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?
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1,749 comments Add your comment
census worker
June 9th, 2010
10:03 pm
Ben: Your previous post got me curious and I did look up the community survey online. I agree with you that some of the questions are personal and intrusive. Actually I think the ones you cite are mild and, though more personal than the standard census, well within the range of what I would be willing to answer. The ones that irk me are the income and medical questions like can am I capable of dressing myself.
If I were selected for the survey I would probably call the census bureau and ask detailed questions about what those questions are use for and choose to respond or not respond to the questions depending on whether I thought those where good causes. I would answer all the other questions though (everything *except* the income and medical Qs). I do believe that these questions are asked for a reason, and that the data gathered is important for evaluating and operating various government programs.
I should say here that I am saying this as a private citizen, not as a census worker. It is the position of the Census Bureau and the United States Supreme Court that all of these questions are reasonable and that all citizens chosen for the survey must answer them.
One last thing – please do not make assumptions about my knowledge or reasoning skills. Telling me I am over my head, though mild by the standards of many internet forums, is not constructive. We may not see eye to eye but I am no less qualified then you to discuss and debate these issues.
census worker
June 9th, 2010
10:55 pm
On Repeated Visits and Refusals: I am reading back through more of the older posts and there seems to be alot of confusion about these issues. Some of this is due to the fact that the manuals are not very clear. The enumerator manuals states that an enumerator must make three personal attempts to enumerate, unless they get all the information on the first or second visit. They cannot come to your home more times than that, nor can they stop coming until they have hit that number (exceptions are made if the enumerator feels threatened). There is no stated limit to number of phone calls or e-mails that can be made, however the call log has only five spaces.
There are three ways you could get more visits though. First, the manual is not clear whether visits with no contact count. After much debate, my LCO decided they did, but only if the contact log shows that a reasonable attempt to actually find someone was made. Meaning that the enumerator made both day and evening visits and both weekday and weekend visits. However, other LCOs may have reached a different decision and decide that what are called no contact visits (no one home, or refuse to answer door) are not counted as part of the three.
Second, the manual also states that crew leaders can reassign refusals to more experienced enumerators in hopes of getting the information. It in not clear if the limit of three is total or for each enumerator.
Third, a small number of respondents are chosen for a quality control re-interview. This is always done by phone if a number is given, but if you refuse to give your phone number we have no choice but to do the re-interview as a personal visit.
Whether the enumerator needs to keep coming until visits are exhausted in the case of a partial refusal (gives number of people but no other info) is also not addressed in the manual, so differing LCOs may have different rules on that too. My LCO will accept partial refusals without more attempts.
And finally, yes, we can fine you for refusing to answer. The standard fine is $100. I do not know if partial refusals are subject to the fine.
Linda
June 10th, 2010
12:05 pm
@ census worker: Ben is not telling the truth, I HAVE answered his objections to ACS and explained how these answers are used in community planning at every level. I won’t repeat it all again, but if you go back to the past 2-3 pages and search the term “acs”, you will find the info. With the health-related aspects of the survey, communities are trying to think ahead about the coming boom in health-care needs in an aging population. Some communities I know are trying to plan how to develop the community so that elderly people who must move out of their homes can stay in the neighborhoods near their families. In order to do that, they need this kind of information.
Ben refuses to acknowledge that this census data has value in government planning and seems to think they’re just being nosy. This morning I was sitting in a coffee shop discussing census paperwork with a crew leader and heard a real example of how census information is used by the general public. At the next table were sitting 2 real estate developers, talking about how the demographics in our area fit their concept of building condo conversions in the neighborhood. Where do you think they get that kind of data for their business planning?
@ Ben: If you’re still waiting for the census-taker to show up so you can make yourself a martyr for your questionable cause, you’ll probably be real disappointed. The current NRFU operation is short-form only. Not sure how they follow up with ACS but I don’t think that’s gonna happen soon, if at all. Perhaps they’ll be able to pick other, more willing people to plan government services around. I know a bunch of people who would love to have gotten the long form, because they know the value of that data.
Linda
June 10th, 2010
12:09 pm
census worker: “One last thing [Ben] – please do not make assumptions about my knowledge or reasoning skills.”
Don’t take it personally, census worker. If you continue to post here, you’ll see that Ben is the one who has limited reasoning skills and experience.
