NY Backyard Surveillance Law

My neighbor installed security cameras on their property. The cameras at the rear of the house are pointed directly into my back yard. None of the cameras point into the neighbors yard on the other side. In fact, they don’t even point onto property owners own backyard.

Back in 2017, Gov Cuomo signed the Backyard Surveillance Law. This law established a private right of action for owners and tenants of residential premises against persons video taping recreational activities in the backyard of such premises

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

rentrix

in General Discussion 6 years and 8 months ago

7

Please log in, in order to post replies!

7 replies

Newest Oldest

dorkofwindsor | 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4896 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4915 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176774"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "dorkofwindsor"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bov.472kQmY8OGlKN.dDXa5nt5gnOG0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "dorkofwindsor"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "dorkofwindsor@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(28) "/forums/users/dorkofwindsor/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:48"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "dorkofwindsor"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176774)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

pic from your backyard?

mozeeatupu | 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4897 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4931 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176749"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(10) "mozeeatupu"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BHO3bQekVGtCrXmPMzpkzkalt5eAQl/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(10) "mozeeatupu"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "grandzu@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(25) "/forums/users/mozeeatupu/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:47"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "mozeeatupu"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176749)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

These law only allows you to sue and have to prove the purpose of the cameras on the adjoining property is “with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm or threaten another person.”

angelique.m.west | 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4932 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4895 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "195789"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(16) "angelique.m.west"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BKyCNqhmpN//us7xYEZbcaPfVpZcKF0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(25) "angelique-m-westgmail-com"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(26) "angelique.m.west@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:37:10"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(15) "Angelique Marie"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(195789)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

What benefit would your neighbor get from pointing the cameras on your property? Has there been some activity that they are eager to see? Has there been an uptick in burgularies? Is there a safety issue they are trying to tackle? One thing that would concern me is if the cameras are actually trained in such a way that they can view the inside of your home, which means these folks could be creeps who are peering into your windows. If that is a concern then I would definitely go over there and raise that issue — especially if you have kids. A friend of mine had a neighbor who had a telescope that was pointed directly at her home, in particular at her young son’s bedroom window. She went by the neighbor’s place and gently suggested he move it or she would call the cops and report them for being peeping toms. So I would go over there and say you’re concerned about the location of their cams — and it’s making you think they’re doing something unseemingly. I bet that helps solve it.

daveinbedstuy | 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4896 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4892 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3864"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtJYyObAQmff2MQp.qFP7/kmwU1bBZ1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "djl135e54@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/daveinbedstuy/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:23:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3864)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Not being snarky but what are you afraid of them seeing? Frankly, I would think that more security is better.

Guest User | 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "195579"

you could try starting with innocence and concern – “hey, i noticed you installed a new security system in your backyard, is there something going on back there that could affect my property as well?” that way you can maybe start the conversation from a non-confrontational place. Then you can ask whether the cameras are looking into your backyard and follow up with a request to change the view if they are.

rentrix

in General Discussion 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "2"
object(WP_User)#4925 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4940 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191510"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "rentrix"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BszTJudisT7YekLB8WgpS9TMbW63PP/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "rentrix"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "myviljoen@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-02-22 17:04:13"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(19) "M Viljoen M Viljoen"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191510)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

We don’t really talk(if we were talking, I doubt they would have cameras pointed into my yard).. But if we were talking, what would you suggest saying.

Guest User | 6 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "195579"

talk to your neighbor?