CAMERAS IN COMMON AREAS

Melody - Who (exactly) has logon credentials here? One or Two Board members? When you say that anyone can view the cameras with a logon ID, just who is that and how many people have ID's? There are a lot of old postings on this subject within this site. Whether we like it or not, the average U.S. citizen gets his/her picture taken on average about 60 times per day and in Europe or the U.K., it's about about twice that figure. Grocery stores, 7/11's, Walmarts, Shopping Centers, Office Buildings, Court Rooms, Government Buildings etc. The cameras are everywhere. If the HOA discloses the fact that the cameras exist, to the residents, I'm not so sure that this is a problem. If anything, this might curtail some of the vandalism in the neighborhood, since everyone knows that the cameras are there. Most of the wireless IP cameras or internet applications use WEP or WPA encryption, so even if a hack sniffed out the TCP/IP packets, most folks couldn't hack their way through the encryption. In addition, most folks will turn off the SSID broadcast function within the wireles IP cam's software, so you can't even see the device if someone is "wardriving" or "war chauking" through your neighborhood. Personally, I have 3 concealed, encrypted wireless cameras around my home. Whenever someone walks by or gets close to my residence or autos, the IP Cam sends me a 5 second video file as an alert. I will acknowlege that I do find a lot of IP cameras that are not secured with logon credentials and encryption. That's just dumb. I'm sure that if your system is professionally installed, there are security protocols in place. Good luck.

Melody:

First of all, if you are out in a public place (outside of your house) you have zero expectation of privacy and are fair game to be photographed, filmed, etc.

Secondly, I think it is foolish for any hoa to install a camera system without first developing a usage policy and having a clear understanding of why the system is being installed. It is one thing for a board member to view the camera to make sure things are ok, it is another thing for them to zoom in on a pretty girl laying by the pool in a bikini. Are they cameras going to be viewed 24/7, will they only be viewed in the event of an incident, will they be monitored periodically. I think all these questions and more need to be answered and a policy drafted. Cameras are great tools in crime prevention and also in crime solution. They also make people feel safer.

I am curious as to your statement that anyone can log on with a password and username. I am assuming that just your board will have access and the password/username will be protected.

Nancy:

Cameras can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want them to be. There are several places on the internet or check your yellowpages for a distributor. Even if power is not located at a certain point it doesn't mean it can't be brought there relatively inexpensively. you will also find with some cameras that the range is so good you may not have to place it as close as you think. Depending on your budget the sky is the limit with video surveillance.

Mike ~ By remote I mean their are several homes close enough. It seems our young teenagers want a spot to "quote" DO THEIR THING. smoke a little grass, If you know what I mean. and they break off the sprinkler heads so they won't have to take an unwanted bath, while enjoying themselves. Can't say I blame them. However the costs are getting expensive replaceing sprinkler heads. Thanks for all the information. I will pass it on to our board.

NancyM2

Melissa:
Thanks for the common sense thinking. It's true now a day's the law is for the "Bad Guys" (Only in the USA) What I thought we could do is inform the parents of the young culprits ~ hopefully put a stop to it by the parents paying for the repairs. But then again that is wishfull thinking. Lot's to look into first ~ Thanks again
NancyM2

I ran into similar issues with teenagers. It's best to handle it straight with the parents if possible ASAP. They may get angry but atleast the situation was communicated. Worse case, the kids/parents rebel and cause more damages. If that happens then legal recourse is now more available. It also limits "suspects".
A board member was at the pool one day. There were 3 teenage boys at the pool. They were about 14-15 years old. 1 boy lived there with his grandmother. The other 2 were friends. The board member observed a 20 something woman (a renter) giving beer to 2 of the boys! He called me over (I was the president) and we confronted the parties. I kicked the parties out of the pool area. The board member was a direct neighbor to the grandmother of the boy. He told the grandmother about the incident. Her grandson was NOT the one drinking but his friends were. She called me. I told her what I knew and observed and her grandson was NOT the offender. She was able to then call the other boy's parents. The kids were NOT allowed to come back into the community unless the grandmother was at home. They were banned from the pool area as well. The grandson could go to the pool with his grandmother. So things can be worked out on a social level. Although we were boardmembers we were also neighbors.
I also found that some teenagers were smoking in the pool restrooms. I believe it to be a form of illegal substance. They sat the paper towells on fire twice! At the NEXT board meeting, I requested purchasing smoke detectors for the bathrooms. The next day I got 2 and installed them above the towells. The next day, I found only 2 inches of the paper towells had burned before apparently setting the alarm off. After that, no more smoking or burnt towells. Found out later the alarms were so loud, the neighbors around the clubhouse could hear them and could call if there was a real emergency.
So there are ways of handling teenagers or vandals situations without the video survelliance. It's just a matter of putting the effort in and being responsible to take action. I even started a neighborhood watch program amongst the neighbors. The neighborhood watch doesn't have to be funded by the HOA. It can be a separate entity with board approval if necessary. Ask your local police if they have such a program for your area. You may also find out if the [police do patrol your neighborhood or if that is not an option. Our streets used to be "private" so the police didn't have to patrol. They could be called but didn't offer patrol services. After our streets went "public" they patrolled day and night.