Gunstock Acres Beach

[TriDad]

This beach association is installing a "security gate" to limit access to the beach parking lot and mooring area. The gate is considerable distance from the water and is not in line of sight or "shouting distance" from the water.

The only access will be via an electronic card system and the gate will be unattended at all times.

It would seem to me that this may expose the homeowner association to considerable legal risk considering that emergency vehicles will not be able to gain access to the property.

Does anyone have any legal insight in to this?

[RI Swamp Yankee]

I know that in many towns the police and fire have a key to a security box that will have a key to a gate or door. Maybe there is something similar here.

[VitaBene]

There are a few things that can be done. One as RISY noted is the use of a Knox box. The association would put their card key in the Knox box and if the FD needs access they would open the box and use your card to enter. The key fits all Knox boxes in the town.

The association could provide a card access fob for each FD vehicle.

I am not sure what you are using for a gate but I can virtually guarantee it is a traffic control gate vs. a rated gate (rated by the State dep't for what size vehicle it can stop at what speed). Most traffic control gates with wooden arms are made to break away, the truck/ambulance can just roll through it.

The last option is to install a module on the gate that can recognize a siren and open the gate.

[Sal]

This forum is a great resource. I'm always surprised at how much knowledge the members have and are willing to share.
Thank you.

[Jonas Pilot]

... it's like having your own Lakes Region search engine.