedy white haired mens oil. Steal a piece of pizza and go to prison for life, destroy the Gulf of Mexico and get your hands slapped. If you want to be a lying, crooked, thief, never having to take responsibility, never being held accountable, knowing how to look people in the face and be a liar, join the government.The US government is a GREAT ROLE MODEL, (NOT)!
Insane Husain
May 28th, 2010
7:33 am
I hope they find my pet Gaboon Viper. Save me the trouble of a bullet.
JackO
May 28th, 2010
7:33 am
Why not give them access? Obama has to count all the money before he can redistribute the wealth! What’s wrong with you people, you actually think you have rights in the new Peoples Democratic Republic of the US? Great Leader Kim Il Bama is in control. We have so much oil we can afford to just let it run like milk and honey in the promised land.
Project Thor
May 28th, 2010
7:34 am
And please, i don’t want to hear any of you left wingnuts griping… this is Texas and we have Castle Law here.
glenn saunders
May 28th, 2010
7:42 am
dear bob barr,
you spent most of your life in government either creating this crap or facilitating this crap or condoning this crap. now your out with a significant pension that i am probably paying for and you are now a critic.. a little hypocritical don’t you think. maybe you could spearhead some action to fix this greivous error, again probably created on your watch. sincerely glenn saunders
bob
May 28th, 2010
7:42 am
now post the specific documents and federal laws that prove these lies that you are spreading. come on lets see the proof………
BigRik
May 28th, 2010
7:46 am
Why is it that liberals can’t present an opposing view without resorting to name calling and insults? It must be tough being a liberal and having to go through life so full of hatred and contempt for people just because they disagree with them politically. What happened to courtesy and the idea of respectful debate. if you believe the facts of this article are wrong present your rebuttal in a clear and concise manner and I will take it seriously. Call people names and claim they hate the constitution and I will dismiss you as a crackpot. This is of course only one mans opinion.
Keith
May 28th, 2010
7:48 am
While most census works won’t ‘demand’ to come into your home, and will only do so when invited in, this law is a joke. I’m sure that the majority of census workers don’t even know this, yet once this story makes its way around the census offices, which we know it will, those less than desireable census workers will say ‘I CAN and WILL come into your own’. Its amazing that these federal works are empowered to come into your home if you are there or not, yet any law enforcement agency, or anyone else for that matter, must have a warranty to get in your home.
Russ Miller
May 28th, 2010
7:50 am
I received my Census packet about a month ago or so. I fully intended to fill it out. However, it was an extremely busy tme for my business and in my private life.
A mere 8 days passed and I was almost ready to fill it out. That day I received a “threat letter” from the Census Letter with intimidation language in the letter.
I will not be filling the packet out now, due to general principle.
GetAGrip
May 28th, 2010
7:50 am
If people would just fill out the simple form, which takes all of 2 minutes, they wouldn’t have to worry about a census worker coming to their home. Americans have become such cry babies and complain about EVERYTHING! With big issues like the oil spill, Iran, N. Korea, a total radical in the White House who’s is destroying this country . . . you want to complain about filling out a simple form – get a grip.
Robert D
May 28th, 2010
7:53 am
If I come home and find one in my apartment, I will consider that person to have broken in and a serious threat to my personal safety and that of my family. The only way to deal with B&E suspects: beat them to a pulp, hog tie them, and dump them naked 50 miles out of town.
Best of the Best « The Augur’s Well
May 28th, 2010
7:53 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2010/05/26/census-workers-can-enter-your-apartment-in-your-absenc... [...]
BFDeal
May 28th, 2010
7:53 am
Good thing Acorn is out of business!! wink wink. Those monkeys would be crawling all over the place. Whew, that was a close one..
Lance Cordill
May 28th, 2010
7:54 am
In any event, it is what the US Census says that your census reporting status is that counts. NOT, what YOU, the teller of stories about what you did or did not do with your census reporting that counts. Please, don’t offend the census workers. We are only out doing our constitutionally mandated and taxpayer financed temporary job. Most of us are your neighbors that you do not even know live right next to you.
