I can't do my freakin' laundry

[tekla]

You only get busted for wiretapping if your picking up voice recordings, besides a laundry room is considered 'public' and not 'private' under the law, and you would not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in that area.

[Crimbuki]

Again, laws vary by state/country, but video surveillance is considered wiretapping here in America regardless of whether sound is recorded and private individuals must give consent either in the form of active agreement to be recorded or in being advised that recording is in progress. The fact it is public property is what makes this true. Wiretapping is not illegal on private property because random people should not be wandering around there...

Anyway, this may be a reason why property management has refused to install a camera.

[tekla]

There are video cameras all over SF, I bet I can walk 10 blocks and constantly be on one of them, tons of them in public not a sign on a one of them.

[Janet_Girl]

Signs are not required in public areas.  There is no expectation of privcy in areas that are open to the general public.

[Crimbuki]

Whoops, looks like I was wrong, it's only wiretapping if there is audio recording. Sorry.

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=13492v

[tekla]

You only get busted for wiretapping if your picking up voice recordings

As somebody said.

[regan]

Perhaps a talk with the building management is in order? Is there no legal recourse for this?

Theft and stalking come to mind.  Play the misunderstanding card and talk to the property manager, let them know you have the grounds to report it to the police if the situation isn't resolved - follow through on the threat if you need to.

[regan]

Would be nice if there was away for me to tell where you people live, but here in the US you will get busted for wiretapping... unless you put up a sign that reads "This area is being monitored by video surveillance" or something along those lines, and that in itself is a deterrent rendering the recording of video pointless...

Most states allow video/audio recording as long as one party is aware of the recording (that would be you).  For that matter, how to all the TV stations get away with their "undercover" reports if it were illegal?

[Crimbuki]

Most states allow video/audio recording as long as one party is aware of the recording (that would be you).  For that matter, how to all the TV stations get away with their "undercover" reports if it were illegal?

Good point and I didn't think about it. Sorry again for the misinformation.