Adding audio to survelliance system

[quincy]

Quaere - Your comment about videotaping for news stories shows a lack of knowledge about journalism (journalists cannot just merrily tape anything they see, even if it is in a public place and the cameras are in full view of everyone, unless they want to face lawsuits) and your comment about audiotaping shows a lack of knowledge about Massachusetts law.....so watch for Donovantee's next post under Criminal Law ("What do I do now that I've been sued for invasion of privacy, violating the "eavesdropping" statute, video taping a drunk lady and showing it on You Tube.....?")

 

[donovanatee]

you sound a little paranoid about being recorded. Maybe have a Bartletts and James, man. If you can have a wine cooler to cool yourself off it is no skin off us macho men. We would prefer it to this Whoa.. Takes me back to my neanderthal days when I was just reaching for a bone dude, and I got clubbed because, well I yelled a little bit because it was hot. I am not saying your neighbors are not rude, just that there are other ways Legal ways that need to be done to go about getting them out. We are trying to help you and you keep sticking a fork in our hands.

Just say " Thanks for your support and do what the frog you are going to do and get off the website before you mess with anymore of my friends here. Dude."

Heard and not heard, answered and not yet no credence. I feel I am at my mammoths house again and she just does not GET IT.

We are not discussing Neanderthal laws, "dude", we are discussing the statute regarding
audio recording one's own property in Massachusetts. If you wish to have me thrown
"off the website", address the administrator. I'm certain she will find you and your request most unreasonable. As stated above, there are two interpretations of the law given here. I am seeking the accurate one.

 

[donovanatee]

You have credibility problems with law enforcement by your admission. What interpretation of your audio recording do you believe LE will take when your neighbor makes a complaint?
You also state this is a matter of he said/she said. My advice is move. I predict you will not prevail in your lawsuit and ultimately be responsible for your neighbor's legal fees.

Again, I am asking only for clarification of the statute. You have no idea of the wide range of circumstances involved in our situation. Further, the police were happy that I contacted them and requested a meeting. They were most pleased when I offered up a variety of solutions to the hostilities. We are meeting again this week with the police and the other party. I did not admit credibility problems with the police. I asked the chief about the audio recording and he said it was against the law. I am only trying to find out if that is true. Are you some sort of psychic? How can you predict the outcome of a lawsuit when you have no idea of the evidence? I've already stated that moving is not an option at this time, or we'd have already done it. Neither party wishes to go to trial on any of the matters and are simply trying to work out a workable solution. My biggest problem is that I am continually fighting false allegations. A video with audio would eliminate this problem. I do not want to do it if it is against the law. Your advice is simply not well informed or helpful.

 

[donovanatee]

Quaere - Your comment about videotaping for news stories shows a lack of knowledge about journalism (journalists cannot just merrily tape anything they see, even if it is in a public place and the cameras are in full view of everyone, unless they want to face lawsuits) and your comment about audiotaping shows a lack of knowledge about Massachusetts law.....so watch for Donovantee's next post under Criminal Law ("What do I do now that I've been sued for invasion of privacy, violating the "eavesdropping" statute, video taping a drunk lady and showing it on You Tube.....?")

I have no intention of adding a microphone without clearing it first with the chief and the
town attorney.

Your pompus comments are not helpful. People come here looking for help and
open discussion. I've notice that there is a great deal of unwarranted arrogance
of many who give "advice" on this site. We are looking to resolve the matters with
the neighbors and move on with our lives. We wish to have quiet enjoyment of our
family and home without false allegations and harassment.

The neighbors have been charged with
a total of seven criminal charges as a result of our videotape evidence which was
presented to the police. We are willing to walk away from the criminal and civil
charges if they will simply stop screaming at us when we drive down the road.
I am simply looking for a legal way to prove what they are doing and put a stop to it.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

Again, I am asking only for clarification of the statute. You have no idea of the wide range of circumstances involved in our situation. Further, the police were happy that I contacted them and requested a meeting. They were most pleased when I offered up a variety of solutions to the hostilities. We are meeting again this week with the police and the other party. I did not admit credibility problems with the police. I asked the chief about the audio recording and he said it was against the law. I am only trying to find out if that is true. Are you some sort of psychic? How can you predict the outcome of a lawsuit when you have no idea of the evidence? I've already stated that moving is not an option at this time, or we'd have already done it. Neither party wishes to go to trial on any of the matters and are simply trying to work out a workable solution. My biggest problem is that I am continually fighting false allegations. A video with audio would eliminate this problem. I do not want to do it if it is against the law. Your advice is simply not well informed or helpful.

