A Few Interesting Facts About CCTV Systems

CCTV is rapidly becoming the state of the art for home security and business surveillance. CCTV systems have broad applications in industry, business and government operations, but the falling prices and increasingly handy technology have made increased their usage in smaller businesses and private homes substantially over the past several years. How much do you know about CCTV systems? Here are a few interesting facts that you may not know.

In 80 percent of court cases where the police seek to use security camera footage introduced as evidence, the surveillance camera footage is inadmissible. In many cases, it’s because the CCTV camera doesn’t have the necessary focal length to adequately cover the area.

Even if you choose a proper lens, the DVR you choose for your CCTV system can compromise the quality of your surveillance footage. The quality of the footage taken by your security camera will be compromised if your DVR isn’t capable of recording at the right resolution. Working with a professional can ensure that your CCTV system is compatible and meets all your needs.

In 13 states, you may be violating the law if you install a CCTV camera system in a “private place” without the permission of the people being observed. In some cases, you can meet the requirements of the law regarding CCTV systems by posting notification that a security camera is in use. A “private place” includes any area where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. One state specifically prohibits the use of a surveillance camera to view any area where people will be in a state of full or partial nudity.

If you use a CCTV camera to monitor your property outdoors, you must take care to position it so that it doesn’t infringe on your neighbors’ property and privacy rights. Avoid angles that capture house windows and fenced backyards, at the very least. The laws may be more restrictive in some areas.

In London, CCTV systems capture almost every square meter of public space. The average inhabitant of London is captured on a security camera about 300 times per day.

A visible security camera is a powerful deterrent to crime. Most store owners report a significant drop in shrinkage after installing a visible CCTV camera.

CCTV systems are tools to help you keep your home and business safe from thieves and intruders. If part of your intent in installing a CCTV system is to have evidence in case of a crime, make sure that you choose the right CCTV camera and recorder for your needs.

The Legalities of CCTV Systems for Surveillance

As the price of CCTV systems continues to come down, more and more people are installing CCTV systems for security and surveillance. The increasing use of CCTV cameras in private residences and small businesses has raised a lot of concerns about privacy in various countries around the world, but those concerns are just coming to the United States. If you’re considering installing a CCTV camera and recording system, it’s important to know what laws and restrictions apply to your use of a security camera system for surveillance.

First, always check the laws regarding the use of CCTV systems for surveillance in your state. The laws vary widely from one state to the next, but these answers generally apply.

Surveillance Camera in Your Home

In general, you can legally use a hidden surveillance camera in your home to record video without the consent of the person you’re recording. This applies to most small cameras, such as nanny cams, that parents use to keep an eye on caregivers in their homes. If you’re planning to use a security camera this way, though, you should check the laws in your state or speak to an attorney about how you plan to use the CCTV camera.

Also, it’s important to remember that recording video and recording audio are completely different in the eyes of the law. In most cases, it is illegal to record audio without the knowledge of at least one of the parties being recorded. Again, the laws vary widely from state to state, so be sure to check them in your state.

Finally, while most states have no restrictions about hidden recordings in public areas of your home, nearly all states have laws against using a hidden surveillance camera in areas of your home where residents or guests have a “reasonable expectation of privacy,” such as in the bathroom or in a bedroom. Some states don’t have specific bans about using hidden cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s legal or morally right in states that don’t expressly forbid it. It’s still a developing area of the law, and you could find yourself used as a test case.

Intent May Govern Recording

In addition to location of recording, your intent while recording may determine whether it’s legal for you to use a CCTV camera to record interactions in your home. For example, it’s illegal to record video or audio with the intent of using it for blackmail or malicious intent.

Recording with a Surveillance Camera Outside Your Home

Generally, it’s legal to record surveillance video in public places, but it may be illegal to record surveillance footage of private space that can be seen from your property. For example, when setting up an outdoor security camera, you should take care to position it so that it does not record your neighbor’s back yard or the inside of their home through the windows.

Other laws may apply to business owners who want to record surveillance video of their employees at work, because regulations set out by the National Labor Relations Board come into play. If you intend to use CCTV systems to record hidden surveillance in the workplace, check with a lawyer to make sure that you’re on firm legal ground before proceeding.