Neighbor Builds A Fence And Puts Up A Camera Facing This Guy’s Yard, People In The Comments Come Up With The Best Solutions
A home and a yard, perhaps an untenable luxury for many millennials and Gen Z’ers, come with a comforting amount of privacy and autonomy. In the comfort of your own home, you can do what you want with the safety and security in the knowledge that it’s your piece of ground.
But one man shared his tale of horrible neighbors with the internet after they raised a fence two feet higher than his just to put a camera up that would face his yard. He turned to the internet for advice and was presented with a plethora of ideas, ranging from pranks, jokes, and gaffs to methods that might get the neighbor in legal trouble.
Privacy in one’s own home is an important right
Image credits: Magicisntreallyreal
So one man had a bit of a shock when a neighbor put up a security camera facing his yard
Image credits: Magicisntreallyreal
Image credits: Magicisntreallyreal
Privacy is protected under the law, but not in every situation
So setting aside moral and ethical questions, in which OP is absolutely in the right, technically, in the US state of Texas, one can install a security camera in their territory and have it point at a neighbor’s land. However, to actually record another person on their property requires their explicit permission, which OP has naturally not given this neighbor. Now, it’s quite possible that the neighbor doesn’t record anything through the cameras, but this would mean that they can only use them to actively watch OP, which somehow seems worse. One advantage OP may have is that the cameras are in the backyard. The front yard, despite being OP’s property, is still pretty visible from a variety of directions, so he can not reasonably demand that no one looks at him there. But the backyard is different and he has put resources into enclosing it.
While we do not have enough details to make any truly in-depth judgments, there are a few factors that don’t paint this neighbor in a particularly flattering light. First, that a legal injunction was needed to get them off OP’s property. Then the fact that they raised a second fence higher than OP’s fence, which is, at best, monumentally petty. The backyard-pointing cameras are just the cherry on top of this horrible ice cream sundae. While it remains a possibility that this neighbor is just security-conscious, we might have to consider the alternative, that they are simply anti-social and hostile.
Bad neighbors are not likely to change by themselves
We have a decent idea of what being a “good” neighbor means, as Jesus Christ, Mr. Rodgers, and others have all given us some working examples. But in reality, many neighbors are downright bad, selfish, and annoying. Indeed, the entire advantage of a private home and maybe a yard is the ability to “escape” from loud or obnoxious neighbors that one might encounter in, say, an apartment. The unfortunate truth is that many people possess inflated egos, are deeply entitled, and may be suffering from pretty significant personality disorders.
Even in cases where the person does not possess any sort of disorder that would explain poor behavior, upbringing, and personality can always leave a mark. While many recommend that OP just talk to the neighbors, realistically they already know what they are doing. OP should still do it, at the very least, he will be able to say he tried before seeking legal action, but it would appear that a higher authority will be needed to get this neighbor to change their ways. Unfortunately, a spiteful, antisocial person can and will find ways to harass and bother someone. This is another reason why OP should already start building legal evidence against them, as it might be important to build a future case.
Some netizens suggested a few humorous ways he could take advantage of the situation
Others discussed legal options
Forget about the police, go to your local district attorney's office. Show them pictures of the camera and let them know what the police said. Tell them you need an explanation of the law regarding cameras like this.
Yeah, police don't give a c**p about this kind of thing and don't know the law half the time anyway. It sucks, but consulting a private attorney is probably going to be the best (legal) way to go. Until then, maybe set up a small LED strobe light at it. The bright will blind it and I think the strobe effect will set of any motion detection on it.
Load More Replies...If you had a toddler they could “accidentally” run out of the house without a diaper. Call the police and tell them he's recording child pornography. Bye bye!
On some CCTV cameras, if you aim a bright light (laser?) at the lens long enough, it will burn out the lens, so all he sees is black. I wonder how many cameras he's willing to buy? Also, you could plant the bamboo in huge pots, maybe put them in a wheel barrow if you expect to have to move them! That way they won't take over your yard. Maybe plant tall cypress trees to eventually provide you with a lovely view?
