Security Cameras viewed by Board Member

I am a board member in a 120 unit Condo Building in California. A few years back, we installed a large camera system that covers the common area & garage. I volunteered to be the one that would be in charge of reviewing any incident that was reported.

A friend who lives in another complex in the area has insisted that her management company stated that it is illegal for a board member to review the video tape when a incident occurs. I asked our building management company if that was true and they said no. I tried to see if there were any laws out there, but could not find anything.

Is there anyone here that are board members or HOA volunteer that monitors their HOA security cameras.

Just wanted to show her that she might have been give incorrect information.

I have to concur with Richard, surveillance footage is just one component of the records that an HOA keeps. Why wouldn't a board member or a HOA member not have access to it.

I agree with others that there's nothing illegal about a director reviewing the camera footage. In our urban condo high rise the PM reviews it and our security too. And I think that's best. But if your HOA has no one to review the footage, it seems OK. I do think the board should place this on an agenda and confirm your ability to review the footage. For some reason, I'm uneasy about this.

I disagree with LetA that an owner could review this footage as it's not among the records listed in CA Civ. Code that Owners may review.

Thanks everyone for your replies. We have not had any objections from homeowners about the cameras. We do not have on site security, so that is why I volunteered to do it. Our management does have access to the cameras, but we have found that I can run through the footage must faster when something has happened. I only review when a issue has been brought to my attention. We do have signage in the lobby that states we have video surveillance so that is covered.

When the cameras went in a few years ago we had a resident that was bringing in a lot of “bad” guest that were stealing mail and packages from the complex plus lots of other activities in the common area. I was monitoring all the time as LAPD was involved. When that resident finally sold & left, the reports of incidents has gone down to almost nothing.

Most of the time I review for violations that are found in the building. . Many people in the building know I have access to it so they will let me know if they see a issue. If the violation go against our Rules & Regs, then pictures are sent to management to send out Violation letter.

One thing that we don’t have is a Security Policy. We have our board meeting tonight, so will be brining it up to see if our management company might have a policy from another HOA that we can review.

I agree with the previous MarkA. Our Board has 5 people generally only 2 have the ability to view footage we don't make it known who are the people that see the footage. When a violation is sent out because it is caught on camera it is sent out as the Board so no one is set up as being the "Bulldog".

The problem we have here right now (Illinois) a Borad member from 5 years ago had footage of an altercation getting off an elevator. She wrote a nasty email to all 120 owners in the building. The email was about a member that was running to be on the Board stating it was her fault these 2 people had gotten into the altercation. She said she had a copy of the video and would send it out to whoever wanted to see it. To the best of my knowledge the video was sent out to about 5 people. Does sending out this video violate any law?