legal or illegal maybe just not right

[Rockn_M]

When you are in your own backyard you have an expectation of privacy. Call the police and they will have them take it down. I wouldn't do anything that would make you look like the bad guy in the scenario. If they still put it up just put a sign in front of it that says no trespassing.

 

[ToddStark]

Another thought, those trail cameras are triggered by motion. Put something out like a big fan or sheet in wind and fill up his memory stick. Keep him/her busy looking at tens of thousands pics of nothing

 

[singybrue]

Devil's advocate here.
What if the OP is the bad neighbor here? What if he's out there beating his wife and kids regularly?
It's still invasion of privacy, I agree, but we don't have the full picture.
My sincerest apologies to OP Brew NY, I am not accusing you of domestic abuse!
I think asking the neighbor once politely to take it down, then call the cops, is the best option.

 

[phil74501]

Another thought, those trail cameras are triggered by motion. Put something out like a big fan or sheet in wind and fill up his memory stick. Keep him/her busy looking at tens of thousands pics of nothing

How about putting up one of those "Don't tread on me" flags on a pole? That would serve multiple purposes at the same time. Fill up the memory stick, and send a subtle message to neighbor.

 

[Barley_Bob]

Your neighbors sound like dicks.

I'm with a few folks above - I think you should just call the police and report it. If it is criminal, just don't press charges. I think the fact that they've surveilled you before, coupled with at least one false report of criminal activity against you, means that this establishes a pattern. And that's what I would tell the police. You may be a 3 time felon, but you're the completely innocent party here, and the police are equally obligated to protect your rights. Lay it out politely and rationally and then let the police tell your neighbors that they're the ones skirting the law.

 

[Hinermad]

also thought about pointing a laser at it and frying the CCD but that just makes it tit for tat

A laser pointer won't fry the CCD, but it'll dazzle it so it won't record anything. There are web sites about how to do that on public surveillance cameras. You'd need the laser to be on a long time so you'd have to modify it to use a power supply instead of batteries.

A laser powerful enough to damage the CCD could also start a fire, so it's not something to be used indiscriminately. Besides, that would be damaging private property (as would shooting it). Definitely not legal.

Can you plant a fast-growing tree like a poplar to block its view? The world needs more trees.

 

[Yesfan]

I don't know your age, but maybe you could......


Step 1: have your kids or grandkids play out in the yard naked or in just their diapers/underwear in front of the camera.

Step 2: Call the police and report that you're suspicious of your neighbor harboring kiddie porn on his computer. Point out the camera to the nice police officer for verification. Problem solved.


In all seriousness, you mentioned you're a three time convicted felon. I don't know what you done in your past (and it's none of my business), but maybe your neighbor does and that might explain the camera and his previous calling the cops on you "making speed" on Brew Day.


Does that make it right? No, but it makes it harder, especially if the neighbor has never been in any kind of trouble. Your best bet is to play it safe. Get the police involved from the very getgo and see what they say about it. It probably wouldn't hurt to talk to an attorney to see what the laws are about cameras like that.


Good luck man.

 

[seabass07]

Paintball gun.

 

[JonM]

What dicks.

 

[brew_ny]

Devil's advocate here.
What if the OP is the bad neighbor here? What if he's out there beating his wife and kids regularly?
It's still invasion of privacy, I agree, but we don't have the full picture.
My sincerest apologies to OP Brew NY, I am not accusing you of domestic abuse!
I think asking the neighbor once politely to take it down, then call the cops, is the best option.

do you live by me?

 

[TxBrew]

Did everyone overlook the "three time convicted felon" portion of this story?

Those tales sound more interesting then the camera situation.

 

[Zuljin]

Fight mischief with mischief!

 

[Sadu]

I find it hard to believe that it could be legal anywhere to point a camera into someone else's private property. Regardless of anything else, you still have rights. With that in mind I would go see the local police and insist they come out, take a look, and deal with the situation.

This is really the best option - anything else is going to be a case of tit-for-tat and if you smash the camera the neighbour will have documented evicdence of you doing so, you will become the bad-guy.

 

[actech]

sounds like a small town, as long as cops arent dicks, I would involve them. I own a soap making business(not doing it much anymore) but I have lye. Had a neighborhood punk ask for lye cuz he was making beer????? Too stupid to realize lye= soap hops,grain = beer. I did let local cops know about his request. Also gave bars of soap when they were looking at me weird when I explained why I had the lye. Later they caught him making meth and he no longer is around!!! The idea of under 18 kids around being photographed could get him in some serious trouble, so if ya have any put em to use.

