The Nashua Telegraph reports that Michael Gannon of Nashua, New Hamshire was arrested because the video security system he installed in his home recorded an incident in which the police confronted him. They’ve charged him with two felony violations of the state’s wiretap and eavesdropping law.
So it’s OK for the local convenience store to have video surveillance to protect their personnel and property (police actually encourage that), but not for a homeowner to do so.
Update: The police have dropped the charges. That’s good news for Mr. Gannon, but unfortunately they did so not on the basis that he didn’t violate the law, but on the basis that they didn’t think they had enough evidence to convince a jury. Mr. Gannon had posted a notice on his house warning that persons on the premises were subject to recording, which should have been sufficient to avoid violation of the wiretap law.
The most suprising part of this is that it happened in New Hampshire.
Live free or die, just dont videotape the police. They have been touchy about that sort of thing since Rodney King. I cant imagine that any court will convict him of this.