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[james]

This might be more of a legal question, but
can a townhouse association adopt & enforce
bi-laws that restrict owners from placing
and using surveillance cameras to monitor
shared/common areas and entry doors?

My association believes it can restrict
owners from placing surveillance cameras IN-
SIDE my own townhouse that monitor my window
view of the common areas and my entry
doors.

Does anyone have any comments/suggestions?
Has anyone had problems similar to mine
before?

(P.S., I live in Illinois)

[elecroman]

James
Your association can adopt & enforce what
ever the heck they want, providing they don't
violate, local, state, federal laws.
Can they stop you from installing video
camers outside of your domain yes.
Can they stop you from installing video
camers inside your domain No.
If that camera is aimed outside can they stop
you...NO.
How would they know you were shooting outside
your domain. They would have to see the video
that is inside your domain. They would need a
court order to see that video. If they look
through your window and see the video, thats
invasion of privacy.
If you show anyone the video then they almost
gotcha. They need that person to testify,
then it becomes your word against theirs
unless there was another witness.

Hope that helps some.

[derek]

One thing to look out for though is sound
recording ... federal laws still protect
spoken conversations from being recorded
without certain conditions. However, a
video recording of common areas should be
permissable given those areas are
considered public spaces. Little grayer if
those areas are private (i.e. controlled
access).

The previous post made a valid point. Just
conceal the camera a little better and the
condo commandos wont be any bit wiser. I
have seen associations spend thousands
litigating less than this so dont pick a
fight.