SURVEILLANCE LAWS
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WHAT ARE THE LAWS ON SURVEILLANCE
NOTE: In spite of the information provided here, we still advise that you check with your local laws. The
information we provide is a general reference and not a final translation of your state and local laws.
SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
In general, most video recordings are legal in the United States, with or without consent. Laws do exist
regarding "Invasion of Privacy" which deals with the expected area of privacy such as bathrooms, locker
rooms, changing/dressing rooms, bedrooms, and other areas where a person should expect a high level of
personal privacy.
A private investigator is well educated in such laws and you should not have to worry about this when hiring
a professional investigator. They will not peek into windows, hide in bathrooms, put a microcamera under
the door, etc. They will not plant hidden cameras in cars, bedrooms or other places either.
HIDDEN CAMERA LAWS
The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places, A
private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance in
locker rooms, restrooms, etc. Several states have laws prohibiting the use of hidden cameras in only
certain circumstances, such as in locker rooms or restrooms, or for the purpose of viewing a person in a
state of partial or full nudity.
Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Utah also
prohibit trespassing on private property to conduct surveillance on people there.
In Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or
overhearing events or sounds in a private place without permission of the people being photographed or
observed is prohibited.
COVERT VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IS ILLEGAL WHEN
The person has a reasonable expectation of privacy such as in the bathroom, motel room, or changing
room.
IF AUDIO EAVESDROPPING IS ALSO TAKING PLACE, COVERT SURVEILLANCE MAYBE ILLEGAL
WHEN
The person with authority over the premises has not consented.
The reason for the video surveillance fosters an illegal purpose.
For the most part, the audio picked up by a video camera is covered by the same laws as wiretapping and
eavesdropping. Those laws very by state.
THE GENERAL RULE IS
Regardless of the state, it is almost always illegal to record a conversation to which you are not a party and
do not have consent to tape and could not naturally overhear.
It is almost always illegal to record a conversation to which you are not a party, do not have consent to tape
and could not naturally overhear.
We hope this has been helpful but each of us are responsible to supply information regarding
video and recording laws. There are grey areas that only a lawyer or local authorities can
answer in the area where you intend to use the devices.
NOTE: In spite of the information provided here, we still advise that you check with your local laws. The
information we provide is a general reference and not a final translation of your state and local laws.
SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
In general, most video recordings are legal in the United States, with or without consent. Laws do exist
regarding "Invasion of Privacy" which deals with the expected area of privacy such as bathrooms, locker
rooms, changing/dressing rooms, bedrooms, and other areas where a person should expect a high level of
personal privacy.
A private investigator is well educated in such laws and you should not have to worry about this when hiring
a professional investigator. They will not peek into windows, hide in bathrooms, put a microcamera under
the door, etc. They will not plant hidden cameras in cars, bedrooms or other places either.
HIDDEN CAMERA LAWS
The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places, A
private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance in
locker rooms, restrooms, etc. Several states have laws prohibiting the use of hidden cameras in only
certain circumstances, such as in locker rooms or restrooms, or for the purpose of viewing a person in a
state of partial or full nudity.
Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Utah also
prohibit trespassing on private property to conduct surveillance on people there.
In Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or
overhearing events or sounds in a private place without permission of the people being photographed or
observed is prohibited.
COVERT VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IS ILLEGAL WHEN
The person has a reasonable expectation of privacy such as in the bathroom, motel room, or changing
room.
IF AUDIO EAVESDROPPING IS ALSO TAKING PLACE, COVERT SURVEILLANCE MAYBE ILLEGAL
WHEN
The person with authority over the premises has not consented.
The reason for the video surveillance fosters an illegal purpose.
For the most part, the audio picked up by a video camera is covered by the same laws as wiretapping and
eavesdropping. Those laws very by state.
THE GENERAL RULE IS
Regardless of the state, it is almost always illegal to record a conversation to which you are not a party and
do not have consent to tape and could not naturally overhear.
It is almost always illegal to record a conversation to which you are not a party, do not have consent to tape
and could not naturally overhear.
We hope this has been helpful but each of us are responsible to supply information regarding
video and recording laws. There are grey areas that only a lawyer or local authorities can
answer in the area where you intend to use the devices.