Linda
June 10th, 2010
12:16 pm
RE: Repeated Visits and Refusals: Census worker, my understanding of our training is that it’s really clear about the number of visits. However, local and regional managers have the authority to tweak the policy slightly to find what works best in their area. I think that’s where policies are varying a bit from what we learned in training. That’s why I’ve found that it’s best not to make blanket recommendations to people who are being surveyed.
krist
June 10th, 2010
2:16 pm
The census has been told to waste their time collecting the census to run up the tax payers bills. Did you wonder why they came to your house even though you had followed the instructions and sent your census form back to them? Abd they come before it is time to take the census, just to tell you that they are coming and wukk be back. And they send your letters. All this is to run up a great big tax payer debt to fit with the obama agenda of destroying the ecomony.
We as tax payers need to demand there is an audit because of all these visits when people sent their census in and all the mail outs. What a waste. This is be WAY the most expensive census ever.
I say tell them mothing; dont leet them get a census out! This is not what they are trying to do! They are running up a big millions of dollars of debt and trying to be invasive of privacy which is not allowed by the Consitution. Tell them nothing; prevent them getting a census! At least Arizona is honest!
Linda
June 10th, 2010
2:46 pm
Watch out, krist! You don’t want to get caught out in a lightning storm with that tin foil hat on.
[Krist's post is 'Exhibit A' for the anti-census crowd who denies that there's a nutty census conspiracy theory going around.]
seanmom
June 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
Once more. This is not OBAMA’S census. It was designed under President BUSH. It is not a plot to waste taxpayer money. Every “hey, here it comes” postcard actually increases the percentage return rate for the mail-in census. If your census was not processed in JEFFERSONVLLE, IN by the third week in April, your ADDRESS was assigned to be enumerated. Your local census office does NOT have your mail-in census; it only has the instruction that your address needs to be enumerated.
If you fill out two, the duplication is resolved at Jeffersonville. You may get a visit regardless of your mail-in response under several different conditions. You may be one of the five percent selected for quality control to double-check the data. You may get a phone call after enumeration (or, if you didn’t provide a phone number, another personal visit) for the same reason and to check the enumerator’s work. You may be re-enumerated if your enumerator failed to get enough information, filled the form out wrong, or sent in data that didn’t square with quality control. BTW, if an enumerator is released for falsifying data, ALL his cases are quality checked, either by phone or by an in-person visit.
At this point, there is no certain way to tell any one individual how many times they could be visited and/or called. However, by the fall it will all be over, and you can relax for another ten years–except for all the other surveys now under the Department of Commerce, which you are also required to answer in their entirety.
Ben
June 10th, 2010
5:40 pm
Linda,
Careful with those assumptions.
Ben
June 10th, 2010
7:01 pm
Linda, We obviously run in different circles. Everyone to whom I have mentioned the ACS has been completely floored by the intrusiveness of the questions. I am talking about a cross section of libs and conservatives; mostly professional people; all races; etc.. It is obvious that your “bunch” consists of other census drones who, like you, have drunk the kool aid. Sounds like a real fun group. Life in the fast lane.
John
June 11th, 2010
10:48 am
Bob,
I work for the U.S. Census and I really don’t know where you get your facts or how you exactly interpret the Constitution. The questions on the Census are approved by Congress and have been done so since Thomas Jefferson conducted the first Census in 1790. It is a Constitutional requirement. Regarding access to apartments; that’s just absurd. Do you really think that a Census worker is going to look through your drawers in hope of finding out your name, DOB, race and phone number? Let me provide your readers with the actual truth. No Census worker would ever enter an apartment…EVER! If it has been done, it is illegal and is trespassing. Here is the procedure:
A partial statement taken from USC Title 13 USC § 223:
“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.”
This refers to the law requiring the Apartment owner’s legal requirement to let us enter and exit the building, not individual apartments. We can’t just ring buzzers…and where do we leave the “Notices of Visit”? We can’t leave them in a mailbox, that is illegal, and we are not placing them on the floor in the lobby.
If we cannot reach the resident despite our best efforts, yes, the apartment owner is required to provide us with whatever information that they have, which is usually not much. I have instructed my subordinates to never request the credit application as the information within is too sensitive and intrusive. And FYI, the fine had been increased to $10,000.