 

[ogrekingdad]

I handled a lawsuit that arose out of a neighbor dispute that started over excessive backyard lighting. Went tit-for-tat and ended up with the neighbor using a camcorder to record into my client's house (and directly into an upstairs bathroom).

I live in Southern Illinois (South of I-64 /chuckle) and the judge used the "what possible excuse could your client have" school of law when talking to the camera owner's lawyer. This is a CLEAR violation of your right to privacy, and even worse if it films any part of the interior of your house through a patio door or window. Had Order to take down the camera entered within 10 days of filing for injunction.

Doesn't matter if your a three timer or not, you still have a right to privacy.

Good luck.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

Absolutely illegal. Call the police. This is not a civil manner, it is a criminal one. Depending on what the camera records the severity of the crime could be dire for them.

 

[brew_ny]

a New York Law

New York's privacy law prohibits surreptitious visual surveillance for the purpose of amusement, profit, abuse, sexual gratification or for "no legitimate purpose," in any place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and without that person's knowledge and consent. However, the state makes an exception to for permissible video surveillance with a "security system wherein a written notice is conspicuously posted on the premises stating that a video surveillance system has been installed for the purpose of security or video surveillance devices installed in such a manner that their presence is clearly and immediately obvious."


NY PENAL § 250.45; NY PENAL § 250.65

I will be seeing a Lawyer this week my lawyer retired but his granddaughter is in the business so I will call her


the law above I believe applies

"no legitimate purpose," is what will do them in


S_M

 

[FloppyKnockers]

A motion sensing security light is what I would do. Lights toward the camera, IR sensor pointing the same direction as the camera. Every time the camera starts to record the lights come on.

 

[brew_ny]

I do have a security camera system in place, a week or so ago we came home and reviewed a recording from when we were away

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPGxvVTDGWI[/ame]


go in about 2 minutes and the neighbor is slamming the corner of my page wire fence with the bucket on her tractor

my wife talked to a sheriff and was told the lady was nice, she was sorry if she may have hit my fence and that was the end of it

S_M

 

[slym2none]

Do you have a pool or something in your backyard? Maybe they're trying to get pics of your teenage daughter and friends around the pool. (That actually happened in Kentucky, only it was a drone. Homeowner shot it out of the sky with a shotgun.) My guess is, given your previous run in with them, that they still think you're making speed, or doing something illegal, and are trying to gather proof of it.

Try this. Go to Lowes or Home Depot, or get on Amazon, buy a really powerful spotlight, aim light right at camera. Now all they'll get is pics of a really bright light.

I like this idea.

 

[MaxStout]

A person has no expectation of privacy from surveillance conducted from a public space (e.g., roads, parks, etc.). But surveillance from private land is different, and the NY statute you posted reflects that. Contact an attorney to get advice as to the best move.

 

[ChelisHubby]

You have two choices, you let John law deal with it or you can it is really that simple. If you deal with it the old saying that there is many ways to skin this cat comes to mind. If I was a felon I wouldn't want the police around as they know that you are a felon and probably won't give him a break or might side with the camera guy.

 

[day_trippr]

People can be idiots. I try not to associate with people.
My wife has been calling our home "The Hermitage"...

Cheers!

 

[akthor]

I'd steal the camera and keep taking them til he couldn't afford to buy anymore. Just not right its ******* behavior. But if you got kids who play in the back yard it could totally be illegal.

 

[seabass07]

I do have a security camera system in place, a week or so ago we came home and reviewed a recording from when we were away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPGxvVTDGWI


go in about 2 minutes and the neighbor is slamming the corner of my page wire fence with the bucket on her tractor

my wife talked to a sheriff and was told the lady was nice, she was sorry if she may have hit my fence and that was the end of it

S_M

Pretty sure that's a dude in a wig.

 

[sabotenfighter]

Hang something like this to block the view of the camera.

 

[Pkrd]

Pretty sure that's a dude in a wig.

A dude should be able to wear a wig on his own property without his neighbours posting covert footage onto the interweb. :fro:

 

[Nico93]

Build a microwave gun and burn it

 

[JunkCatsOnThePorch]

Your neighbor's actions disgust me. If this was me I would be worried what my friends and family would say or do to them after they found out about this. What were they thinking doing something like this? Wrong in all sorts of ways. Damn, I wish we were neighbors! Would have a brewing and ska buddy!

Seems like you have it figured out, though. Props for your actions.

My Advice, just KEEP ON SKANKIN' !!!

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgur...PrOAhUP1GMKHS4TDn0QMwhVKB4wHg&iact=mrc&uact=8

 

[Dfitz]

To me it looks more like a paintball target than a camera.