Ken Unger, Director of Hot Springs Village POA Public Services, has been monitoring social media complaints about tailgating through unmanned gates. Hot Springs Village, the largest gated community in the United States, has six gates providing security benefits for Villagers, but the system is imperfect. This article addresses the implementation of improved security measures at unmanned gates.
Four magnetic card-reader (unmanned) gates are available at Balboa, Cortez, Danville, and Glazy Peau. There are also two manned gates at the east and west ends of DeSoto Boulevard.*
Although not normally under his team’s bailiwick, the Public Services Director said the impetus to make card reader gate changes was prompted by a tailgating incident he experienced earlier in the week.* Unger said, “A contractor tailgated me at the Balboa Gate. I said, ‘That is enough!'” Unger provided the vehicle description and license plate number to the Village Police Department.
Unger explained, “It was typical. They were in front of me at Balboa Gate and pulled over to the side of the road. They waited for me to enter through the gate and pulled in behind me. The contractor pretended to scan a card. I decided, ‘That’s it!'”
Unger and his team discussed the tailgating situation with HSV Police Chief Kristi Bennett. “The question in my mind is how much sacrifice are Villagers willing to tolerate to gain the level of security many seem to want? There are extremes you can go to, like paying for [more] gate guards or other low-cost measures can be taken, which is what I am proposing. The low-cost solutions may pose some inconvenience.”
Trial of three-pronged approach at Balboa Gate
Unger and his team have developed a three-pronged approach to improving unmanned gate security.
1. The installation of low-profile speed bumps will be used to slow down vehicles.
2. Flex-stakes were installed to block the side of the road used by tailgaters. Tailgaters park and wait for their opportunity. At the Balboa Gate, tailgaters have damaged wildflower landscaping when parking off the side of the road.
3. Installation of signage, including a stop sign. The proposed signage language is “Stop. Tailgating is prohibited. Wait until the vehicle ahead clears the gate before proceeding.”
Unger said they will implement these options at the Balboa gate to see how they work. If successful, the plan will be rolled out to additional gates.
Residents also tailgate through unmanned gates
Tailgaters are not always “outsiders.” Entering the Village by tailgating is also done by property owners and residents who possess a POA card. Doing so is a disservice to the POA because it skews the number of vehicles entering the Village. Traffic counters are used at the entrances to determine how many vehicles pass through the gates to help with traffic planning. Unger said, “We need residents to comply with the no-tailgating policy. When people tailgate and don’t scan their cards, they do a disservice to our POA by skewing the number of vehicles entering the Village.”
The Public Services Director thinks high traffic volume may necessitate manning another gate at some point in the future. “We want to start planning now and need accurate traffic counts,” said Unger.
* Edited to add: Unger’s team is not responsible for gate security strategy and it was only after he heard on social media about all of the tailgating and then it happened to him that he decided to volunteer his team to try to help improve the situation.
* The round-the-clock manned gate at Highway 7 and DeSoto Boulevard is located on the west end of the Village and is the oldest and most-used gate. The gate on the east end of the Village at Highway 5 and DeSoto is manned from early morning until late evening, with magnetic-card service available after hours. In an April 2021 report by the Future Revenue Analysis Task Force (FRATF), it was reported that, on average, 4,323 vehicles are entering daily at the west gate, and there are 2,137 daily entries at the east gate. (These numbers are likely substantially higher today.)
* A keyed gate at Goose Pond is also available for POA staff and contractor access only.
Your Feedback is Wanted
As evidenced in social media posts, Villagers want reliable gate security but dislike being slowed down. What do you think? Is a small inconvenience a good tradeoff for increased unmanned gate security? Please comment in the comment section at the end of this article. You can also contact the Public Services Director using the contact information below.
By Cheryl Dowden
Contact Information for HSV Public Services Director
Ken Unger
Director Public Services
Hot Springs Village
501-226-9609
Kunger@hsvpoa.org
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What I’ve discovered is that GPS sends you to Balboa Gate even if you put the actual address of the East Gate as your destination. It has happened to me personally and to my brother recently. Causes confusion and frustration.
yes… issues on tail-gating are a problem. I believe that Villagers who have video cam on their cars can notified the police and now verify for fines. Moreover, cameras at each unmanned gate for plates I.D. can give notice at entrance will be used for prosecution. If this issue is not addressed, it will only worsen!
Ken, thank you so much for your help. Sounds like you experienced a proficient tailgater with the timing down and gas card ready. Fines may help, if caught, but more importantly, their customers need to be notified of their disregard for our security. For some reason, money seems to effect behavior. I’ve long been a fan of your No. 3 with the stop signage placed before the break in the median to simultaneously allow for turnaround and time for gate to close in front. The Balboa gate is my “home” gate and with the growth we’ve seen, our diligence with security should grow accordingly. It only takes one illegal entry to change someone’s life.
