Video camera with audio installed in house. is this legal?

[stallional]

What is the name of your state?michigan
Ok. so i moved in with my ex girlfriend after she had our baby and our agreement was that we were going to raise our son together for the first year. After about 3 months i found out that she had a videocamera with audio in the bedroom. The bedroom is one that I mostly sleep in and she would sleep on the couch. I was not on her lease on the house. I was there for five months everynight with the exception to maybe 5 nights. I did not recieve my mail at her house. Is this legal for her to do? I have seen so many different things online. Most say the video is fine, but the audio is illegal. Also there is a question to weather or not this was considered a private area of the house? I am in Michigan. What are the laws on this?

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state?michigan
Ok. so i moved in with my ex girlfriend after she had our baby and our agreement was that we were going to raise our son together for the first year. After about 3 months i found out that she had a videocamera with audio in the bedroom. The bedroom is one that I mostly sleep in and she would sleep on the couch. I was not on her lease on the house. I was there for five months everynight with the exception to maybe 5 nights. I did not recieve my mail at her house. Is this legal for her to do? I have seen so many different things online. Most say the video is fine, but the audio is illegal. Also there is a question to weather or not this was considered a private area of the house? I am in Michigan. What are the laws on this?

Why were you sleeping in the bedroom and she sleeping on the couch?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state?michigan
Ok. so i moved in with my ex girlfriend after she had our baby and our agreement was that we were going to raise our son together for the first year. After about 3 months i found out that she had a videocamera with audio in the bedroom. The bedroom is one that I mostly sleep in and she would sleep on the couch. I was not on her lease on the house. I was there for five months everynight with the exception to maybe 5 nights. I did not recieve my mail at her house. Is this legal for her to do? I have seen so many different things online. Most say the video is fine, but the audio is illegal. Also there is a question to weather or not this was considered a private area of the house? I am in Michigan. What are the laws on this?

Did your ex girlfriend install the camera and did she let you know it was there before you moved in?

Does the baby sleep in the bedroom? If so, and your ex girlfriend installed the camera for the purpose of watching the baby - and you were informed in advance that the camera was there to monitor the baby - it is not illegal.

Generally a camera set up in the bedroom would be considered an invasion of privacy if all parties were not aware of the camera and/or did not consent to being audio/video recorded.

 

[stallional]

Why were you sleeping in the bedroom and she sleeping on the couch?

Did your ex girlfriend install the camera and did she let you know it was there before you moved in?

Does the baby sleep in the bedroom? If so, and your ex girlfriend installed the camera for the purpose of watching the baby - and you were informed in advance that the camera was there to monitor the baby - it is not illegal.

Generally a camera set up in the bedroom would be considered an invasion of privacy if all parties were not aware of the camera and/or did not consent to being audio/video recorded.

 

[stallional]

She preferred sleeping on the couch because it was softer and her hip hurt. Also we were not "together". And no, i was not aware that the camera was installed. We did co-sleep with our baby and took turns sleeping with him. Anotherwords...she would sleep on couch with him one night then i would sleep in the bed with him the next.

 

[quincy]

She preferred sleeping on the couch because it was softer and her hip hurt. Also we were not "together". And no, i was not aware that the camera was installed. We did co-sleep with our baby and took turns sleeping with him. Anotherwords...she would sleep on couch with him one night then i would sleep in the bed with him the next.

Do you know why she installed the camera?

Here is a link to Michigan's recording law: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(prtg32pe2m02ofmtaeanjcnl))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-750-539d

 

[stallional]

She says she installed the camera because she thought i would go through her things. lol. Could care less about her stuff....

 

[HighwayMan]

Just curious what she caught you doing that you didn't want her to know about?

 

[Just Blue]

Just curious what she caught you doing that you didn't want her to know about?

Kinda don't want to know the answer to your question...:O

 

[stallional]

Nothing. she didnt catch me doing anything. If anything, the videos showed me being a great dad playing with my kid. I questioned her about how she new about a conversation I had with someone over the phone. it became obvious that she had some kind of surveillance.

 

[quincy]

Nothing. she didnt catch me doing anything. If anything, the videos showed me being a great dad playing with my kid. I questioned her about how she new about a conversation I had with someone over the phone. it became obvious that she had some kind of surveillance.

Well ... your ex girlfriend violated the law as written. What exactly is it that you want to do about it?

 

[stallional]

what law is it exactly that she violated? That she put the camera in what can be considered to be a "private place"? I am not sure if or what I am going to do about it, but during a custody case, if the lawyer I end up hiring knows it was illegal, i think it is relevant to bring up the fact that she was using a video camera illegally.

 

[quincy]

what law is it exactly that she violated? That she put the camera in what can be considered to be a "private place"? I am not sure if or what I am going to do about it, but during a custody case, if the lawyer I end up hiring knows it was illegal, i think it is relevant to bring up the fact that she was using a video camera illegally.

If you suffered no harm - and the camera has now been removed or disabled - I see no reason to bring it up.

Although the camera set up in the bedroom without your knowledge and consent is a violation of the law, it is generally what is done with what is captured on camera that gives support to a legal action.

But certainly mention the camera use to your attorney. Your attorney can best advise you on whether it should play any role in a future custody action.

I hope for your child's sake that you and your ex girlfriend can put any animosity aside and work together on raising your child in a healthy environment.

Good luck

 

[stallional]

I appreciate that quincy. I of course will make sure it is relevant before i bring any of it before a judge. My lawyer will determine that. Thank you for your input

 

[quincy]

I appreciate that quincy. I of course will make sure it is relevant before i bring any of it before a judge. My lawyer will determine that. Thank you for your input

You're welcome, stallional. I appreciate the thanks.

Good luck.