There are a few types of bamboo that do not spread like weeds. You can look it up. My mum had a boring corner in her garden and I planted one. It's so pretty :)
Load More Replies...Talk to the DA's office, but first contact every newspaper and television station in your area. That way you can tell the DA that he can expect to hear from journalists regarding this issue & you're letting him know so he can be prepared to answer questions about it. Since DA's are usually voted into office, he'll want to make sure the "court of public opinion'" knows he's doing his job. No elected official likes/wants bad press. Tell him you can't wait to let them know how helpful he has been so far. The "so far" Implies your opinion/feelings about him could change if he ignores your request for help. 1😁😉🤤
He says Texas. My European mind automatically thinks that he can use the cam as target practice.
I'm all for putting things right in front of the camera: Pinwheel, birdfeeder, hanging basket, parabolic mirror, or a giant metal cutout of Texas, all would work. I would even put a flashlight on a stick and point it at the camera.
Haha, this is definitely the best reply I've read.
Load More Replies...Just because the cops say it's fine, doesn't mean it is. I have found that many police officers don't know the law like they think they do. Maybe have a talk with your areas prosecuting attorney.
Place a yard sign in your front yard with an arrow pointing to their house and beneath it say these perverts have intentionally pointed a camera directly into my backyard.
And on Next Door, and Facebook and the local Piggly Wiggly or community bulletin board!
Load More Replies...This is illegal in most US states. It is also considered HIGHLY unethical in the CCTV profession. If a company installed it there, I would go to the BBB and Google review the c**p out of them. If the home owner did it, I would "accidentally" pressure wash my fence.
Some muddy dirt & schmutz collected on the lens, oh no!
Load More Replies...Forget about the police, go to your local district attorney's office. Show them pictures of the camera and let them know what the police said. Tell them you need an explanation of the law regarding cameras like this.
Yeah, police don't give a c**p about this kind of thing and don't know the law half the time anyway. It sucks, but consulting a private attorney is probably going to be the best (legal) way to go. Until then, maybe set up a small LED strobe light at it. The bright will blind it and I think the strobe effect will set of any motion detection on it.
Load More Replies...If you had a toddler they could “accidentally” run out of the house without a diaper. Call the police and tell them he's recording child pornography. Bye bye!
On some CCTV cameras, if you aim a bright light (laser?) at the lens long enough, it will burn out the lens, so all he sees is black. I wonder how many cameras he's willing to buy? Also, you could plant the bamboo in huge pots, maybe put them in a wheel barrow if you expect to have to move them! That way they won't take over your yard. Maybe plant tall cypress trees to eventually provide you with a lovely view?
There are a few types of bamboo that do not spread like weeds. You can look it up. My mum had a boring corner in her garden and I planted one. It's so pretty :)
Load More Replies...Talk to the DA's office, but first contact every newspaper and television station in your area. That way you can tell the DA that he can expect to hear from journalists regarding this issue & you're letting him know so he can be prepared to answer questions about it. Since DA's are usually voted into office, he'll want to make sure the "court of public opinion'" knows he's doing his job. No elected official likes/wants bad press. Tell him you can't wait to let them know how helpful he has been so far. The "so far" Implies your opinion/feelings about him could change if he ignores your request for help. 1😁😉🤤
He says Texas. My European mind automatically thinks that he can use the cam as target practice.
I'm all for putting things right in front of the camera: Pinwheel, birdfeeder, hanging basket, parabolic mirror, or a giant metal cutout of Texas, all would work. I would even put a flashlight on a stick and point it at the camera.
Haha, this is definitely the best reply I've read.
Load More Replies...Just because the cops say it's fine, doesn't mean it is. I have found that many police officers don't know the law like they think they do. Maybe have a talk with your areas prosecuting attorney.
Place a yard sign in your front yard with an arrow pointing to their house and beneath it say these perverts have intentionally pointed a camera directly into my backyard.
And on Next Door, and Facebook and the local Piggly Wiggly or community bulletin board!
Load More Replies...This is illegal in most US states. It is also considered HIGHLY unethical in the CCTV profession. If a company installed it there, I would go to the BBB and Google review the c**p out of them. If the home owner did it, I would "accidentally" pressure wash my fence.
Some muddy dirt & schmutz collected on the lens, oh no!
Load More Replies...



























143
100