Surveillance Cameras

Started by McD • 31 replies • 1086 views

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McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

Can anyone tell me where I can find regulations/rules or laws as to who can access surveillance cameras in a HOA community and whether or not its legal to access from the privacy of your own home on a personal computer? I need the laws for LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Thank you

MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 859

Posted:

Type in Neveda Surveillance Laws and you will have a lot to read.

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

If one is assigned the duty of monitoring this footage, why would accessing the footage from one's own home on one's own PC not be legal?

I can think of other reasons for such footage possibly being illegal, but the one the OP names is not one of them.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

You might also want to read up on local and state laws regarding privacy. The surveillance statutes may address a lot of this, but remember, the laws on this may still be evolving in this area, as more people install them. There may be different approaches depending on whether you are a homeowner who wants to install it to help protect your home vs. The association which may want to install it in the common areas (e.g. Clubhouse) to help catch vandals.

If you're a board member, talk to the association attorney. If not, talk to the vendor you bought or or buying the camera from.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

IF it is HOA owned equipment on common property then it is the HOA's ownership. You can request from them permission for a copy. However, that said, once you leave the front door of your house, there are no expectations of privacy. Your in public view.

That doesn't mean also you can walk around your house naked with no curtains/window coverings thinking that include privacy. An open window view is public view.

Why are you thinking the HOA is spying on you specifically?

Former HOA President

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By McD on 03/05/2022 11:20 PM
Can anyone tell me where I can find regulations/rules or laws as to who can access surveillance cameras in a HOA community and whether or not its legal to access from the privacy of your own home on a personal computer? I need the laws for LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Thank you

Why do you want it? I say if the HOA owns the equipment they can can yes or no to allowing you to vie it. If for a legal reason (incident), your lawyer could get a copy.

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

HOA has put up these cameras claiming for safety, but the HOA president accesses it from the comfort of his own home watching the park where kids play or the streets.. I simply want to know if there is something that states in a law/regulation something that says he cannot... I found this info, but its just on some random hoa site not from NV. So I was just hoping to find something illegal that he is doing. and YES he spies on everyone...

It's an HOA from hell...

Footage from the security cameras should never be stored or accessed on a personal computer, including board members. No one person outside of law enforcement should review the footage in private. Recordings should be kept in congruence with the state's statute of limitations for personal injury claims.

That is all I could find, but no actual statutes or laws.. And that's what I'm looking for cause he's being a serious creeper...

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

I've read so much in the last few days my head is spinning, but haven't found anything...

HOA has put up these cameras claiming for safety, but the HOA president accesses it from the comfort of his own home watching the park where kids play or the streets.. I simply want to know if there is something that states in a law/regulation something that says he cannot... I found this info, but its just on some random hoa site not from NV. So I was just hoping to find something illegal that he is doing. and YES he spies on everyone...

It's an HOA from hell...

Footage from the security cameras should never be stored or accessed on a personal computer, including board members. No one person outside of law enforcement should review the footage in private. Recordings should be kept in congruence with the state's statute of limitations for personal injury claims.

That is all I could find, but no actual statutes or laws.. And that's what I'm looking for cause he's being a serious creeper...

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

If your sitting at home watching kids on your cameras then absolutley there is something wrong with it regardless if u were assigned the duty...

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Do you have ANY proof of this (the spying or your inference, etc)? Did you express your concerns to the board? If so, what was the response? If not, why not?

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

I've read so much in the last few days, but still nothing directly stating a statute or law prohibiting this. All I found was this:

Footage from the security cameras should never be stored or accessed on a personal computer, including board members. No one person outside of law enforcement should review the footage in private. Recordings should be kept in congruence with the state's statute of limitations for personal injury claims.

But I need the law from which this statement has been made. It's simply from typing in "Can hoa board access security cameras from home on personal computer"..

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

He's made it known to many that he views the camera he's told me multiple times that he accesses them from home. I've told him that I find that rather strange that a grown man is sitting in his home watching families running around with their children. His comment was simply that his other 2 board members have access to the cameras as well.

