Naughty Or Nice When Neighbor’s Security Camera Is On? [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — It’s probably not a good idea to prance around naked just so the neighbor’s security camera, aimed right at your back yard, captures your protest, but it’s fun to think about, some readers told us for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column.

The rise in residential security cameras can lead to neighborhood disputes over privacy issues, as is the case with someone who wondered recently on a social media forum, “Could I get naked in my yard just to give them something to see since that’s what they want without getting in trouble?”

So, we asked, “Is it OK to give the neighbor something to talk about?”

“Absolutely, one good turn deserves another,” said Chatham (New Jersey) Patch reader Bill. “I’d suggest you drop trou and moon them with a blinding glimpse of your jiggling backsides.

“This should make the ‘Mrs. Kravitz’ in my back yard shudder and faint,” Bill added, referencing the nosy and suspicious neighbor on the ’60s sitcom “Bewitched.”

Chelmsford (Massachusetts) Patch reader M. has “no idea” what to do.

“I’m going through the same thing,” M. said.

M. isn’t so sure about parading sround naked for the benefit of the neighborhood Gladys Kravitz, but said, “I’d like to give them something more to look at.”

‘I’m Gonna Give It To You Good’

“You bet!” said Wauwatosa (Wisconsin) Patch reader Lisa. “So, you; want to aim your cameras in my yard? I’m gonna give it to you good.”

That’s what Lisa would do if she had neighbors who showed such disregard for her privacy. Fortunately, she said, she doesn’t and, therefore, hasn’t had to leave it all on the backyard patio.

“I’m grateful we have agreeable neighbors and understanding neighbors,” Lisa said. “I am also very careful that my security cameras are not ever pointed at my neighbor’s house or yard.”

“Absolutely, yes,” said Amanda, who reads Windsor-Locks-East Windsor Patch and Suffield Patch in Connecticut. However, on second thought, a better plan would be to “block their view,” Amanda said.

Across America Patch reader Dawn thinks that sounds about right.

“I’d put something on my side of the fence that makes the camera unable to record anything in my yard,” Dawn said. “It’s an invasion of privacy, so eff them.”

The obstruction doesn’t have to be fancy. “Just hammer in a piece of wood to block any view,” Dawn said. “Don’t give them something incriminating.”

‘No Expectation Of Privacy’

If talking it out doesn’t work, Homer Glen-Lockport Patch and Oak Lawn Patch reader Nikki in Illinois is all for giving the neighbors with intrusive security cameras something to talk about.

“But not in the way you mean,” Nikki said. “They can talk about how you are taking them to court.”

A couple of readers said that in most cases, there are no grounds for a lawsuit.

State laws vary, but generally uphold a property owner’s right to install an outside security camera and narrowly define privacy expectations. For example, a court might find in favor of a plaintiff recorded inside the home, but against the plaintiff if the camera was pointed in a general direction that included a person’s outside living space.

Go ahead and do what you’ve got to do, Patch reader Bob said, “so long as you don’t complain about them talking.”

“It is not invading privacy if the back yard is visible to someone standing in the neighbor’s house or yard,” Bob said. “There is no right of ‘privacy’ in public view.”

“Within the law,” go ahead and annoy the neighbors, but know “the law is on the cameraman’s side,” another Patch reader said, agreeing with Bob that “there is no expectation of privacy.”

‘If You Want To Be Childish’

Other readers said the placement of a neighbor’s security camera isn’t worth fussing over.

“Just talk to the neighbor” and be done with it, said Harry, who reads Harrisburg Patch, Pottstown Patch and Philadelphia Patch in Pennsylvania.

Giving the neighbors an eyeful “wouldn’t change anything,” said Elgin (Illinois) Patch reader Sheryl, who seemed resigned to living with the annoyance of her neighbor’s hom security system.

Sheryl said she “told them the light for their driveway camera points directly into our living room window, but they don’t care to fix it.”

Look at it this way, Across America Patch reader Deb said, “If something happens you’ll be happy your neighbors had a camera.”

Also, the offended homeowner should stop and consider if the security camera is purposefully positioned “to catch the neighbor’s dog taking a (expletive) in my yard,” Deb said

We could almost hear Temecula (California) Patch reader Teri sighing, oh please!

“If you want to be childish, go ahead,” said Teri, who perhaps would include Mokena (Illinois)Patch reader Kevin in her admonishment.

Kevin was probably joking when he said, “Shoot paint balls at it.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with “Block Talk” as the subject line.

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