Is this legal?

[captain spaulding]

I recently walked into a Big 5 sporting goods store and went to try on some clothes. I walk into the dressing room and immediately notice not one, not two, but three security cameras looking directly into the dressing room! I became very uncomfortable and left the store. I will never give them my business after this. Am I over reacting? Is this blatantly illegal?

On a side note coincidentally there is a Big 5 add above my post. Lol.

[sLaughterMed]

Depends on the state, but in California it appears to be illegal. Here's an interesting article on the subject:  http://www.dopplr.com/dressing-room-surveillance-laws/

[Don Pablo]

They just want to see pretty people nude. 

[pfrsantos]

Do they have a Youtube channel?...

 

[captain spaulding]

I just wrote their corporate headquarters a email on the matter. I'll let you guys know what they say.

[captain spaulding]

They just want to see pretty people nude. 

There are plenty of websites to accommodate that. They do not need to do it illegally. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Legal or not, I would use a different store, and make damn sure the management knew why I was refusing to spend money there.

[Aloha]

I've told my daughters to always check for cameras before they use any dressing rooms.

  to Big5 

[Poncho65]

If I was in there they might turn the cameras off

Kidding aside I wouldn't be pleased at all if that were me or my family either

[4everYoung]

If I found a dressing room with a camera, I believe I would do the Ace Venture "butt talk" in the nude. I can't imagine many would like to see that. Hopefully it will blind some and scar others for life.
If not maybe I can be famous.

[captain spaulding]

I received a response already.




Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding the overhead cameras at the (edited) store.  I can assure you that the cameras are not pointing at the fitting room, but I also understand how that would make you feel if the camera bubble is visible from the fitting room.  I have contacted our Regional Loss Prevention Manager for the (edited) store and have asked him to address the visibility of the camera bubble from the fitting room.  There are ways for us to obstruct the line of sight for sensitive areas in the store, like the fitting room.


Let me know if you have any questions.




While I do somewhat believe them it is still very concerning since the cameras are in a blacked out bubble so you cannot see which way the cameras are actually facing. I am willing to bet at least one if not all can see into the dressing room. Those cameras have a wide view and while it may or may not be pointed directly at the dressing room I bet it can still see in. My last job had similar cameras and we could see at least 180 degrees in any direction from a single camera. I appreciate the prompt response but will never step foot in that store again.

There is one or two ways I could find out if they are lying to me..... 

[Aloha]

HAHA.  Bring an umbrella with you inside the dressing room 

[Don Pablo]

Don't get me wrong, if I were in captains' shoes I would be creeped out too.

But the only reason that this is creepy is because we have an expectation of privacy when changing. I understand that when you are in your own home, but should we have that expectation when you are in somebody(the store in this case) elses place or on public ground?

Just playing devils advocate. Don't skewer me too badly.   

[AimlessWanderer]

Don't get me wrong, if I were in captains' shoes I would be creeped out too.

But the only reason that this is creepy is because we have an expectation of privacy when changing. I understand that when you are in your own home, but should we have that expectation when you are in somebody(the store in this case) elses place or on public ground?

Just playing devils advocate. Don't skewer me too badly.   

If they offer you a cubicle to change in, it should be private.

[Aloha]

When we were younger my mother made us change right there, no changing room.  I learned it was ok till I got older and tried it  .  Now they're telling me its ok again?  Make up your minds California 

[pfrsantos]

I've told my daughters to always check for cameras before they use any dressing rooms.

  to Big5

Besides that, I always check mirrors to see if they are "solid" or two-way mirrors.

Just touch the mirror with your fingernail. If the reflection "touches" your nail, that's a two-mirror. Real mirrors show a gap between the fingernail and the reflection, the glass depth. In two-way mirrors there is no gap.

 

[MusicMen]

I've told my daughters to always check for cameras before they use any dressing rooms.

  to Big5

Besides that, I always check mirrors to see if they are "solid" or two-way mirrors.

Just touch the mirror with your fingernail. If the reflection "touches" your nail, that's a two-mirror. Real mirrors show a gap between the fingernail and the reflection, the glass depth. In two-way mirrors there is no gap.

 

Not necessarily true. Rear surface mirrors can have glass distortion, front surface mirrors do not. Front surface mirrors do cost more.

[captain spaulding]

Don't get me wrong, if I were in captains' shoes I would be creeped out too.

But the only reason that this is creepy is because we have an expectation of privacy when changing. I understand that when you are in your own home, but should we have that expectation when you are in somebody(the store in this case) elses place or on public ground?

Just playing devils advocate. Don't skewer me too badly.   

All I have to say is how would you feel if you had your children looked at while they were naked by another person or on video by another person?

[sawman]

I think what's boiling the blood in some of our veins is the principal of the thing...

Even though I consider myself a good citizen, I value my privacy and don't want others reading my mail, my text messages, my chats etc. Although I'm not a very shy person, I also do not want some anonymous clerk watching me try on clothes either. That said, I feel bad for the Californians. Seems things are out of hand there.

[Don Pablo]

I've told my daughters to always check for cameras before they use any dressing rooms.

  to Big5

Besides that, I always check mirrors to see if they are "solid" or two-way mirrors.

Just touch the mirror with your fingernail. If the reflection "touches" your nail, that's a two-mirror. Real mirrors show a gap between the fingernail and the reflection, the glass depth. In two-way mirrors there is no gap.

 

Not necessarily true. Rear surface mirrors can have glass distortion, front surface mirrors do not. Front surface mirrors do cost more.

The best test is shining a bright light. 

[Kev D]

I've told my daughters to always check for cameras before they use any dressing rooms.

  to Big5

Besides that, I always check mirrors to see if they are "solid" or two-way mirrors.

Just touch the mirror with your fingernail. If the reflection "touches" your nail, that's a two-mirror. Real mirrors show a gap between the fingernail and the reflection, the glass depth. In two-way mirrors there is no gap.

 

Not necessarily true. Rear surface mirrors can have glass distortion, front surface mirrors do not. Front surface mirrors do cost more.

The best test is shining a bright light. 

or laser pointer

[Don Pablo]

I've told my daughters to always check for cameras before they use any dressing rooms.

  to Big5

Besides that, I always check mirrors to see if they are "solid" or two-way mirrors.

Just touch the mirror with your fingernail. If the reflection "touches" your nail, that's a two-mirror. Real mirrors show a gap between the fingernail and the reflection, the glass depth. In two-way mirrors there is no gap.

 

Not necessarily true. Rear surface mirrors can have glass distortion, front surface mirrors do not. Front surface mirrors do cost more.

The best test is shining a bright light. 

or laser pointer

If you blind the smurf behind the mirror...