There are hundreds or thousands of complaints for many things about this particular man, but at this time I have not addressed the board. I like to know if it is in a law somewhere so I don't go in to speak with them and have nothing but my distaste for the idea of a grown ass man viewing these cameras from the privacy of his home. I just watched a video last night of him telling a renter than she had NO RIGHTS and had given them up the day she moved into the community as apparently his has a disliking for renters...

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By McD on 03/06/2022 12:55 PM
He's made it known to many that he views the camera he's told me multiple times that he accesses them from home. I've told him that I find that rather strange that a grown man is sitting in his home watching families running around with their children. His comment was simply that his other 2 board members have access to the cameras as well.

There are hundreds or thousands of complaints for many things about this particular man, but at this time I have not addressed the board. I like to know if it is in a law somewhere so I don't go in to speak with them and have nothing but my distaste for the idea of a grown ass man viewing these cameras from the privacy of his home. I just watched a video last night of him telling a renter than she had NO RIGHTS and had given them up the day she moved into the community as apparently his has a disliking for renters...

Renters do not have the rights of a HOA Member. They do have the rights of all citizens but when it comes to the HOA, that is a different situation.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Well, this isn't a law library and we aren't attorneys - and what's true in my state isn't necessarily the case in yours. You will either have to keep looking for what's in your own state or go to a private attorney (and yes, you'll have to pay for the research).

What you quoted appears to be more of a best practice as opposed to a specific law and not everything in HOA land has a statute attached to it. This stuff is simply common sense. To wit, footage from the HOA camera shouldn't be accessible to only one person because it could be manipulated or lost or lost on purpose if it shows the board member, his/her family or friends in a bad light. If there's a concern the camera picked up illegal activity, law enforcement should be reviewing it because (1) they're law enforcement and that's what they do and (2) that footage might be used as evidence in a criminal proceeding (and I'm not going to go into the stuff about chain of custody and all that).

As for the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, I suspect if an issue arose, you don't have forever to sue someone (this isn't homicide) - if you have proof of something, you need to get on the stick and talk to an attorney about your options. That's a simplistic way of looking at it, but once again, the laws may vary in your state.

For now, stop griping about what the law says or doesn't say. Your main concern is what the HOA president may or may not be doing with the footage or what the cameras were even installed. Those are legitimate concerns, so GO TO A MEETING AND ASK ABOUT THIS STUFF TO HIS FACE (and the other board members). If you're afraid to speak up for yourself, get some like minded neighbors to come with you and ask what's going on.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By McD on 03/06/2022 12:46 PM
HOA has put up these cameras claiming for safety, but the HOA president accesses it from the comfort of his own home watching the park where kids play or the streets.. I simply want to know if there is something that states in a law/regulation something that says he cannot... I found this info, but its just on some random hoa site not from NV. So I was just hoping to find something illegal that he is doing. and YES he spies on everyone...

It's an HOA from hell...

Footage from the security cameras should never be stored or accessed on a personal computer, including board members. No one person outside of law enforcement should review the footage in private. Recordings should be kept in congruence with the state's statute of limitations for personal injury claims.

That is all I could find, but no actual statutes or laws.. And that's what I'm looking for cause he's being a serious creeper...

First you're assuming the person is doing this either watching in real time or watching archived footage of saved "events" And you're assuming this person is saving said surveillance footage to a personal
computer this is all supposition. It may be hinky what he is dong, none of us are lawyers so you might want to consult with an attorney. As for BOD's, myself, everyday I review the security report from
our security company on my personal smartphone. nothing illegal about that.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

many HOAs have such cameras. In ur urban high rise that takes up a city block, we have a total of 26 on the sidewalk exteriors and interior common areas, e.g., the pool and in the elevators. We have security officers and an onsite Property Mgr. (PM). They all review footage; an officer at our garage-entry kiosk has his screen on all of the item.

Our Bylaws, reflecting CA corporations code exactly on this point, give members of the board of directors the right to inspect just about anything (with a few exceptions) they please. That would include HOA camera footage. So, I think what you want to look up is what do your bylaws or NV nonprofit corporations codes say about board members' rights to inspect records, the premises, etc. I don't think it matters that he can review the footage form his home.

Your "citation" isn't good McD, because we don't even know if the anonymous source is reliable.