The police are probably tired of coming out to your place, so of course they would be happy about a settlement. I based my prediction on my interpretation of your posts and attitude. I have a problem with people suing neighbors or making false allegations in an attempt to force them to move.

 

[Just Blue]

I have no intention of adding a microphone without clearing it first with the chief and the
town attorney.

Your pompus comments are not helpful. People come here looking for help and
open discussion. I've notice that there is a great deal of unwarranted arrogance
of many who give "advice" on this site. We are looking to resolve the matters with
the neighbors and move on with our lives. We wish to have quiet enjoyment of our
family and home without false allegations and harassment.

The neighbors have been charged with
a total of seven criminal charges as a result of our videotape evidence which was
presented to the police. We are willing to walk away from the criminal and civil
charges if they will simply stop screaming at us when we drive down the road.
I am simply looking for a legal way to prove what they are doing and put a stop to it.

You have been provided the correct law for Massachusetts. Audio is NOT an option for you.
If you feel that we are wrong then go and seek counsel of a Criminal Attorney.

 

[donovanatee]

The police are probably tired of coming out to your place, so of course they would be happy about a settlement. I based my prediction on my interpretation of your posts and attitude. I have a problem with people suing neighbors or making false allegations in an attempt to force them to move.

You are correct in your assumption that the police are tired of coming to our hood.
I have made no false allegations, I am merely trying to protect myself against them.
My attitude is well earned after two years of trying to reason with unreasonable people.
All criminal and civil actions we took against the neighbors was an effort to convince them
that they need to respect legal boundaries, and that we will not be bullied. To a great extent, it has worked. Many of theirmore outrageous behaviors have stopped as a result the continued pressure we have put on them with every legal means available to us. If you knew the details of the matter, you'd likely be wondering how we have remained non-violent for the past two years.

The concept of suing neighbors to move came from our attorney, who said that after
months of trying to calm hostilites, the only answer was for one party to move away from the other. We can't move, so suing them to move seemed like the best solution.
We are willing to drop the suit and criminal charges if we can find a way to make this stop. As I was writing this, a detective I've known for 20 years just came by to let me know that he was hopeful about the meeting this week, and that there is a good chance of finding resolution.

My only problem is that the neighbors will say anything to get out of the charges and the lawsuit, and if agreed will simply not keep their word to stop. I am sick of "he said, she said", and the next time the neighbor yells fag..t or co..sucker at me when I go down the road with my kids in the car, I'd like to be able to call the cops, show them the proof, and get them to persuade the neighbors to cut the crap once and for all. The neighbor's screaming can be heard well past our yard, and I don't see how he has a right to privacy when he's verbally
assaulting me at the top of his lungs in front of my kids in the middle of the road.
Again, I am looking for legal solutions. I have received two different answers to this question from people on this site, and a variety of people in my community.
If it can be done legally, I want to do it.

 

[donovanatee]

You have been provided the correct law for Massachusetts. Audio is NOT an option for you.
If you feel that we are wrong then go and seek counsel of a Criminal Attorney.

Lawyers "practice" law. Many laws are open to interpretation. Interpretations other
than yours have been presented here. You may or may not be "wrong", but I would
like to hear opinions other than yours. That should not insult you.

I have spoken to criminal attorneys and received the same conflicting interpretations
of the law as presented here.

Do you always tell people to go away simply because they question your opinion?
How sad.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

Lawyers "practice" law. Many laws are open to interpretation. Interpretations other
than yours have been presented here. You may or may not be "wrong", but I would
like to hear opinions other than yours. That should not insult you.

I have spoken to criminal attorneys and received the same conflicting interpretations
of the law as presented here.

Do you always tell people to go away simply because they question your opinion?
How sad.

And the police chief in your area already said it was illegal. You audiotape, the police arrest you. Your attorney can argue the legalities in court. You are not going to find a conclusive statement here that will alter the police officer's interpretation.

 

[donovanatee]

And the police chief in your area already said it was illegal. You audiotape, the police arrest you. Your attorney can argue the legalities in court. You are not going to find a conclusive statement here that will alter the police officer's interpretation.

Unless, of course, I accurately present it to him with the agreement of the town attorney.

I am simply looking for case law and other interpretations so that I may approach the town attorney and then the chief in a respectful, articulate and accurate manner.