An easy fix is to pull through the gate and stop and wait for the gate to close, a mere 30 seconds.
I have tried this on several occasions, but the tailgater pulls up on my bumper to prevent the gate from closing.
These are good ideas, I also think having police ticketing tress passers would send a good message. Also double gates sounds good. Try it at the busiest of unmanned gates first to see if it’s doable. Thanks for looking into this. Great project
I personally haven’t seen too much tailgating, but that’s just me. I do NOT support speed bumps any taller than the ones at the East and West gates. Not everyone drives an SUV—I drive sports cars exclusively, and do not want the damage! Besides, people are approaching these card gates at a slow speed already, so there’s no need. I think putting some teeth in what is only a “policy” may produce some results. I also agree that larger signage well in advance that unmanned card gates are ahead would help. Google causes some of these problems with their routing, so they need to be pressed to correct their errors.
It is about time that someone took action with this issue. I have never understood why signs weren’t posted indicating that this is private property and trespassing is illegal. However, saying it doesn’t work if you don’t back it up. Catch a few and prosecute them. Word will spread. Get Google maps to only use the west gate address for entrance. You can’t imagine how many comments the Realtor community gets from people who are sent to the Balboa gate when they enter an HSV address. I’m personally ambivalent on speed bumps. As you are already approaching a gate, I don’t believe speed bumps work except on areas like the west and east gates. With technology being what it is, I further don’t understand why we haven’t used that technology to apprehend violators. I’m not convinced that staffing every gate makes sense given technology alternatives that are available. BTW, in order to trigger the gates to begin closing, you have to pull forward far enough that someone can stay on your tail and still follow you through. Take a look at fixing that issue also. While much of these may sound like negative input, it is not intended to be anything other than providing a path for a more advanced and thorough look at this issue, which will continue to grow as we do. And I do appreciate that a responsible person at the POA is taking a serious look at this long-term lingering issue, but many of us have been commenting on this issue since moving here and we simply tagged as “complainers.”
Why not get volunteers to watch the other gates like we used to have at the main gates?
with a delayed gate closer!! What would happen to my car in tow behind my motorhome as I go through the gate?? Ar my boat in tow??
I would be willing to put up with the small inconvenience of going through a double gated system, to help eliminate tailgaters. If the vehicle is pulling a trailer then we have 2 manned gates that can be used on each side of the village. Try the least expensive option first and take a count on the cameras of how many still tailgate and see if the new system is working or not and then go from there.
I like these ideas. I believe they will deter most tailgaters and they are not expensive to implement. It would be a small inconvenience that is worth the trade off.
I agree with any and all measures to stop tailgating at the Balboa gate. However one big problem at that gate is the signage and turnaround area for those who mistakenly go to that entrance. Cars are bumper to bumper waiting to go through and there is no way to back up and turnaround. A much bigger sign saying “unmanned card entrance only “ needs to be placed before the stone entry allowing for unauthorized vehicles to turnaround there . Plus there needs to be a better delineated turnaround spot. Finally a stop sign or a “wait here until your turn” sign and white line needs to be placed at a distance from the card reader that would help remind drivers to not be bumper to bumper waiting to go through the gate? And one last thought, the card reader needs a louder beep so I know it read my card.
Totally agree Suzanne with your recommendations, there definitely needs to be more attention getting signs before entry is made onto the road leading to these unmanned gates, something like, this entrance is only authorized for card carrying Hot Springs Village residents and working personnel only and a bigger turn around area should be made as well for those who can’t read and need to exit the gate area once they realize they don’t have access available to them. I also agree that the card reader approving beeper needs to be louder or something visual also needs to be added to show your card entry was accepted.
I’ll gladly tolerate any inconveniences that may help improve our security. The gated community was the main reason I moved here, and the way crime has risen recently makes it paramount for me. Thanks for tackling this issue!
Place a LARGE SIGN up at the entraceway and at the gate that vehicle entering will be stopping until the gate closes OR is opened by the following vehicle with their gate card.
The process will take alittle longer as we entrrthe Village but should make it difficult for tailgaters to follow knowing the car going in will be stopping until the gate closes.
Of course, this will only be effective if the residents stop until the gate closes or is opened by the following car.
I believe this process is cost effective, BUT the signage is necessary to make sure the potential tailgaters knows the car they are attempting to follow will be stopping!
Any accident should result in the potential tailgaters being arrested for tresspassing.
None of the speed bumps, signs and lane sticks is going to make any difference at all. It’s all been tried before. The only solution is a guarded gate with a human there to police the entering vehicles. Those lesser used gates should also be locked closed after a certain time in the evening till maybe 7am. And a turnaround lane is needed when locked. Either we actually have security or we don’t. Guess what? We don’t. Anything less than all manned gates, which has been going on for decades, is simply a waste of our assessment dollars. Right now, and also for decades, our security is nothing more than a sick joke. Spend the money. Do it right.
