Can Town Force Me to Post House Number

[wing8lc]

My question involves civil rights in the State of: delaware

I have never put my house number outside my house because I don't want to advertise my address. The mailman knows my address and the ambulance has gps. But my reasons are beside the point.

I received a letter from the town that states if I don't attach a reflective address number outside my house there will be a $50 fine. Other residents are upset too. Seems like it's and invasion of privacy. Is this a violation of my rights?

[aardvarc]

You certainly have the right to choose to live somewhere that doesn't have such an ordinance - but good luck finding one. If there's a city or county ordinance that says you must have house numbers (pretty uniform ordinance all over the country), then yes, they can fine you for non-compliance. Your address is public record - any idiot can access it many different ways using public records (or, simply find any ONE address on your street and deduce all the other addresses since numbering follows a pretty uniform system). Yes, your reasons are beside the point, but simply not displaying your number doesn't provide any real level of secrecy or anonymity either.

If you're dissatisfied with the ordinance that makes displaying your address, then as a voter in your jurisdiction, bring the matter, along with your other unhappy neighbors, before your local government and petition for change. I wouldn't hold my breath though - GPS or not, the emergency services folks will push hard for it because it DOES make a difference in the heat of the moment when trying to get aid to people. GPS isn't always right, isn't always functioning, and is only as good as the call taker and dispatcher make it when entering the call (which as an every day user of such systems, I can tell you is about a 50/50 crap shoot).

[lealea1005]

My question involves civil rights in the State of: delaware

I have never put my house number outside my house because I don't want to advertise my address. The mailman knows my address and the ambulance has gps. But my reasons are beside the point.

I received a letter from the town that states if I don't attach a reflective address number outside my house there will be a $50 fine. Other residents are upset too. Seems like it's and invasion of privacy. Is this a violation of my rights?

GPS is only accurate up to a point. It will not point out the exact house number, just indicate the "destination is to your right (or left)". Also, if an EMT or fire fighter is in their personal vehicle and can arrive before the ambulance to begin cardiac/respiratory support for an injured person, precious minutes could be wasted while they look for the right house.

Maybe you'd be willing to sign a form releasing the fire department or EMS from liability because it takes extra time to find your house in the event of a fire/emergency. Oh, and also the police department who will be roaming your neighborhood searching for your house while robbers are carting off your belongings.

[wing8lc]

yes- I'd sign a release. Not a problem. I never felt they'd be liable anyway- they are paid to help- not the blame of any incident. I've never heard tell of a police officer or paramedic being sued for not getting there fast enough. I would think most would just be glad they got there at all. Sorry to hear that some americans are so "sue happy".

[cyjeff]

Besides, how much does NOT having your address really minimize anyone's knowledge of your address?

Your neighbors are numbered, most people can do math... and this is just a measure to expedite emergency care...

I think there is something more to this.

[SChinFChin]

Your post just served as a reminder for me to replace the worn house numbers in front of my house.

I agree with all the others that people can easily figure out your house number from the neighbors, if all your neighbors follow the rules. But in my neighborhood, because many numbers are obscured by storm doors, others with numbers painted over in sloppy paint jobs, I recently had a friend coming to my house the first time, rigning doorbells two blocks away.

Not long ago, I called a taxi service, when the driver arrived on my street, called the dispatcher while I was at home waiting. The driver complained that he has trouble finding the house, so I went outside of my house to the middle of the street waving, at whcih point the driver told the dispatcher he sees someone waving. I had these problems through the years.

Now, if you're the only guy not putting a number up, it'll do you no good protecting your privacy. But if everyone does it as apparently in my neighborhood, I have people riinging doorbells of neighbors looking for me, and I have strangers ringing my doorbell at all hours looking for people I don't know.

There you have it. Leaving numbers off is a BAD idea.