Gate crashed through again seventh time.
One of our delivery vans tried to piggy back through the gate.
Got them. Camera shows it was a Parcel Delivery van, which hit the gate Tuesday at bit before 12:41 PM. Person came back and put gate against road out of way. Completely blew through it trying to piggy back another car. The driver did report to police and has insurance to cover damage.
This time they tore out the wire harness so we needed to order a new arm from our gate vendor. As protocol, we left gate open till fixed. Probably a good thing with the big storm that hit Wednesday.
Why does this keep happening? Some think it is because the gate is not as substantial as the other gate. Well from what we have seen that is not the case. First only one person, of the seven who have hit the gate, was a SPA owner. Secondly, as you can see in the video (click here to view), most of the crashes have been caused by people trying to piggy back on the car in front of them. In the video you see a truck using the key pad, then the next driver slows down and clicks her gate button to keep the gate open then see how the third delivery driver speeds up and blows through the gate.
So what has changed, well for one the gate starts closing 3 seconds after a car completely clears the gate. Before it took 12 seconds and the gate went slowly closed. Many members complained about how it was a county joke that if you wanted to get into Surf Pines just follow a car in. Now the gate is quick and was designed to keep piggy backing cars out. If you have a clicker hit the button if a car goes through the gate to keep it open.
What else has changed. For one we will pay for the gates in less than five years, since we do not have expensive mechanical actuators and a heavy gate breaking down several times a year. You might be interested to note that all of these gate crashes have not cost SPA a dime. Repairs and Ken’s time is being collected from these gate crashers.
Lastly our acquisition of cameras for the gates has increased our security dramatically. As we have found, the cameras have captured all the gate crashers and a few rowdy skateboarders. The Sheriff had suggested we install cameras for several years as cheap crime prevention.
By the way, some residents are still trying to block these piggy backing people to come through. That is not a good idea, for two reasons. First, if the person following you in has a clicker they can hit it and the gate stays up. Second reason is that it could result in an accident. Just realize the word is getting out that the gates are fast and if people break the gate it will cost them a couple grand.
