- Jan 17, 2017
- 16,116
- 27,077
Cops Caught Disabling or Covering Surveillance Cameras | Is that Legal?
The Civil Rights Lawyer
I came across some recent footage of police officers covering, concealing, or otherwise redirecting, a home’s surveillance cameras. When this hit the interwebs, it of course immediately sparked discussion. Police officers defended the footage, claiming officer safety reasons to do this, with some claiming that they always do this as a matter of policy. Is this legal? Is this a Fourth Amendment violation? Is it a First Amendment violation? Is this a crime?
The Civil Rights Lawyer
I came across some recent footage of police officers covering, concealing, or otherwise redirecting, a home’s surveillance cameras. When this hit the interwebs, it of course immediately sparked discussion. Police officers defended the footage, claiming officer safety reasons to do this, with some claiming that they always do this as a matter of policy. Is this legal? Is this a Fourth Amendment violation? Is it a First Amendment violation? Is this a crime?
It would be almost impossible for them to find all the cameras looking at them, as there are multiples of them looking at them from different angles and from different spots. Really, it' would be tough for them to even sneak up on the house, as I would know they were there almost 1000' before they could even get a clear view of my house, which once they got there, they would quickly see my big Hik 30x optical PTZ staring them down and following their every movement. Not to mention the Hik 25x PTZ mounted under the carport that saw them 1/4 mile off coming down the farm lane. You don't notice that one until you get under the carport. They would have to shoot my cameras out, as they are just out of reach in the carport @10' and are mounted on a isolated balcony deck on the side of the house, about 13' off the sloping hill. The back yard has spotter cams that trigger the PTZ's to swing around. There is no vehicle access to the back of the house without driving down the hill in the front yard and then going through the side yard. 2 cameras would have been tracking those movements the whole time. But I do need more cameras! I got a blind spot under my balcony deck on the side of the hill. I can see something or someone going under it, I just cant see anything when they finally get under it......but I'll have that problem fixed before winter...... I won't discuss the cameras I have mounted on the trees inside of wooden enclosures in my woods.....