If this guy is so terrible, why is he still on the board? Why haven't owners voted against him when he runs for (re)election? Why haven't you spoken up or united with others about his "hundreds" of misdeeds?

I'm really curious how you came to possess this video? Who filmed it? McD wrote: "I just watched a video last night of him telling a renter than she had NO RIGHTS and had given them up the day she moved into the community..."

Btw, renters usually have the same rights as owners in general. Here & in most HOAs, for instance, when Owners move out, they give up their rights to the recreational common areas, and renters are permitted to use them. Renters may not vote on HOA matters. Not sure what rights JohnC's HOA takes away from renters.

What size is your HOA, McD? Detached homes? condos?

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 03/06/2022 2:41 PM
many HOAs have such cameras. In ur urban high rise that takes up a city block, we have a total of 26 on the sidewalk exteriors and interior common areas, e.g., the pool and in the elevators. We have security officers and an onsite Property Mgr. (PM). They all review footage; an officer at our garage-entry kiosk has his screen on all of the item.

Our Bylaws, reflecting CA corporations code exactly on this point, give members of the board of directors the right to inspect just about anything (with a few exceptions) they please. That would include HOA camera footage. So, I think what you want to look up is what do your bylaws or NV nonprofit corporations codes say about board members' rights to inspect records, the premises, etc. I don't think it matters that he can review the footage form his home.

Your "citation" isn't good McD, because we don't even know if the anonymous source is reliable.

If this guy is so terrible, why is he still on the board? Why haven't owners voted against him when he runs for (re)election? Why haven't you spoken up or united with others about his "hundreds" of misdeeds?

I'm really curious how you came to possess this video? Who filmed it? McD wrote: "I just watched a video last night of him telling a renter than she had NO RIGHTS and had given them up the day she moved into the community..."

Btw, renters usually have the same rights as owners in general. Here & in most HOAs, for instance, when Owners move out, they give up their rights to the recreational common areas, and renters are permitted to use them. Renters may not vote on HOA matters. Not sure what rights JohnC's HOA takes away from renters.

What size is your HOA, McD? Detached homes? condos?

Was in your neck of the urban 'hood yesterday and today. Had dinner at Eddie V's and sat in the cold and rain watching a country singer on their Stadium Tour.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Not sure HOA's in hell can be relied upon for good legal reference. Newer camera systems are configured with IP addresses and therefore accessed on a computer. Where I lived , we had IP cameras, but accessing the video required two board members in attendance, to avoid such conflict that the OP is suggesting.

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

That's the whole issue it has gone on for way to long..I purchased this house in 2009 and it has gotten progressively worse. There is an owner who is in the process of one getting on the board (which he will do automatically cause a board member quit so he's a shoe in) at the same time he is pursuing a petition with a lawyer to get all hoa board members booted and a re-election done with hopes that prior to that all actual owners will be contacted an advised as to why the board was removed and that there are new owners willing to step in. The man has been in control far too long and it has all gone to his head. So YES its that bad!

A person who is also fighting the board shared that video with me as it was posted online. Not sure where as I was sent the actual video. All I'm trying to get is info if it is written in any law/statue regulation ANYTHING that gives exact rules as to how to access these cameras as him sitting at his desk staring at my 4yr old grandson is just CREEPY... He was hiding behind bushes when my son saw him and son approached him and he realized it was the HOA president and he asked him what he was doing staring at his kid. The guy stood there all lost as to what to reply until he finally just said It doesn't concern you! HOW does it not concern him that a grown azz man is staring at his child while hiding. My son videoed this incident and you can see how he stood their at a loss of explanation as to what he was doing.

Ultimately he called me and said my son was harassing him and that he was not hiding he was leaning next to a tree trying to locate a vehicle to see where it parks because he had seen it on his cameras that the driver failed to stop and he wanted to present them with a $500 fine... which is the MAIN reason for him getting these camera. It's only a community of 163 houses.. They are detached homes not condos. and as I said this man runs around the neighborhood 24/7 screaming at renters telling them they have ZERO rights. I am the owner but my son lives in my house. and it was another neighbor that had recorded the HOA PRESIDENT as he berated the other tenant of the house I believe across from him.

