How Many Gate Arms Must We Sacrifice?
Reality
Another week, another preventable impact.
Our high-resolution cameras at the Bridle Ridge Drive gate captured a tailgater plowing through the security arm — yes, the one with the unmistakable red LED lights. That marks the second damaged gate in just two weeks. Not bad luck. Not coincidence. A pattern.
This delivery truck didn’t stumble into trouble. The footage shows repeated attempts to bypass the entry system before the driver finally forced the arm — our community’s first line of defense — out of the way.
Because the timing aligned perfectly, the incident was quickly traced. The vehicle and driver were located nearby, the standard explanations were offered, and insurance details were obtained. After extensive coordination with the repair vendor and insurance carrier, the claim was accepted and full reimbursement is expected.
This time.
These situations do not always end this way.
Consequences
While we wait for parts, repairs, and installation windows, the gate remains compromised. Every day without a fully functioning barrier increases exposure to additional tailgaters, liability risks, and repeated damage cycles.
We have seen this story before.
Prior incidents have cost the association tens of thousands of dollars — often between $60,000 and $70,000 in a single year . . . along with weeks of impaired gate security and countless volunteer hours chasing evidence, vendors, and insurers.
Let’s ask the uncomfortable but obvious question:
How many avoidable failures must occur before prevention becomes the priority?
Live security presence works. The front gate experience has already demonstrated that staffed entry materially reduces gate strikes and unauthorized access events. Even repeat violators have been acknowledged – yet enforcement and corrective measures remain inconsistent.
Meanwhile, expecting board members to personally monitor surveillance footage, investigate incidents, manage vendors, and pursue claims is neither scalable nor reasonable. That is not governance. That is burnout disguised as duty.
Call to Action
The choices are becoming increasingly clear:
• Continue absorbing recurring damage cycles
• Accept diminished gate security
• Or implement deterrents that actually change behavior
A staffed gate is not a cosmetic upgrade. It is a risk-reduction mechanism.
Community safety, infrastructure protection, and financial stewardship all converge at the same conclusion: prevention costs less than repair.
If you believe stronger measures are warranted, make your position known. Share your perspective through the comments. Constructive homeowner feedback matters — and will be forwarded to the appropriate decision-makers.
Tailgating is predictable. Damage is predictable. The solution should be, too!
We are all in favor of having a guard at the back gate, at least during day time hours. Do we need a community vote on this or how do we proceed? I constantly have vendors who end up at the back gate trying to gain access. Google Maps seems to take them to this entrance.
Q: Do we need a community vote on this, or how do we proceed?
Answer:
No general membership vote is required for this matter. Decisions regarding operational security services fall within the authority of the HOA Board of Directors.
That said, the Board made a deliberate effort to understand the community’s perspective before moving forward. A Personal Opinion Survey was conducted to gauge member sentiment regarding live gate attendants at the back gate. The results showed overwhelming support from homeowners for the added security and convenience.
The Board also anticipated this initiative financially. Funding for the additional security service was already included in this year’s approved HOA budget, so no special assessment or additional vote is necessary.
The next procedural step is straightforward. At an open Board meeting, the Board will adopt a Board Resolution authorizing a representative of the Association to negotiate with:
• A representative of the Eastridge Property Owners Association (EPOA)
• The current security provider, DRS Security Services
The purpose of these negotiations will be to extend gate attendant services to the back gate, either on a full-time or part-time schedule.
While the EPOA has expressed resistance to expanding gate attendant coverage, the recorded reciprocal easement agreement governing the entrances carries legal authority regarding security service provisions.
Accordingly, your Eastridge Hills HOA Board is proceeding with the steps necessary to implement this improvement, while continuing to work through the required coordination with the other parties involved.
I submitted corrections to Google maps about a decade ago as a trusted map contributor. The streets of Eastridge should be marked as private roads. I also created “Eastridge Guest Entrance” with Google maps. Uber should have been updated about years ago (my first ever Uber ride went through the back exit only gate and I had to help the lady change her tire after getting slashed). I have not used Lyft so someone can update that platform if they wish. I believe it is Apple Maps that take you to the back gate I actually tell contractors not to use Apple maps and only use Google maps. But some Uber drivers and contract Amazon drivers still like to use their iPhone default Apple Maps… Personally I don’t think people can see/read the residents only micro green sign. Perhaps a QR code with directions to the main entrance is in order?
Ray — thank you for sharing this history and for the work you did years ago improving Google Maps. Contributions like yours help reduce confusion for drivers and visitors trying to find the correct entrance to the community.
Navigation apps remain part of the problem. Google Maps, Apple Maps, Lyft and Uber’s internal navigation, plus other platforms maintain separate databases, so corrections on one service don’t always carry over to the others. As a result, drivers are still occasionally routed to the Bridle Ridge gate instead of the main entrance off of Green Valley Road.
As you point out: Another factor has been signage. Some of the original signs appear to have been designed with aesthetics in mind more than clear communication. The lettering is small and difficult to read quickly from a vehicle, and some drivers simply cannot read the English wording at all. That combination has contributed to repeated incursions, flat tires and broken security arms at our back gate.
The current Board of Directors have been actively addressing this issue. After examining signage, mapping problems, and driver behavior, the conclusion we keep coming back to is that the most reliable solution during high-traffic periods is to have gate attendants present.
Unfortunately, many delivery drivers are very familiar with tailgating as a way to sneak in to gated communities. When a driver damages the gate arm or equipment in the process, collecting from their insurance carrier can turn into a long and frustrating process when we can capture their data.
Reminding homeowners to provide clear instructions to guests and delivery drivers certainly helps, but in practice it remains difficult. Most drivers rely almost entirely on the default navigation on their iPhones or in-vehicle systems, even when homeowners provide specific directions.
For that reason, the Board continues to evaluate improvements to signage, mapping corrections across platforms, and the use of attendants during peak traffic times as the most effective ways to protect our members, the gates and reduce costs of repairs to our security systems.
Thanks again for your efforts over the years to improve the mapping information for the Eastridge Hills gate.
— Carolyn A. Goodall, president
Eastridge Hills HOA Board of Directors
I am 100% in favor of a guard at the back gate. For 20 years I have to tell anyone that is coming to my house to go to the entrance off Green Valley Road because their navigation will take them to the back gate. The arm being constantly broken and not fixed for many days or weeks is a security risk for all. We are all paying for security and peace of mind living in this gated community. Solve the ongoing problem and put a guard at the back gate.
Thanks for your comment Candice.
“What would you do if fixing the security loophole at our gate required permission from someone who doesn’t even live in Eastridge Hills? And what if that person said no?”
In plain English? Either HOA can call for guards and both sides share the cost fairly. But here’s the problem… the easement agreement doesn’t say “only if it’s convenient.”
We’ve upgraded cameras… and now we can see the problem clearly.
The question is—are we willing to solve it?
This isn’t just about a guard.
It’s about control… cooperation… and whether one board can stall progress for another community.
The Eastridge Hills HOA Board is working towards a solution, as promised. It is not the only change to the neighborhood . . . but it’s the TOP PRIORITY when we look at the crime headlines in Fairfield.