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
Kathy
May 27th, 2010
9:24 pm
Um, no, Bob. In fact, you’re completely wrong.
I have a (temporary) job with the Census and we have all been directed NOT to enter anyone’s home, apartment, whatever, EVEN IF they invite us in. The part of the Title 13 code quoted above is intended to ensure access to apartment buildings, gated communities, and the like.
If a Census worker asks to enter your home, call the Census Bureau and report it. The worker will almost certainly be fired. If a Census worker enters your home without your permission, call the police and the Census Bureau and report it. The worker will be fired, and arrested.
And please.. in future columns make use some of the experience and logic your blog’s tagline boasts of.
Bill
May 27th, 2010
9:25 pm
When I filled out the Census form this year, I took a good look at it. I noticed that it was rather racist in nature: It asked if a person was white, black, Hispanic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese… When I saw that they were looking for actual nationality (as far as the Asian side went), my mind was made up, and that is why “American” was written in as the nationality of myself, my wife, and my children. It’s only fitting, since we were all born in the US, as were my parents and my wife’s parents.
If they wanted to list various European nationalities, then I would probably have most of the nations listed checked-off.
joseph
May 27th, 2010
9:25 pm
I am a census crew leader, and my enumerators have been strictly warned to NEVER enter a residence. Please stop making this process more difficult. We have had one enumerator shot at and another had a rifle pointed at his face. The only thing the enumerator wants to do is fill out the form and move on . . . just answer the questions! Every refusal costs the government more money!
Mike
May 27th, 2010
9:25 pm
Everyone who wonders how all this is possible and why we dont have any rights needs to google and read Mercier-Invisible contracts (law as legal slavery) (1984) That will put you on the trail of why.. and also if you follow the bread crumbs it can lead you out of slavery as well.
Jan
May 27th, 2010
9:26 pm
Look…most of the Census workers are simply people who have lost their jobs elsewhere or are looking to make a little extra $. Many are retired or unemployed professionals. The enumerators are racially, religiously, economically and socially diverse.
Under NO circumstances are they to enter anyone’s home. What would they gain? Do you think they are trained to go through the possessions of the occupants with the hope of getting personal information to provide to the government?
Also—-the law only requires that the respondant provides the number of people who live and sleep at a particular address. If you have already submitted yoiur form and someone still shows up at your door, it has NOTHING to do with refusing to answer questions (as long as the # of residents is provided). It simply means that your form has been misplaced or was received too late to record before sending the door to door enumerators. This is government work, after all, and it is anything but efficient.
Blaming the Census enumerators, sicking your dog on them, or threatening them in any way is idiotic. Let them do their job..if you don’t care to answer, that is your preogative. This is still America.
BREEE
May 27th, 2010
9:27 pm
I concur entirely:
“I am a census worker and this is a lie. An outright lie. I will NOT do any of the following according to my training: Enter your home (we are told to stay outside), I do not get your Social Security numbers (call the police if anyone claims to be from the census who asks for this info), and we politely ask for a phone number so that my performance can be assessed. As an enumerator I have been threatened verbally and physically. A man actually opened his pen of dogs on me while I asked if I could talk to him. You are the problem, you and others like you who frighten the public into abuse of enumerators. BTW threatening an enumerator is a FEDERAL offense.”
Panagiota Kontos
May 27th, 2010
9:27 pm
Who give’s a rat’s arse what some leftist twit gubmint worker’s MANUAL or training course says. Barr is talking about an ambiguously worded statute that the statist Obamists would definitely use to enter your dwelling without notice.
I absolutely love the guy who claims to be a retired USN LCDR and now has one of them Obama stimulus jobs as a census slug -righto, matey!
Lisa
May 27th, 2010
9:28 pm
“Census workers, and all socialist government apologists, are losers, plain and simple.”
I am NOT a socialist government apologist. I’m just a wife who’s husband’s hours were cut and we’re both working for the Census trying to make up the difference & catch up. Husband has been having trouble finding a full-time job thanks to Obama’s stupidity.
Panagiota Kontos you really have no clue who’s working for the Census. In fact my crew leader was trashing Obama & all his brainwashed numbskulls the other day as was one of my co-workers. I was very pleased to hear this from them.
Loesje Shema
May 27th, 2010
9:29 pm
@YehudaSF: I am an intelligent adult, capable of being corrected on a subject without bursting into tears or reacting with unreasonable anger. I am also capable of apologizing when I misunderstood or misquoted something. Everything I wrote tonight was in a reasonable and respectful tone. When someone attacks me as virulently as you did, it says more about you than me. As far as I am concerned, when you start calling names it’s because you have stopped using your G-d-given brain.
