On 11/10/2015 3:41 PM, John H. wrote:
On Tue, 10 Nov 2015 11:22:38 -0800, Califbill billnews wrote:

wrote:
On Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:48:37 -0800, Califbill billnews wrote:

I think there are laws a lot of places about filming in to neighbors
private spaces. I know here your security cameras can not film the
neighbors private areas. Front door is ok, etc.

That might just be a California thing to slow down the paparazzi


I do not know of the backyard if easily seen is a private place, but i bet
most states have such laws. Like filming in locker rooms or public
toilets.

California's voyeurism laws on page 11:

The filming/viewing must be..." the interior of a bedroom, bathroom, changing room,
fitting room, dressing room, or tanning booth, or the interior of any other area in
which the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy" or "...under or through
clothing."

http://www.ndaa.org/pdf/voyeurism_statutes_mar_09.pdf

In this document the term 'reasonable expectation of privacy' is used very
frequently. A clear definition of same is hard to find, but it seems to be 'the
interior' of various types of rooms. I could not find 'back yard' mentioned anywhere.
Does a person in their own backyard have a 'reasonable expectation of privacy'? I
think not, but then again, it depends. If my next door neighbor has a window facing
my back yard and can see over my fence, then I can't reasonably expect that I won't
be observed in my back yard.

Likewise, as I have an upstairs window looking over his deck (and hot tub) they
shouldn't 'reasonably expect the privacy' to be bathing nude.



Common sense dictates that being able to see your neighbor's backyard
from your house or property is *not* a violation of his"reasonable
expectation of privacy". Flying a remotely controlled, camera equipped
drone *over* your neighbor's property and video recording whatever is
happening certainly is, IMO.