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Washington state audio/video surveillance monitoring signs and the law.?

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Washington state laws apply…

If I have external recorded surveillance cameras monitoring my home. All corners are covered and as a casualty of war, my neighbors houses are in the shot a little but are not the main focal point. I also record audio for my front porch in case someone breaks in and I have to use lethal force, it will be on audio me saying stop or I will shoot. If I put a steel 12ga slug in someone, I want to have my ass covered in a legal battle. Am I legally obligated to notify any neighbors who’s property can be seen on camera even if it is obvious the camera is for my home and am I required by law to post warning signs that you are being monitored? If so, how man, how far apart, how big… etc? Please do not post opinion, I want fact backed up by links to laws (local or federal). I really tried to look for an answer myself, but found nothing but opinion.

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    3 Comments

    1. jwthoughts jwthoughts

      No, no and no.

      You could stand in the middle of the street and film your neighbor’s house and the only thing that you would have to worry about is getting hit by a car.

      You ONLY have the right to privacy where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. In other words INSIDE your home with the curtains drawn, or in a public restroom or dressing room, etc.

      And if anybody doubts this and gives me a thumbs down, you might want to look it up. This has been tested and held up many times…for example, every time anyone sues paparazzi….BTW, they lose.

    2. Johann Smythe Johann Smythe

      “Please do not post opinion, I want fact backed up by…..”
      Yeah, me too. I really hate when I ask a question, esp a computer tech question, and some wannabee starts asking me if I’ve pressed the reset button, and then launches into 6 pages of speculation as to what he’d try to fix the problem. Either you’ve had the problem, solved it, & have the answer, or you don’t.

      So here’s what I found, which I believe is reliable, and I use for myself:

      This was good:

      https://rhodeslegalgroup.com/video-taping-another-person-in-washington/

      and leads to this:

      https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.73.030

      You did say WA State. Apparently there are no applicable federal laws and few federal precedents. So you have to look up the laws state by state.

    3. Scott Scott Post author

      Thanks for this excellent and detailed response. Yes, it’s best to check your local laws about surveillance cameras and signage. In general it’s always good practice to post that audio and video recording is in progress.

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