Columnist like you put the census workers safety at risk by providing false information. I was assaulted by a man who was clearly anti-government by his statement and I did nothing but ask if I could conduct the Census and never mentioned any law, requirement or anything else. I am not armed and this man clearly could have been. In fact the Census itself has no interest in our safety or what happened to me; in every public statement I have read they repeatedly say “we do not enforce fines” That places our authority one step above a Jehovah Witness. I c an’t wait till this is over. It’s not worth me or my family’s safety.
John
Linda
June 11th, 2010
11:05 am
Ben: “It is obvious that your ‘bunch’ consists of other census drones who, like you, have drunk the kool aid. Sounds like a real fun group. Life in the fast lane.”
Not even close. In fact, I generally choose to hang out with people who are trusting and open because they are the most fun, adventurous, and smart. They tend to be able to see the big picture when they learn something. It’s the folks who are secretive, afraid and cynical who are a real drag. I avoid them like the plague.
Wondering . . .
June 11th, 2010
11:54 am
I don’t believe there is a conspiracy, nor have I ever suggested such. I merely object to answering personal questions.
I did, however, tell my census taker how many people reside in our home and how long we’ve lived here. She has made numerous visits to garner further information. Now another person is visiting, but I am not answering additional questions. “No” is a complete sentence.
It’s too bad the census takers who resort to name-calling and ridicule don’t realize they are proving they are, indeed, overbearing bullies.
Ben is not trying to intimidate others into his way of thinking, but he is standing his ground. Good for you, Ben!
Oh, and why are census takers complaining about their job? You applied for the position and knew what to expect.
Wondering . . .
June 11th, 2010
3:25 pm
“It’s the folks who are secretive, afraid and cynical who are a real drag. I avoid them like the plague.”
I avoid intrusive, nosy, overbearing folks who become angry when you disagree with them.
Ben
June 11th, 2010
7:39 pm
Thank you Wondering. I appreciate your support and understanding, You’ve got to admit, though, that Linda is fun to mess with. She’s awfully easy to get riled up.
I think it was Wm. McAdoo who said “You can’t win an argument with an ignorant man.”
Bingo Bango
June 11th, 2010
8:44 pm
As a 6-month census worker (re, gristled veteran), I have never heard that an enumerator can walk into somebody’s apartment. We have asked landlords for gate codes, tenant phone numbers and population counts per unit.
Thanks.
seanmom
June 12th, 2010
5:18 pm
Wondering,
No one cares how long you’ve lived in your residence. Census only wants to know where people were on April first. Why don’t you answer the questions being asked instead of making up your own?
SMW
June 12th, 2010
6:09 pm
Today 6/12/10 a census worker came to my home, I told him I had already answered and mailed in the form. He insisted on doing it again! I said no, I’m done, this is the 3rd visit! He informed me he” had the right to come in and question me” I asked him to leave the property or I would call the Sheriff. He said go ahead and call, “I’m not leaving” So I obliged the man! The Sheriff escorted him from my property!
Ben
June 12th, 2010
7:54 pm
Seanmom.
I did not make up the questions that asked what time I leave for work, how long it takes me to get there, or if a member of my household has given birth in the last year. I ask you again, would you honestly divulge such information to a total stranger?
Wondering . . .
June 12th, 2010
11:31 pm
Ben, you are very welcome. I admire your fortitude.
Wondering . . .
June 12th, 2010
11:42 pm
seanmom wrote: “No one cares how long you’ve lived in your residence. Census only wants to know where people were on April first. Why don’t you answer the questions being asked instead of making up your own?”
I told the census taker we were residing here on April first.
Making up my own answers? I don’t know what you are referring to, seanmom. Please show me where I stated such.
I am a very honest person and would not dispense incorrect information, even to a census taker.
I have, however, refused to answer additional questions, which could hardly be construed as “making up my own answers.”
No offense, seanmom, but you are scary. Lol.
Its only the law when you need it to be.
June 15th, 2010
12:23 pm
All it takes is one acorn goon to use the rule to get away with it. Just because you havn’t heard or trained for it does not mean it is so. All it takes is one to show the whole country what it is and how it works. The first time one of them gets caught, that will be the first rule they use to let him get awy with it, just wait and see.