Jenny Bea
May 27th, 2010
9:30 pm
E Mastors- I’m glad you clarified, because when I read this, it made no sense. First of all, I know that under my state law, my landlord has to give me notice of entering my apartment, unless its an emergency, like a fire. Otherwise, I can sue her. I can’t deny her, but she must give me notice. So there’s one conflict with what the article said. The landlord can simply tell the census worker how many leases, and how many tenants on a lease.
The second conflict is if the census worker can simply enter my home… what if I don’t answer the door when they knock, because I’m asleep? (or something else??) I’m armed, and if someone were to walk in my house during nappy time, I will shoot them. ESPECIALLY given the crimes recently about census workers and people posing as census workers going and attacking people and raping women. I will shoot and shoot to kill, as I am legally licensed to do. So there’s another conflict of interest.
The census worker can DEMAND all they want, but that does not mean I must comply. I know what I’m required to give, and I know what their limits are, and it does not include- as this article leads the reader to think, that the census worker can simply come on in, and start counting folks, bedrooms, flushing toilets and how many coin-filled pickle jars I have.
Again, thanks for looking up the actual law, though- I too noticed that Barr did not give any links. Maybe he’s a bit paranoid.
Jan
May 27th, 2010
9:30 pm
Actus Reus – Enumerators are required to come to your house personally 6 times – that is why they are persistent. If you do not give them at least the basic info, they WILL get it from a neighbor.
Census Worker
May 27th, 2010
9:31 pm
This is complete and utter hogwash. I am a Crew Leader with the Census Bureau and supervise 14 enumerators. There is NOTHING in any handbook that even hints at this sort of intrusion as an acceptable procedure to obtain census information from a household.
All of us census workers are just regular folk who are working the census as a temporary job to earn some extra cash. Good grief. If any of my enumerators were to go into a home without the owner’s permission I’d fire them.
Pat Dennis
May 27th, 2010
9:31 pm
Does George Orwell’s 1984 come to mind when you read this article??
john
May 27th, 2010
9:33 pm
plz come into my home when im asleep or away. my dogs will tear you up. it is posted Guard Dogs on site.i have a class 3 fire arms license, and cc license. all my weapons are locked up in a gun safe.but im still responsible if they come up missing hence the dogs and alarm system. so come in when im not home. PLEASE!
Linda
May 27th, 2010
9:34 pm
Census working gain entry into my security building and left me two notices to answer her, call her to fill out my census. I finally called her and told her I already filled out my form at my previous address, one mile up the road. She wanted to know if the apartment was empty on April 1st. Yes. then she still wanted my name and address of the residence where i lived and filled out the form.
Census Worker
May 27th, 2010
9:35 pm
Jan, you are incorrect. An enumerator may make a MAXIMUM of 3 personal visits to a home. He may also make an additional three attempts by telephone. That is a total of 6 attempts to contact an occupant.
Jenny Bea
May 27th, 2010
9:35 pm
@ the census workers- I feel badly for you and your job being made so difficult, and its because of people like Bob Barr, stirring up people’s paranoia. I only answered my name, age and that I’m the only one living here. I didn’t answer anything else, as it’s not required… a census worker came to my house, anyway. She was far from threatening, and I was nice- although I was armed, just in case. There’s no point in being mean. I’m as conservative as they come, and know the Constitution demands it. The Constitution also protects the citizen, so all this paranoia is really getting ugly. Barr should be taken with a grain of salt with things like these- and I feel badly for making things harder on you.
phil
May 27th, 2010
9:36 pm
I’m not all that political, and when I am I tend to lean right, but lets get rid of this idiot. Whatever side you’re on.
Chip
May 27th, 2010
9:36 pm
An empty living quarter is worthless to census enumerators. They need somebody to interview. Saying census workers are going to enter your home and rob you is fear mongering.
James
May 27th, 2010
9:37 pm
How about you take the 5 minutes to fill out the form and stop crying about all this. People who are simply too lazy to answer a few questions bug me. As far as the person saying he could afford to leave this country if it weren’t for taxes. I say where there is a will there is a way; good riddance to you.
Smartie
May 27th, 2010
9:37 pm
http://www.ancestry.com/charts/census.aspx
You guys should check out the various census forms available at the above address. I suggest 1930 first and see just how invasive a census for can be. Then check out 1800, for most of you conservative nut jobs listening to Barr, I think this will be more to your liking, slaves and all. Learn to think for yourselves sheep
Joe
May 27th, 2010
9:38 pm
Under the law of the jungle, my rottweiller has the power to bite a chunk out of their ass in my absence.
Lisa
May 27th, 2010
9:40 pm
“She wanted to know if the apartment was empty on April 1st. Yes. then she still wanted my name and address of the residence where i lived and filled out the form.”
