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CCTV
Systems
By John W. Colley
Grill
The CCTV Expert
August
2004 Issue
View
The Grill The CCTV Expert Archives
Has the security industry had any legal issues and resolutions
with the use of covert security cameras recently?
Yes, the industry has had a legal agreement reached in the
State of New York. The incident background is a New York State
retailer sold covert smoke detector CCTV cameras over the
Internet and a catalog business. A local New York fire marshal
notified the local retailer that the installation of non-working
smoke detection was in violation of the State of New York
Fire Code.
The
local retailer did not follow the local fire marshal's advise
to remove the covert smoke detector's as one their offerings
and the State of New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer
was contacted to investigate the continued sales of this item
within the State of New York. After some legal issues were
discussed an agreement was reached with the Attorney's General
office and the retailer. The retailer paid a fine of $1,500
as a civil penalty to the state and recalled the previously
sold covert smoke detector items.
Fake
video smoke detectors were also a part of the "Stephanie Law"
enacted last year in New York. The new law was a response
to a housing landlord who was secretly videotaping a female
tenant using the fake smoke detector as the CCTV camera.
This
was considered "Video Voyeurism" which is the use of a mechanical,
digital or electronic device to capture visual images of another
person in a place where that person has reasonable expectation
to privacy. Criminal penalties will be imposed for the misuse
treatment of CCTV.
With
the many supply sources of CCTV which now includes cell telephones
and various applications being development to video over the
Internet, Ethernet, etc. you will read more legal cases being
brought against the parties who misuse the technology.
Cable specifications for CCTV and audio always seem to be
question of how use and how do we evaluate and interpret the
systems requirements?
You need to read the recommended manufacture requirements
in the product manuals and interpret cable specifications.
Important information include: AWG, which indicates the amount
of power, which can be transmitted. This is affected by length
and the device current draw being installed. To calculate
the length power and signal loss requires the use a charts
and calculations which are provided by the National Electrical
code as well industry electrical manuals. Some wire manufactures
will assist you in the distance, power and signal loss calculation.
The type of installation may include outdoor applications,
indoor fire rated ceilings, CCTV and camera control manufactures
power and signal requirements will also assist you to determine
cable specifications.
When
the application calls for audio cable pay close attention
to shielded and unshielded equipment cable requirements. Make
sure you identify the drain ground cable if included and ground
the cable as instructed by the equipment manufacture.
View
The Grill The CCTV Expert Archives
John
W. Colley is president of Integrated Security Systems, Ltd.
and has been in the security industry for over 25 years, beginning
his experience in the CCTV segment of security and gaining
knowledge through field experience, manufacturer training
and designing systems to meet customer needs. Colley started
his security integration firm 18 years ago, providing design,
engineering, installation and service to commercial accounts
using integrated systems. Send your CCTV/Surveillance questions
to jwc@securityiss.com.
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