DJ
June 15th, 2010
1:44 pm
I think it’s great when all the paranoid right wing zealots refuse to participate in the census. It’s just that much less representation for them and their districts. How delicious it would be if blowhards like Rep. Michele Bachmann are redistricted out of existence because their xenophobic, bigoted constituents are too paranoid to participate. Oh yeah, and their breaking the law, too (such good Americans they are).
Wondering . . .
June 15th, 2010
2:39 pm
I think it’s amusing when all the overbearing, self-righteous, vitriolic left wing know-it-alls become angry when someone disagrees with them.
Just because I refuse to answer questions—beyond how many reside in my home and how long I’ve lived here (before April 1st)—does not a xenophobe make.
Because I disagree with you, you have the temerity to insult my patriotism: “Oh yeah, and their breaking the law, too (such good Americans they are.” (By the way, it’s “they’re” not “their.”)
Why are you so angry?
Ben
June 15th, 2010
2:55 pm
DJ,
You just don’t get it, do you? This has nothing to do with politics, but rather one’s right to privacy. I have a very dear friend, who, despite being terribly misguided politically ( she campaigned for, contributed to, and voted for the Messiah), was as appalled as I when she received the American Community Survey. Even with her political views being far left of center, She also figured that the government had no right to ask her what time she left for work, or if she had been pregnant in the last year. She, too, has refused to complete and submit the survey.
Wondering . . .
June 15th, 2010
5:12 pm
Ben, DJ doesn’t WANT to get it.
DJ’s probably too busy thinking of ways to raise the working man’s taxes and how to promote abortion. (Such a good American is he.)
me
June 18th, 2010
10:32 am
BOB , get your facts straight before alarming everyone. Census workers do not enter any apartment or home . They are simply allowed into the complex to knock on the doors in order to obtain this info. I am currently over an entire region of TX for the US Census.
me
June 18th, 2010
10:34 am
BTW ifts funny how people will not participate in the census. However they will release their drivers license info to an unidentified stranger for a free tshirt at a baseball game or festival LOL . Amazing
David Q. Cooke
June 18th, 2010
11:08 am
Barr’s comments are disingenuous and misleading exaggeration. “Access” in this case means access to the outside of an entrance to each residence. For example, the management of a gated apartment complex must allow census workers through the gate so they can knock on the doors of individual apartments. Landlords are absolutely not required to provide access to census workers to the inside of any residence. To the contrary, for the 2010 census, workers have been strongly discouraged or forbidden from accepting any invitation to enter a home, they are instructed to conduct the interview at the entrance.
Loli Land | Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence
June 20th, 2010
1:53 am
[...] MORE via AJC Blog) This entry was posted in Blog and tagged census, commerce, door open, fine, government, illigal, [...]
Ray
June 22nd, 2010
7:25 pm
Untrue. Census workers have the same ‘rights’ of access as would a postal worker; just enough to get to your door, not to cross the threshold and come into your residence. What they are allowed to do, is enter multiple-dwelling buildings to leave a NV (notice of visit) on your door or on your mailbox. Saying they can come into your apartment is untrue, exageration intended to incite a reaction.
A. Nonymous
June 24th, 2010
9:54 pm
you are a complete liar. strict orders to census employess are that at no time are census workers to enter any residence (a safty measure due to people like you rousing the nuts )
I got a visit from a census taker today - Page 3 - Political Wrinkles
June 25th, 2010
8:28 am
[...] [...]
Jim in Kalifornia
June 27th, 2010
6:15 pm
The 4th Amendment trumps any Federal “law.” Get off of my land or I will place you under citizen’s arrest for tresspassing, and I will use the force required to do so.
Jim in Kalifornia
June 27th, 2010
6:27 pm
@ census worker said “And finally, yes, we can fine you for refusing to answer. The standard fine is $100. I do not know if partial refusals are subject to the fine.”
If you actually research it, $100 is the maximum fine for refusing to answer the question regarding enumeration as required in the Constitution. The remainder of the questions are none of your business.
Jane
June 30th, 2010
7:54 pm
What utter, fabricated absolute nonsense. Where did you get this disinformation? I am an enumerator and we are required to treat the public with the utmost respect and courtesy, even or especially when we do not receive it from them. We are never allowed to enter a home uninvited. Get your facts straight; at least get some facts.