Wrong, she didn’t count you. She was using you as a proxy for the apartment. She has to put down whoever told her the place was empty. The phone number is in case her supervisor wants to make sure she’s actually working.
Shana
May 27th, 2010
9:40 pm
All of you crying about your constitutional rights, Article 1 section 2 of the Constitution is the census clause. It was one of the very first things written in the sacred document. I hate it too, but until congress votes to amend the constitution to remove some of their power, we will suffer ever more intrusive meddling. So I guess that will be when pigs fly.
Richard
May 27th, 2010
9:41 pm
I filled out the census form but mailed it in a few weeks ago(there was no due date on it).
But for the last week, we have been harassed by an over-zealous census worker.
I explained to him that it had been mailed in and that it will soon be amongst those received….NOT good enough!
He demanded that I answer all the questions all over again, directly to him since I was late mailing it in!
I told him I did not think so, h left me his little door tag and has returned to my home FOUR times…expecting me to give him my personal info.
He stated the last time that he’ll have to put me down as a “REFUSED” to participate and that shouldn’t be surprised if I get another visit or a fine of $5000.
Looks like I should have sent the census certified-mail so I had some proof that I did not “refuse” to participate.
I called the regional office and they said that yes, I MUST give out my personal info again…. to this stranger.
Unbelievable
Is this for real?
Abrazos
May 27th, 2010
9:42 pm
Mr. Barr, now do you see how reckless you were by blogging “Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence”? You have people posting that they want to shoot, KILL, fellow Americans who are just trying to do a job for some extra cash: retirees, grandmothers, college students, unemployed folks who want to have gainful employment, if only temporarily. You have set loose the unhinged feeding off the paranoia of the fellow unhinged.
I do not know if you are capable of feeling shame, but this might be a good time to muster up some. Words have power to inspire or incite. What if one of these cretins actually does shoot a census worker because they believe you? Will you step up and admit culpability, or will you hide behind “journalistic freedom” or some other weak-kneed avoidance technique to deny the fact that you shouted “fire” in a crowded room?
Bob
May 27th, 2010
9:42 pm
While you are correct that folks are required to answer the census, as one of the annoying enumerators I have to correct you about entering peoples property against their will. At least here in NYC, we must vacate the premises if asked, and under no circumstances are allowed to enter a persons domicile-even if invited!
In addition, if someone refuses to be interviewed, we aren’t supposed to argue; but simply refer the “case” up the chain-of-command. Then a letter is sent reminding them that they must answer the census.
Perhaps things are being handled differently elsewhere, but here in NY the rules are pretty rigid…
All the best to you Mr. Barr. I have admired your opinions and ideas for some time!
Standish
May 27th, 2010
9:46 pm
This is exactly why we need to not only scale back the SIZE of government, but to scale back the power that government, and in particular federal government, has taken upon itself and assumed, despite the clear limits set on it by the Constitution. We must insist on a much more limited federal government, for the sake of everyone’s freedom.
Southern Steve
May 27th, 2010
9:47 pm
The odd thing here is how many liberals cite the Constitution when it comes to the census, but call it irrelevant regarding all other matters. Do the same folk support the 1st amendment?
Karen Clarke
May 27th, 2010
9:48 pm
I hope they can deal with my very protective German Shepherd.
John Rebelde
May 27th, 2010
9:49 pm
Goons, thugs, attorneys, teachers etc. you are not invited. Keep out.
Kristin
May 27th, 2010
9:50 pm
This is total BS!!!! Free country my a$$…. we have no recourse if they enter ans steal anything and who is this stranger coming into my home! A Census worker which could become a stalker, may be a criminal! Wait for it in the news, we’ll hear about a crime coming out of this.
Teehee
May 27th, 2010
9:50 pm
I was too busy managing all the hope and change in my life so we forgot about the census. One saturday I’m raking branches under my tree when a young lady shows up. She asked me a bunch of questions politely, when we got to personal ones that I didn’t feel were necessary such as my birthdate I politely asked do you need to know that? She’d skip to the next one and in less than 10 minutes she was on her way.
I’m a conservative, I thought there might be a coupla russian thugs or two showing up with cops but no. It was all very benign…..I yawned afterwards and wondered about all the hoopla.
Panagiota Kontos
May 27th, 2010
9:52 pm
“I’m from the gubmint, and I’m here to help” — about 2/3 of the idiots here (the SHEEPLE Dr. Savage often refers to) really do believe this. How sad, the results of the dumbing down of education thanks to the unions and the self-loathing, whiny, pencil-necked, Christian-hating geeks of the Left. Anyone remember that twerp Adlai Stevenson?
I immigrated to this country to escape the rampant socialism/atheism being propogated in Europe. Those who are with us are getting stronger every day, we will not allow this obomination to spread.
