KITCHENER -- In Brantford, some new rules could be on the way for private residential surveillance cameras.
City council is looking at a possible bylaw that would stop people from focusing their own security cameras on their neighbour's property.
“It’s disconcerting when your neighbour’s residential cameras are pointed at your driveway, and your front door, and at your bedroom window, in your backyard, pointed at your pool, at your pool house, pointing at things that you’d like to keep private,” said councillor Jan Vanderstelt during Tuesday’s virtual meeting.
This would not include doorbell cameras, but would instead be intended as a layer of privacy for residents.
“I believe that most people would like to come home at the end of the day and believe that they’re not under a microscope,” added Vanderstelt.
Andrew Davis doesn't have a security camera on his property, but said his house can still be caught on-camera.
"The neighbour next to us has a fully monitored surveillance camera system, the neighbour across from us also has a security system as well, and the neighbour on the other side as well," he said.
His neighbours have his house in their view, but Davis said he doesn't mind.
"It gives us more of a sense of security," he said.
Some residents are against the proposal.
"People are buying these security cameras for a reason," resident Stewart Anderson said. "Why do we have to have a bylaw now to tell me that 'Hey, you have to turn that camera down so you're within three feet of your property' or whatever the heck they want. It's just ridiculous."
Davis agrees that there is a limit when it comes to what, or how much, a neighbour's camera should capture.
"I personally would have a problem if somebody was pointing a camera directly into my backyard," he said. "But, if nobody is maliciously trying to do something to harm you, then what's the problem."
Council voted in favour of the resolution on Tuesday evening and is asking city staff to prepare a draft bylaw.