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

This is what I am concerned about. Him being alone in the privacy of his own home checking out kids and the rest of the world... There has to be some written information concerning just this... I only found this as a reference..

Can board members view the footage from the security cameras?
Footage from the security cameras should never be stored or accessed on a personal computer, including board members. No one person outside of law enforcement should review the footage in private. Recordings should be kept in congruence with the state's statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Get More HOA Safety & Security Tips

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

I'm not assuming a thing. He has stated this fact to me multiple times and he went as far as to let another tenant know that he has been chit chatting with another tenant who he knows is running for the board and sent him a screen shot of the two of them in front of his residence. So many are quick to say get a lawyer, but people don't consider the cost of doing such a thing. I am simply trying to get laws if they exist so when I speak to the board I have something other than "Well I don't think its fair or he's being CREEPY" I just want to know if anyone has heard of a statute or whatever than can help me that I can read over and review..

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MaxB4 on 03/06/2022 5:49 PM
Not sure HOA's in hell can be relied upon for good legal reference. Newer camera systems are configured with IP addresses and therefore accessed on a computer. Where I lived , we had IP cameras, but accessing the video required two board members in attendance, to avoid such conflict that the OP is suggesting.

Welcome back Max, Glad you're better. BTW the two BOD policy on viewing videos sure sounds like a good policy tho don't seem practical when access to gain video footage in an emergency you
need two board members would hinder an emergency situation.

McD
Posts: 11

Posted:

Where is that stated?

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I see the McD has bailed.

You must be healin' pretty well, Max, to be out in such cold weather. The entertainer you saw had the largest audience ever in that stadium.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 03/06/2022 6:48 PM
I see the McD has bailed.

You must be healin' pretty well, Max, to be out in such cold weather. The entertainer you saw had the largest audience ever in that stadium.

Especially heartwarming to hear all the "Let's Go Brandon" chants.

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By n/a on 03/06/2022 6:07 PM
This is what I am concerned about. Him being alone in the privacy of his own home checking out kids and the rest of the world... There has to be some written information concerning just this... I only found this as a reference..

My concern would be the OP is setting herself up for a lawsuit (for defamation) from this director as she repeatedly suggests the director is doing something illegal, criminal or pedophile-like.

The OP's concerns are what they are. I would likely have similar concerns. But so far, the evidence is just not there to justify accusing this director of anything illegal. At most, I might drive to the police station and ask them what they thought, if only to put the police on notice of my concern. Which the police might very well deem me "crying wolf."

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 973

Posted:

I guess when someone’s “Posts:” goes to “0”, that means they’ve ‘un-joined’? Oh well.

I believe these surveillance systems are commonly set up and maintained by a subcontractor? I was going to suggest that McD perhaps contact that subcontractor (or a random local subcontractor) and ask about the law on these things. I’d guess there are quite a few in Las Vegas, and I’d also guess they keep themselves updated on the current law.

I’d also guess that in Las Vegas, whatever laws might exist are written to favor the “surveillant”.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

JohnH38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 100

Posted:

Howdy,

In my opinion the HOA property manager should be the only person to examine any recording following a dated and valid complaint of vandalism (w/tracking number).

An owner throwing an egg on someone's driveway is not vandalism, it is a neighbor to neighbor issue the HOA shouldn't involve itself in.

Pura Vida

PS No thongs are allowed by the swimming pool, our board makes sure of it by watching the two security cameras installed for that purpose.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnH38 on 03/09/2022 3:26 PM
Howdy,

In my opinion the HOA property manager should be the only person to examine any recording following a dated and valid complaint of vandalism (w/tracking number).

An owner throwing an egg on someone's driveway is not vandalism, it is a neighbor to neighbor issue the HOA shouldn't involve itself in.

Pura Vida

PS No thongs are allowed by the swimming pool, our board makes sure of it by watching the two security cameras installed for that purpose.

I want access to those two cameras. Please send me the link.......LOL

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Apparently a few resident here aren't aware of the cameras in all elevators. Or they forgot. Or they don't care! Our security folks have seen some passionate activity in the elevators.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Been there... Done that.. got his Tshirt...

Former HOA President

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