I have a 4-unit bldg next to a homeowner, with a dividing wall & fence. Her recent complaints are that the residents are "slamming" (she insists it's slamming, not closing) their car doors. Says she already talked w/ the city about the noise. She says their cars constantly set off her CO2, particularly when they park with their car backed in: "I don't want to die behind someone's carbon monoxide!" Something about someone throwing glass beer bottles over to her side. She wants to put cameras up ON HER PROPERTY, but looking into my property, ostensibly to catch who is putting bottles over there. I said ok because I'm thinking I can't stop her from doing it if it's on HER property. Correct?

Personally, I'd advocate it. I'd also advocate installing signage to let people know they're being monitored. The signs may wind up being more of a deterrent than the cameras.

From my understanding, as long as the cameras aren't aimed inside of another residence, then she's good to go.

I'd probably tell her to go and do whatever she think she needs to. Technically, it might be illegal for her to point a camera onto your property actually.

She's already contacted the police about the noise -- did THEY think it was a valid complaint? If so, then they can give a warning to your tenants. If not, then there isn't anything else to be done on your part really.

Also, just how close are we talking here? If the exhaust from their cars outside are really setting off her CO detector, then something really weird is going on. Like, I wonder if she is right on the edge of a CO limit as it is and just a little extra pushes it over the edge. In which case, she should be checking out HER house for CO issues instead of blaming your tenants.

Again, if it really is exhaust from next door setting off her CO detector, then something really, really weird is going on. THAT you might want to look into (like if your parking area is really sealed up and just vents to her house somehow). Otherwise, she likely already has issues.

- John...

Cameras cannot be aimed at any portion of the property where the occupants have a reasonable expectation of privacy so this would include the backyard, deck, patio and obviously the interior of the property.

CA is a two party state regarding audio in that both parties must consent to audio recording.

CA does not have a specific statute limiting the use of cameras, but the state constitution guarantees the right to privacy, and that provision is enough to be used in court.

The basic idea is that, if the camera is used as an invasion of privacy, then it is illegal.

On the subject of audio recording, consent is not required in CA if all parties are AWARE of the recording, and even that is not required if the conversation being recorded is not determined to be a confidential conversation. Thats CA state penal code, not FCC communications regulation.

Unfortunately, the world is chock full of nutty neighbors. It's just about impossible to get away from them

I can just imagine what sort of reaction she got from the police when she called to report her neighbors are slamming their car doors.

In my prime Hancock Park apartment property in Los Angeles the neighbor would get up at 3:30 AM and start his old clunker car parked in the rear of the building and let it warm up for 20 minutes. The noise and smog from his tail pipe would enter my tenants apartment and they would start to chock for fresh air, then having to close their windows and then sleep on the sofa in another room.

Then the neighbor would go to prey for half an hour and return. Then he would take his new car to work a few hours later.

No matter what I did, said or who i talked to, nothing would change. That's until I took maters into my own hands.

The next day he started up his car at 3:30 AM and let it warm up. As he started to drive down the driveway to exit I parked my 10 TON Flat Bed trunk in the driveway and parked it there.

He got out and said I had to move or he'd call the police. An hour later the police showed up and asked why did I park in his driveway. I explained, "Oh, I thought this was the driveway for next door. I will move it soon"!

As I craned the key the motor wouldn't start. I said, I guess the battery is dead. I'll get my mechanic over here right away, In maybe a week to fix it! The police were perplexed. Then I was told they would tow the truck away at my expense. I told them go ahead.

The largest tow trucked showed up and was ready to remove the truck. That's until I flipped down a sign,

"Vehicle Carrying Toxic Substances, Special Licensed Needed from the Department of Transportation". I told the two truck driver that the fine for towing my truck with Toxic Substances aboard is only $30,000 per incident!

Howard Summers left my truck in the driveway and the police had to leave for other matters. I told my neighbor that he just wasted 5 hours being a hard ball.

I told the neighbor that from now on he's going to park is clunker car on the street and leave my tenants alone. if not, my next step is to block the entrance and exit of his church/temple so that all others preying will fill my tenants pain.

How is it brilliant? Since when should we be rewarding people that will lie to the police and everyone else they know just to get what they want?

Suddenly two wrongs make a right here? Nice.

- John...

With all due respect, I find the sheer number of (very good) "Robert" stories hard to believe.

Yeah, who cares? Let her put up cameras, encourage it. If anyone molests your property the police can demand her video. And you don't have to pay or maintain anything. It's a win-win! :)

As for Robert, I like his stories, even if a few get enhanced a tad. ;)

Way to involved with this nut case. We have many many nosiy neighbors and goodie too shoes giving their take on life and HOW they want others to live.

tbird: Agreed. I've been saying that for years. People don't want to hear it, of course...

- John...

Jim: Were did I get bent out of shape or act "fragile." I simply said that two wrongs don't make a right and that I don't believe most of his stories anyhow.

You can continue to drink his Kool-Aid all you want. I know how a lot of you here hate fact checking or any concern with things actually be accurate or legal. Sheesh.

- John...