Invasion of privacy, Ring camera pointed into our living room in back of house

[eeglas]

Washington State. I know in general Ring cameras are legal, especially for them to point at the street and front yard. However, our neighbors have mounted a Ring camera on their SOFFIT in the back of their house aimed solely at our back upstairs deck and living room window. There is no security need for them to monitor our deck, and the camera is not pointed at their back yard. It is in retaliation for us asking them nicely to control their dogs' incessant barking, which we went directly to them, we didn't file any complaint. I know if the living room window was in the front of the house, we would not have an expectation of privacy. But, at the back of the house, which sits on bluff so there are not houses behind us, shouldn't we expect some degree of privacy and not be recorded by our neighbors? Thank you.

 

[quincy]

Washington State. I know in general Ring cameras are legal, especially for them to point at the street and front yard. However, our neighbors have mounted a Ring camera on their SOFFIT in the back of their house aimed solely at our back upstairs deck and living room window. There is no security need for them to monitor our deck, and the camera is not pointed at their back yard. It is in retaliation for us asking them nicely to control their dogs' incessant barking, which we went directly to them, we didn't file any complaint. I know if the living room window was in the front of the house, we would not have an expectation of privacy. But, at the back of the house, which sits on bluff so there are not houses behind us, shouldn't we expect some degree of privacy and not be recorded by our neighbors? Thank you.

Yes. You are entitled to some degree of privacy inside your home (including, by the way, inside your home even if your living room window faces a public street).

Have you asked your neighbors to readjust their cameras so they focus on their own property and not on your property?

How, by the way, do you know what their cameras are picking up?

 

[eeglas]

Yes. You are entitled to some degree of privacy inside your home (including, by the way, inside your home even if your living room window faces a public street).

Have you asked your neighbors to readjust their cameras so they focus on their own property and not on your property?

How, by the way, do you know what their cameras are picking up?

They are not reasonable, and this is a deliberate action to intimidate us all because we and other neighbors have asked them to do something about the continual dog barking. We know the camera is active because when we walk on our deck the camera's red recording light comes on. Our houses are older and only 8 feet of space in between them, and this ring camera is on the roof soffit on the side of their house pointed at our house. It is not pointed at their back yard. We have a privacy fence on the deck, and bushes on the property line between the two houses, but the ring camera points over the edge of our deck where our living room window bumps out into our backyard. They have no other ring cameras other than a front doorbell one, so this one is obvious to get on our nerves. Do we have a reasonable right to privacy, and if so, how do we enforce it? Thank you.

 

[quincy]

They are not reasonable, and this is a deliberate action to intimidate us all because we and other neighbors have asked them to do something about the continual dog barking. We know the camera is active because when we walk on our deck the camera's red recording light comes on. Our houses are older and only 8 feet of space in between them, and this ring camera is on the roof soffit on the side of their house pointed at our house. It is not pointed at their back yard. We have a privacy fence on the deck, and bushes on the property line between the two houses, but the ring camera points over the edge of our deck where our living room window bumps out into our backyard. They have no other ring cameras other than a front doorbell one, so this one is obvious to get on our nerves. Do we have a reasonable right to privacy, and if so, how do we enforce it? Thank you.

You can enforce your right to privacy in your home by seeking a court order that limits the focus of your neighbor’s cameras to his own property or to public spaces.

I suggest you (perhaps along with any other affected neighbors) find a local attorney who can assist in making it known to the problematic neighbor (perhaps by sending a cease and desist letter) that legal action is being considered and may be pursued if he doesn’t immediately adjust his cameras.

A link to Washington’s privacy laws for your scrolling pleasure:

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.73&full=true

 

[adjusterjack]

Mount a bright floodlight on your deck and point the beam straight at the camera. The camera should pick up only the bright light and nothing else.

 

[quincy]

Mount a bright floodlight on your deck and point the beam straight at the camera. The camera should pick up only the bright light and nothing else.

... or a large mirror facing the neighbor’s house.

 

[eeglas]

You can enforce your right to privacy in your home by seeking a court order that limits the focus of your neighbor’s cameras to his own property or to public spaces.

I suggest you (perhaps along with any other affected neighbors) find a local attorney who can assist in making it known to the problematic neighbor (perhaps by sending a cease and desist letter) that legal action is being considered and may be pursued if he doesn’t immediately adjust his cameras.

A link to Washington’s privacy laws for your scrolling pleasure:

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.73&full=true

thank you!

 

[eeglas]

Mount a bright floodlight on your deck and point the beam straight at the camera. The camera should pick up only the bright light and nothing else.

Thanks, but they alteady reported our replacement motion light to the city as too bright… a-holes. funny how they were ok with the previous light for five years. all of this because we, along with other neighbors, asked that they control their two dogs’ constant barking. poor things are never walked, kept outside in freezing weather, and bark due to unreleased energy and boredom

 

[quincy]

Thanks, but they alteady reported our replacement motion light to the city as too bright… a-holes. funny how they were ok with the previous light for five years. all of this because we, along with other neighbors, asked that they control their two dogs’ constant barking. poor things are never walked, kept outside in freezing weather, and bark due to unreleased energy and boredom

If you haven’t already, and if you and your neighbors believe the dogs are being neglected, you can report the dog owners to your local animal control department. Noise ordinances are another avenue to explore.

Bad neighbors are unfortunately the bane of many’s existence. There is no single good way to deal with them, just a variety of hit-or-miss ways. Good luck.

 

[Zigner]

If the city acted upon their report of your light, they might act upon your report of the camera.

 

[adjusterjack]

Our houses are older and only 8 feet of space in between them,

With that short of distance one of these might solve the problem.

Amazon.com : anti bark device

You might have to try a few to get one that works for you. Amazon lets you return stuff even if you just don't like it.

 

[eeglas]

If you haven’t already, and if you and your neighbors believe the dogs are being neglected, you can report the dog owners to your local animal control department. Noise ordinances are another avenue to explore.

Bad neighbors are unfortunately the bane of many’s existence. There is no single good way to deal with them, just a variety of hit-or-miss ways. Good luck.

thanks

 

[eeglas]

If the city acted upon their report of your light, they might act upon your report of the camera.

city said we would have to get an attorney and file a civil
suit as there is no code regarding ring cameras

 

[eeglas]

thanks. may get one of these!

 

[not2cleverRed]

... or a large mirror facing the neighbor’s house.

My childhood bedroom had one way shades that used this trick (shiny side facing out).