RGM
May 28th, 2010
7:55 am
Last night, while eating dinner in my downstairs garage because it is cool there, and very hot outside, a car pulls in my driveway. I get up from the table and a very frazzled, sweaty looking woman immediatlely in a very rude matter shouts down my driveway to me “What is the address of this place” WTF???? I tell her “Get out of here”. The next thing out of her pie hole is “I’m with the census and whips out this thing that could have been an ID I guess. Told her “I don’t care, I sent mine in. Get out of here” Why would some maniac looking woman come cruising in my driveway shouting for my address? I don’t know, but I tend to be wary of strangers shouting down my driveway for info. Youse have got to get your stuff togeather, that was too weird.
Fools!
May 28th, 2010
7:57 am
Major problem with people: They believe everything they are told – look at all the foolish comments on this blog! Did any of you do a bit of research to learn the truth? Lack of education and pure ignorance is not helping this country at all! They’ll just lead the sheep to pasture! Fools!
Lance Cordill
May 28th, 2010
7:57 am
No, US Census workers are NOT allowed to go into ANY residence unless invited. Case closed. However, US citizens failing to cooperate are sure thanked for all thee extra paid hours you give us by NOT cooperating or making up stories to further your own egos!
JC
May 28th, 2010
7:58 am
http://www.jacksonheraldtoday.com/archives/3546-Alleged-Census-worker-damages-doors.html
Here is the kind of stuff that can happen when they are allowed by law to demand access to your house.
Live2eng
May 28th, 2010
7:59 am
Although it seems the law is specifically for allowing access in gated communities and apartments and not access to the interior of individual living areas, I still have a problem with the law. Everyone here seems to agree that the government does not have the right to enter the gated wall around Al Gore’s private home, but as soon as two of us agree to buy a duplex inside such a gate, we would have to allow them to come to the door of the house. I don’t see where the limits on government activity change because more than one of us decide to gate our yards together instead of separately. If the census worker is having trouble with a non responsive respondent, make an appointment and meet them at the gate, or on the sidewalk in front of the apartment building. Anyone who will not agree to such a meeting will not likely be forthcoming with truthful information simply because a census worker knocks on the door without having been buzzed up, and going door to door asking questions about the neighbors in such a building seems like the type of harassment that people are trying to avoid by living where no one will be outside your door unless you buzzed them in. I wonder if this is the only example of the government being allowed to enter private property, against the will of the owner, under threat of punishment, without due cause to believe a crime has been committed?
Townsend McCarthy
May 28th, 2010
8:05 am
I am so confused. I viewed my deceased parents census on the internet, and now I don’t know which race I belong to.
RallyG
May 28th, 2010
8:06 am
They got one answer from me,”Two people live here.”
Nothing else.
I got a letter saying to expect the forms, the forms(twice) and a postcard saying I should have received the forms. Also had two visits, and I gave them the same answer. This, along with all the stupid ads is a real waste of our tax dollars. Oh, thst’s right, it’s Odumbo and the corrupt democrats in charge, isn’t it?
Alexander Hamilton
May 28th, 2010
8:06 am
The census DOES NOT supercede the U.S. Constitution. The last time I checked, a WARRANT is required:
Amendment 4 – Search and Seizure
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
What part is NOT CLEAR? I am very disappointed that some pencil neck geek didn’t come to my door and demand access. The court case would have been fun! I know that I would have walked away with a few million dollars and someone’s job!
John W
May 28th, 2010
8:07 am
Better hope they don’t make a mistake and enter unlawfully (I don’t give a @#$% about what they think the law says) when I am actually home. My state has the castle law and no duty to retreat law – that means you enter my house without my permission – I can lawfully shoot you down without hesitation.
Mary Alice
May 28th, 2010
8:08 am
Not only can they enter your rented abode, they can also question minors. I came home and the census worker was questioning my daughter, who is a minor. This should not be allowed at all!!
The census worker told me it their right to speak to anyone. WE SHOULD DEMAND THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO MINORS.