 

[Quaere]

Donovanatee: The Neighbors & Boundaries forum is a subcategory of Real Estate Law. Real estate law pertains to the physical use and ownership of tangible property. I can see why you thought your post belonged in this forum and it's no big deal that it should be moved. I am merely trying to send you to a forum where the topics are more closely related to your questions.

Your primary concern is obviously avoidance of criminal prosecution and I see you have consulted with criminal attorneys off line. On the FA forums you may find more people with criminal law backgrounds posting under Criminal Law-- Other Crimes, Federal and State.

I suggest you take your original post to this forum, preface it with a note that you inadvertently posted it to the Real Estate forum but that you would like the input of those who regularly deal with criminal law, and post it in Other Crimes, Federal and State.

Once you are convinced you are within the criminal laws to audiotape in your circumstances, you can move on to whether you open yourself up to any civil claims (which you do NOT).

I will give you more info in support of my own earlier post when I get some time later tonight.

I would also suggest that you resist the urge to respond to those that do not understand your question as the arguing only detracts from the issue at hand. Incredibly, I’ve seen people get BANNED from this site, merely because they debated the responses of some of the longtime members here.

 

[lcannister]

We can't move, so suing them to move seemed like the best solution.

You know that guy that sued for his pants being lost at the cleaners, you are beginning to should amazingly like him!

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

You know that guy that sued for his pants being lost at the cleaners, you are beginning to should amazingly like him!

I thought the same thing. There was a show on network television last week about bad neighbors. One couple went on and on about how bad their neighbor was and how glad they had won because the neighbor moved. The network contacted that neighbor. All he did was provided security camera footage of the couple's fifty or so windchimes and footage of the couple walking up and down their property hitting the windchimes at night. The houses were only 10 feet apart. He even caught the man leaning out the front door throwing eggs at his house. Yet this couple still thought they were the 'good' neighbors and because the other neighbor moved, that they had 'won.' I laughed at them.

 

[Just Blue]

I would also suggest that you resist the urge to respond to those that do not understand your question as the arguing only detracts from the issue at hand. Incredibly, I’ve seen people get BANNED from this site, merely because they debated the responses of some of the longtime members here.

Quaere, This is not true! People get banned for posting false or misleading "advice" and then being too stubborn or stupid to own up to their mistake. Or for being abusive to those trying to help....NO ONE gets banned for simply disagreeing with a Sr. Member!!

Once again, You are misleading this OP....First with your assessment of the Law in Massachusetts and now with the TOS! You need to know what the heck you are talking about before posting and confusing the OP which you apparently have done!!

 

[donovanatee]

Donovanatee: The Neighbors & Boundaries forum is a subcategory of Real Estate Law. Real estate law pertains to the physical use and ownership of tangible property. I can see why you thought your post belonged in this forum and it's no big deal that it should be moved. I am merely trying to send you to a forum where the topics are more closely related to your questions.

Your primary concern is obviously avoidance of criminal prosecution and I see you have consulted with criminal attorneys off line. On the FA forums you may find more people with criminal law backgrounds posting under Criminal Law-- Other Crimes, Federal and State.

I suggest you take your original post to this forum, preface it with a note that you inadvertently posted it to the Real Estate forum but that you would like the input of those who regularly deal with criminal law, and post it in Other Crimes, Federal and State.

Once you are convinced you are within the criminal laws to audiotape in your circumstances, you can move on to whether you open yourself up to any civil claims (which you do NOT).

I will give you more info in support of my own earlier post when I get some time later tonight.

I would also suggest that you resist the urge to respond to those that do not understand your question as the arguing only detracts from the issue at hand. Incredibly, I’ve seen people get BANNED from this site, merely because they debated the responses of some of the longtime members here.

I would very much appreciate any further info you could provide. The gross ignorance of the posters referring to lawsuit over pants is just hurtful. Our issues are not about the usual neighbor stuff. We have been terrorized and the quality of our lives has been seriously damaged by the endless harassment of the neighbors. This is matter has escalated to a level where someone will likely get hurt or killed if the harassment does not stop. The police are aware of this fact and they are actually trying to prevent this from happening. I am trying to prevent criminal charges from being filed against me as a result of false allegations by filming and taping, which should keep everyone honest about what's going on. The video tapes presented to the police resulted in charges of two counts of assault, driving to endanger, 2 counts of criminal harassment, indecent exposure and trespassing against the neighbors. Hardly a lost pair of pants at the cleaners. I've noticed people come to this site who are already hurting, and an abundance of jerks are lurking around waiting to attack rather than help. It's really shameful - like re-victimizing the victim.

Thanks again for your information.