JEANNETTE
May 27th, 2010
9:53 pm
This is complete b.s. I work for the census. After 4 tries we give up. No one is charged anything. And your information is then shredded.
Teehee
May 27th, 2010
9:53 pm
Southern Steve, you said, “The odd thing here is how many liberals cite the Constitution when it comes to the census, but call it irrelevant regarding all other matters. Do the same folk support the 1st amendment?”
I’ve often thought the same thing about libs. Which is why we need to vote them all out in Nov 2010, they are certifiably insane people and should be banned from our government!
Proliferate Dukies
May 27th, 2010
9:53 pm
I made the mistake of listing all my children who live with me on the form, which is more than the form has preprinted places for, but fewer than the max places to list residents with DOB. Had I known that if one used more than 6 places, that this would raise a red flag to the Census, I would have stopped there.
When they first started calling, I thought it was a scam. Then they left a message, and I looked up the number. I called back, and even corrected the spelling of one kid who was so obviously John not JOAN, being male and everything. Then the insulting questions which implied I could not think nor count. I told him our interview was over.
They are calling my machine daily, and one worker has come in a very briefly opened front gate (only to leave very soon thereafter). I have done my duty to report; but they are convinced that I am some uneducated person who needs help understanding instructions and counting children. When will they stop?
papapo
May 27th, 2010
9:54 pm
I agree with Mahakala. Anyone found in my home or anyone who enters my home without permission, Had better have next of kin instructions.
Paul Revere
May 27th, 2010
9:55 pm
The entire Government, minus a precious few are a giant pile of maggot infested vomit chunks.
NO INCUMBENTS 2012!
Jan
May 27th, 2010
9:56 pm
If a Census worker is “demanding” information, call the police.
ANyone
May 27th, 2010
9:56 pm
And they wonder why we hate the government so much. Good luck getting out of my home alive if you enter aginst my wishes.
Jim
May 27th, 2010
9:56 pm
Hey Bob, when you were in Congress, did you ever introduce a bill that would expressly forbid such things given that the Constitution is pretty much ignored nowadays? Or did you just go with the flow like all the other Republicans?
Cat
May 27th, 2010
9:57 pm
During my Census Enumerator training last month were we instructed NOT to enter anyone’s home to conduct an interview (of course you sometimes ended up inside). We were instructed to be vigilant in finding a “proxy” to answer questions about a neighbor or tenant if no one was home — knock on neighbor’s doors, ring other’s doorbells, etc. The training manual also advised wearing sneakers in case you had to run!
patricia andrews
May 27th, 2010
9:59 pm
one of the big questions would lead to whether a person is here legally or illegally seems everyone needs to be counted looks like this would be a good road to follow to eliminate illegals and send them back where they came from with their kin
Census Workers Can Enter RENTED Home In Your Absence « Fellowship of the Minds
May 27th, 2010
9:59 pm
[...] Census workers can enter your apartment in your absence [...]
jeepguy
May 27th, 2010
10:00 pm
I love how people qoute the constitution when it workers for their argument but then completely ignore it later. Isn’t their something in some document about search and seizure? Yes they are to count but please remember who they were to be counting when the document was written. You can’t quote a document out of context. Or maybe you can and that is how we have this new health care program?
For those who think that all census workers are good or bad you are all idiots. But due caution is advised when hiring people using tax payer money. I just want to know if it is true about all of the financial waste and false counting of job creation. Because that to me is fraud, and as tax payer I want some accountability
Joe Schmo
May 27th, 2010
10:01 pm
@ Southern Steve
Us liberals were concerned with the Patriot Act and the suspension of Habeus Corpus. The Constitution doesn’t stop at the 2nd amendment. There’s a lot of common ground between the poles and most of the differences are inflated by hyperbole – hyperbole like arguing that census workers are allowed to enter your residence, despite being expressly prohibited from doing just that.
I’m a bit worried about the people who “hope” to have unwelcome people in their homes so they have license to “defend” themselves and kill someone. Thankfully you psychos are going to have to wait a while to get your opportunity to murder someone because no census worker is going to come into your house invited or otherwise.
misinformation - 4
May 27th, 2010
10:01 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”
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode13/usc_sec_13_00000223—-000-.html
dan
May 27th, 2010
10:01 pm
Go ahead and fine me. I’m not paying it and you’re not getting in. Did you know that any sheriff has the Constitutional power to throw the feds out of town? Shove your fine up your fat aszes feds.
Jeff Johnson
May 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
If someone comes into the apartment against my will, I will put a bullet through their head and list it as self defense. How does that sound, Mr Jack Booted Thug Tyrant Government worker? Stay out of my business and out of my home, or pay a price.