Landlord installed cameras that record audio

stoneystevenson

New Member
Jurisdiction
Pennsylvania
I live in a 40 room rooming house in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania.
The landlord just installed indoor cameras at the entrance doorway and hallways, and two outdoor cameras one at the entrance door and the back door.
All cameras record when motion is detected. I know Pennsylvania is a two or all party state. I was told by a policeman that outside audio recording is OK.
The landlord had everyone sign a consent form regarding the inside camera audio and has a signs posted on both entrance doors and at all inside cameras that "All security cameras record both audio and video"
My question is does the consent form or signs cover any guest that I might have?
A person in the room next to me refused to sign, can he be evicted or does the signs informing also give consent?
Thanks.
 
Signing the notice is not likely required. What matters is that notice was given and that the cameras are apparently in common areas where there is a reduced expectation of privacy. If you have privacy concerns then simply don't carry on a conversion in those areas. Guests are given adequate notice by the signs.
 
Agree with mightymouse. Even the statute makes that clear.

It defines "oral communication" as

Any oral communication uttered by a person possessing an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation.

Residents and guests are on notice that audio and video is being recorded in those areas so they have no expectation that their conversations are not subject to interception.

The prohibition against recording oral communications does not apply.
 
Does this "rooming house" cater to people trying to kick certain habits, newly credentialed probationers, or recently released from various government run hotels?
 
I know Pennsylvania is a two or all party state. I was told by a policeman that outside audio recording is OK.

First of all, it would not be reasonable to expect a policeman to have any expert knowledge about something like this. Second, the "all party consent" law in Pennsylvania only applies in situations in which the parties have a reasonable expectation that the communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation. No such circumstances appear to exist in the situation you have described.

My question is does the consent form or signs cover any guest that I might have?

Just to be clear: you're asking about the legal effect of a document you signed but which we haven't read and you haven't quoted for us. Is that about right?

A person in the room next to me refused to sign, can he be evicted

Depends on the terms of his lease with the landlord and on whatever other facts are relevant.

does the signs informing also give consent?

A sign is not capable of giving consent. However, a sign may impact a person's reasonable expectations.
 
First of all, it would not be reasonable to expect a policeman to have any expert knowledge about something like this. Second, the "all party consent" law in Pennsylvania only applies in situations in which the parties have a reasonable expectation that the communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such expectation. No such circumstances appear to exist in the situation you have described.



Just to be clear: you're asking about the legal effect of a document you signed but which we haven't read and you haven't quoted for us. Is that about right?



Depends on the terms of his lease with the landlord and on whatever other facts are relevant.



A sign is not capable of giving consent. However, a sign may impact a person's reasonable expectations.
 
"As a tenant of so in so rooming house you know that security camera have been installed in the hallways and outside at both entrance doors. That all cameras record both audio and video upon motion detection. Signing this document states the you are fully aware of security cameras and that they also record audio." Yes legal effect.
 
In other words, a half-way house for druggies and ex-cons. I'd be putting up cameras, too.

The landlord lives off site, close in the same neighborhood. Its my job to monitor the cameras and scan the recordings. The questions were asked my me as just a tenant, I was thinking that that would easier. For five years another tenant had then only the one camera monitor in his room, an inside camera pointed at the front door entrance. He never recorded with it or reported much. He died just before Thanksgiving and the monitor was off in a storage room for 9 months until it was put in my room. The first week I saw a few tenants having overnight guests and 3 minute guests all hours of the day or night. Week number 2 I put a webcam out my window, I'm above one floor and to the left of the entrance door. Week four, three IP cameras went up. Two outside, front door and back door. A second camera inside at the front door. two webcams on the 3rd floor in the hallways. This is a very good place to live, the landlord is very quick to address any problems. This not a half way house. Some people move in after leaving the county jail, but very few stay once their parole officer calls and informs them that they need to drug test. Funny thing is that everyone knows about the cameras and no one stopped with that behavior.
 
The landlord lives off site, close in the same neighborhood. Its my job to monitor the cameras and scan the recordings. The questions were asked my me as just a tenant, I was thinking that that would easier. For five years another tenant had then only the one camera monitor in his room, an inside camera pointed at the front door entrance. He never recorded with it or reported much. He died just before Thanksgiving and the monitor was off in a storage room for 9 months until it was put in my room. The first week I saw a few tenants having overnight guests and 3 minute guests all hours of the day or night. Week number 2 I put a webcam out my window, I'm above one floor and to the left of the entrance door. Week four, three IP cameras went up. Two outside, front door and back door. A second camera inside at the front door. two webcams on the 3rd floor in the hallways. This is a very good place to live, the landlord is very quick to address any problems. This not a half way house. Some people move in after leaving the county jail, but very few stay once their parole officer calls and informs them that they need to drug test. Funny thing is that everyone knows about the cameras and no one stopped with that behavior.


You don't seem prone to, or fond of criminal behavior.

If I were you, I'd find myself a better, quieter place to reside.

Innocent people often get harmed when living among troubled folk.
 
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