SOCIALIST OBAMA
July 1st, 2010
3:03 pm
The census people have come here three times now, and leave with the same info I sent in.. my correct address and how many people reside at the given home. I REFUSE to give any more information to big brother….. he can bow down to me like he does to all the world leaders…. the census was created for population count, not invasion of privacy. He threatened me by saying ” A different team will come for the information and they will be better equipped legally.. I told him that would be fine… See them in court.
Census Workers Can Enter Apartments Even if Tenants Aren’t Home :: The Lonely Conservative
July 7th, 2010
6:38 pm
[...] is nice. Well, not really. AJC/Bob Barr: Thousands of census workers, including many temporary employees, are fanning out across [...]
kat
July 8th, 2010
10:31 pm
doesn’t matter if you answer the questionaire – we have now been harassed 5 times (Yes i typed it correctly 5!!!!! times) by the census bureau. ding dongs ask the same questions every time!!! seriously these people are slow or stupid but next time we’re calling the cops, this has to stop!!
STEVE
July 14th, 2010
10:47 pm
the census was transferred from congress(both corrupt parties)under the commerce secretary to the white house with rahm the worlds most corrupt chicago organizer/polotician.this is unconstitutional.this info will be used to the advantage of one party over the other by redistricting(this is why congress is to over see the census not one party)the questions will be used to target minority voters ,or as the 1940 census was used in 1942 to round up the japanese.maybe 2011 is the year all people of american ancestry are rounded up(native people from the americas not european immigrents.THESE CORRUPT POLOTICIANS WILL USE THIS INFO FOR THEYRE OWN POLITICAL GAIN BY DRAWING NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT BENEFIT THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST/COMMUNST PARTY
Kimberly Amble
July 18th, 2010
5:27 pm
Once again Bob Barr’s intent on spreading his right wing version of the truth is totally off. I find it amusing that he chooses to use some facts to spread his wicked distortion. I am a census worker. I value the census and take my job seriously. Yes Bob, I am allowed access -To KNOCK on the door; To enter gated communities and gather the information that is necessary for public funding of state & local programs as well as my community being fairly represented in Washington. To date no census information has ever been leaked (even during the trying Bush years) for any purpose before the 72 year timeline.
I fear people like Bob who transform the truth to write untrue and radical arguments to line his own pockets.
Skip
July 21st, 2010
8:05 pm
This is just untrue. I recently finished my work as an Enumerator. We knock on doors, not break them down. What would we do if an apartment manager opened a door for us? Count the underwear?
Census Worker
July 21st, 2010
10:23 pm
Yes, I would enter your home to count your toothbrushes to see how many people live here. Then if it is a blue toothbrush I will assume you are male, pink, female. I will look in the fridge and if there is beer, i know you are over 21. False teeth in the bathroom, maybe 70+. The only person stupider than the one who said that Census workers can enter your home is the one who believes him.
he's_blowin'_smoke
July 25th, 2010
2:15 am
Hey Bob, The sky is falling, you can see bright little pieces of it every night. The only protection you have is to crawl back into your cave…
At least if he does that he won’t be scaring people and giving census workers a hard time.
Daniel Kian Mc Kiernan
August 3rd, 2010
8:21 pm
The story of the conflict between the FBI and Wikipedia over use of the FBI logo ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10851394 ) neatly illustrates that, regardless of the original intention of a piece of legislation, a Federal agency can employ literalism (or pseudo-literalism) in interpretation if such an interpretation would expand its powers. Barr’s concerns are neither misrepresentation nor unfounded alarmism on his part.
Jerry Jones
August 9th, 2010
3:08 pm
They claim the census is so they’ll know how to spend money in certain areas. But anyone can move anytime after that and they wouldn’t know. I’m sure all the Mexicans aren’t counted.
tonya deshayes
August 13th, 2010
2:50 pm
i am a census worker and its our job to do this. we take an oath to not give out any info> maybe if we were all educated in why we have the census then maybe people wouldnt mind filling them out thank you
tonya deshayes
August 13th, 2010
2:51 pm
and by the way all people living here in the us is counted no matter what their race or if they are ill legal or not
enumerator
August 27th, 2010
7:19 pm
We enumerators were trained to not even look into a window, to determine whether a residence was vacant or occupied.