And while we are talking about it the stupid idea that no card or verification to exit any gate is also wrong. Once a bad actor gets in, by whatever means, he/she can do whatever they want, load up the car with stolen goods, and have a free pass out. Simply dumb.
So, pay the money, do it right, or take the gates all down and stop wasting money on the current “guarded” gates.
Very willing to live with inconveniences if security can be tightened. I advocate for cameras taking photos of license plates (visitors AND residents who tailgate) and sending them traffic tickets for at least $150 per incident. 3 Incidents and they lose their RFID gate privileges for 3 months (residents). Very in favor of a two-gate system at Balboa, Glazy Peau and Danville. Design one first at Balboa, work out the kinks, then install at Glazy Peau 2nd and Danville 3rd. How much would a double gate cost at Balboa (installation & maintenance for 1 year?) Divide the cost per lot and add it to our POA fees, or water bill. Developed lots at $1 per month would be (approx) $1 x 12 mos x 16,000 rooftops = about $200k. I should hope that everyone would be willing to pay $1 per month for increased safety. Start at Balboa for a year and see how it works.
I, too, am willing to deal with the slight inconvenience if it helps with security. We moved here with the understanding that this is a gated community, and we’d like to keep it that way.
The gates seem to have plenty of cameras. Yet it appears that no action is taken when someone tailgates their way in. Maybe there is no legal recourse once they are in? As for the proposals listed, I don’t feel that speed bumps would make a difference because the tailgaters are at very low speed. The gates seem to stay open long enough for multiple vehicles to easily pass through. Perhaps they could be adjusted to close more quickly once a vehicle clears them. Just a thought, but perhaps an alarm could sound (flashing lights, etc) when more than one vehicle pass through during one open cycle.
I think these suggestions are a good start for gate security. I also suggest a camera system that records all license plates that come in the village. This would allow for the issuance of fines/ tickets for tailgaters and trespassers.
Yes, inconvenience is worth it.
I agree with the previous comments. A little inconvenience, a few more seconds for those of us with cards, is worth it for better security.
I would definitely like to see any, if not all these ideas implemented. I moved here for security and peace of mind.
A group of concerned residents is meeting next week to discuss this issue. We will follow-up with Ken Unger with our suggestions.
Thank you for your concern. I would love to cover your meeting. Would this be possible? If so, please contact me at hsvgazette@gmail.com . Thanks! – Cheryl Dowden
I agree with Bryan.
Any inconvenience is acceptable to get this problem to stop!! Thank you for working to resolve this issue.
Years ago when we had runners through the gates I wrote a few letters to the editor saying – all we need here are some good speed bumps to help in the fly through traffic. They put some down. Took them up. Then put them down. Now we have them and I agree (observation only) that they help. I am always amazed at the whiners (yeah. I said it) that gripe over higher profile speed bumps or being slow. It is a service to us ALL to maintain our safety. We’ve been heee since 2010 and as we age, safety is even more of a concern. Thank you for your proaction on this. Put some big rocks beside the “pull over areas” . I guess another option would be to have two gates, like a chute. (Ha. Like A cattle chute) that would mean long trailers would have to enter and exit through manned gates but that is an option too.
I have experienced a lot of tailgating at Balboa gate. Are there security camera enhancements that can be added to this plan? In my opinion speed bumps will not help. However, I am glad to see that the POA is interested in finding a resolution.
I personally dislike the appearance of the lane delineators used to prevent pulling over to wait for an opportunity to tailgate in. Large boulders would be much more asthectically pleasing.
I would 2nd boulders as well. In the Dalkas area they used these flea thing to keep people out of the HOV lanes, people just run over them and they crack and just eventually disappear.
The gates also need to close faster, they move so slow.
We’ve lived here 8 years and have seen a big increase with traffic overall and tailgating. It’s a private community and it’s concerning not knowing who is entering the Village. This problem increases the possibility of more crime. We are willing to put up with inconvenience for a safer community. Balboa has so much traffic it probably needs a guard.
My personal strategy is to use my card to open the gate; slowly enter the gate and STOP just inside until the gate has closed behind me.
Enhanced gate security would benefit all residents, just finished reading police report and it seems crime is on the rise, not all from outside, I live near Granada clubhouse and very seldom do I enter thru Balboa gate I do not like to be tailgated. I come thru East Gate instead. I also do not think what you are proposing will work. Balboa needs to be manned like the East Gate, WILLING TO PAY FOR IT, all other gates need double gates or something similar
I’ll take inconvenience any day if it means our gates are secure.
I am willing to live with some inconvenience if it will help improve gate security. I think Mr. Unger’s three steps are a good place to start. Thank you!
I am willing to put up with a small inconvenience for better security. I think it’s a necessity.