How do you feel about video surveillance cameras, are they an effective way of spotting crime or an invasion of privacy?

I say they're both. We see the convenience store surveillance camera footage on Crime TV all the time, shows the burglars and armed robbers coming in and the struggle that ensues, but the ones that get you on a red light, I think they're just annoying, and parking lot surveillance, for what? Maybe one in what, a thousand of these tapes is going to catch...what? Shoplifters? Abductions? What are they there for?

It's not an invasion of privacy if it's on private property, especially not if the premises makes it known that cameras are in use.

A better question is are surveillance camera's an invasion of privacy in fitting rooms and public restrooms.

Marc™ wrote:

It's not an invasion of privacy if it's on private property, especially not if the premises makes it known that cameras are in use.

A better question is are surveillance camera's an invasion of privacy in fitting rooms and public restrooms.

That reminds me of a local shopping mall here. The mens room in the food court was allegedly NOTORIOUS for being a "cruising" spot for guys playing around with each other. Got so bad that they took down the doors to the stalls and put up a big banner inside that reads "Restroom Under Surveillance". So now anyone who has to take a dump after eating bad Mickey D's is being watched. Even though there's a sign still IMO that's a blatant invasion of privacy.

In public areas, no, but in private areas like restrooms, yes.