OCOEE, Fla. — A new ordinance in Ocoee will require the gates of gated communities to open with special one-click technology.
Living in a gated community provides an added security for residents, but it can also slow down first responders in the event of an emergency.
New communities will have to pay to install the new technology, but residents of one of the largest gated communities in Ocoee said they faced problems getting through the gates and have seen emergency vehicles face the same issues.
"I've experienced two gates at one time weren't working," resident Charles Lawrie said.
"If they can't get into the gate, they go in behind somebody, but then you have to wait until someone comes," Ronald Brown.
First responders have several different options to get inside the neighborhoods, but none are time efficient.
The system new communities are required to install is one already required in Winter Garden. It allows police and fire officials to enter the communities through radio frequencies.
"We don't need to know (the) gate code, we don't need to put our sirens on, we just change our radio to the click-to-enter radio channel and it automatically opens it. It works very well for us," Winter Garden Deputy Fire Chief Jose Gainza said.
Adding the system to all of Ocoee's gated communities will cost about $34,000.
"It's very important for the safety of the residents," Lawrie said.
Ocoee leaders said they will wait for budget talks later this year before they decide whether they want to contribute to the cost.