Home improvements, for the most part, are a series of well thought out steps to enrich your lifestyle, add value to your home or property, or simply to rebuild and strengthen the structure as a whole. So, why then, do so many homeowners totally overlook the aspect and area of security when making improvements? Someone, right now as you read this, is getting their house broken into while they’re at work or on vacation. You can bet that it is probably someone that thought, “Well that will never happen to me – it only happens to other people.” With the economy down so low you can bet that crime is on the rise; that’s the way it has always been.

Laws, statutes, and regulations on the owning, selling, and the use of hidden spy cameras vary by state. If you are currently using or considering installing a hidden spy camera or surveillance system in your home, it would certainly be wise to investigate the specific laws of your local area. This will insure that you do not run into any legal issues should someone discover and take offense to the fact you are operating a hidden spy camera or surveillance system. Even your best neighbors can become offended when you put up a standard security camera on the eves of your house. Therefore, sometimes, its better to get a hidden spy camera and totally conceal it so no one knows it is there but you and your family.

So let’s talk about some of the general areas of concern to consider when purchasing or installing a hidden spy camera or a full blown security surveillance system. Then we can take a closer look at how you can go about investigating the specific laws that govern your state. You may be surprised to find out that in most states it is perfectly legal to install and operate a hidden camera and security surveillance systems even in private places. There are only thirteen states with laws prohibiting the installation of hidden cameras and surveillance systems in the places you would normally call “private.”

The laws that govern these thirteen states prohibit the installation of spy cameras and surveillance systems in places where individuals have the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy, such areas as bathrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, public rest rooms, etc. Another legal fact that may surprise you is that in many states if a crime is captured on tape by a hidden camera, the tape is often admissible as evidence in court. Surprisingly, in many states, you do not even have to obtain the consent of either of the parties involved. In some other states, receiving the consent of only one party is required. This is what is known as the one or two party consent law; it applies to voice recording or the interception of oral communications as well. Despite the lack of strict laws governing the installation and use of hidden cameras, you should most definitely consult with your local law enforcement agency or lawyer to be certain of the specific regulations governing your area. This will ensure that you have a clear understanding of the law so that you are not guilty of violating any existing regulations by installing and using your new spy camera system.

Don’t be lazy in your efforts; learn the laws that apply to you ahead of time to protect yourself from unnecessary trouble and costly legal actions in the future. In addition to consulting with your lawyer or local law enforcement, you can gather a significant amount of information on the Internet. By visiting just a few local or state government websites and searching for hidden camera laws, you will be provided more specific legal details on this issue as they apply to the region in which you live. It is definitely more wise to find out ahead of time what you can or cannot legally do when installing a hidden surveillance system. The laws change frequently and this is precisely the reason for not listing the thirteen states in this article. Depending on how soon you’ve read this article after it was posted, the laws or the list of states may have already changed. Always do your own homework and legal research, because it will be you that is responsible for the consequences of using your surveillance system.