Ask Slashdot: Video Monitors For Areas That Are Off the Grid? 340
An anonymous reader writes "I have a cottage at the end of a long dirt road, no electricity nor internet, and recently some (insert expletive here) wads are using the area as a trash dump: countertops, sofas, metal scraps, tvs — all the stuff they don't want to pay to dump at the landfill. I can't block the road because it's a fire access. But I would really like to have a way to catch who is doing this. Are there any a) waterproof, b) self-contained, c) self-powered, and (ideally) d) inexpensive video-recording units out there? Are there any other creative ways to get the guys? I was thinking of something like a device that will cycle, so that the last week of video is recorded. It could take photos or video, and as long as it's small enough that I could camouflage it well, I suspect I'd be able to figure this out soon. And any idea of what my legal rights are to videotape or record?" Hunters have been doing this for years (with film, and now digital) to figure out prey patterns with cameras that are built for concealment; what else would you recommend?
Do you have a sign? (Score:4, Insightful)
It's possible that the more recent dumpers don't even know they're not supposed to dump there; after seeing junk already piled up some may assume that it's a legitimate dumping ground.
A sign or two saying something like "PRIVATE PROPERTY NO DUMPING" might help, if you don't already have a sign like that which is being ignored.
Re:Deer cams (Score:3, Insightful)
Appropriate Signage (Score:4, Insightful)
Place signs around the area (they do not have to be large) saying, "Video Surveillance in Use." Make sure you clean up any existing trash.
If dumping persists, use a game camera to take pictures, then tack up some large prints of the perps dumping.
Something like this: https://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=video+surveillance+signs&hl=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1173&bih=640&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8862164393585909605&sa=X&ei=okp0UO2UPMWXiAKB-YHAAQ&ved=0CGsQ8gIwBg [google.com]
People really pay attention to little cues like this when they are doing something nefarious. Good luck.
Neighbors (Score:3, Insightful)
I grew up in a semi-rural area so I know what I'm talkin bout here:
Figure out why your neighbors hate you and convince them to like you. Lets be realistic, middle of nowhere, nobody's driving 500 miles just to dump on your land... You pissed someone off who lives VERY nearby and the folks who could bust him are better friends with him than you. Fix that.
Talk to your local politicans and get fees removed from the community landfill. That's insane. Not legally permissible where I live, I believe by state reg, because the DNR doesn't want to spend $20000 cleaning up dumped motor oil as a result of "profit" they'd make from charging $5 at the landfill, not to mention it provides a profit motive for turning touristy scenery into a 3rd world wasteland. Sometimes a double taxation argument works... Govt already made 5% sales tax when I bought my motor oil, presumably they don't need another 5% to dispose of it.
Another thing I don't understand is I cannot throw out steel or metal anything without the local meth heads stealing it and getting money for it at the junkyard. Other stuff you're reporting sounds bogus. Goodwill accepts anything electronic and sometimes makes a profit reselling it. There's a veterans group who collect furniture, drive up to your house with a pickup and they unload "for free" although since they're doing "good" I slip them some cash (knowing its probably paying for their lunch instead of going in their treasury, and I don't mind a bit). The only thing I can kinda understand is the countertop, but only kinda. Like where do those come from? If its wood, burn it. If its rock, bury it. If its steel the meth heads already stole it. So...
Re:Talk to the cops (Score:4, Insightful)
The main point of the camera is to have firm information to give to the cops. They aren't going to waste resources doing an in-depth investigation over something like this. But if you can give them a license plate number and a picture of the guys, they are much more likely to deal with them. And if not you have everything you need to head to small claims court.
Re:Deer cams (Score:5, Insightful)
Or go the opposite route... buy a bunch of empty "surveillance camera" big white cases and install them prominently near a big "No Dumping" sign. Probably a lot cheaper.
Re:Appropriate Signage (Score:4, Insightful)
Which brings us to your second point, which is very correct. I have no idea how to change a person's mindset so they don't dump in the first place. If you ever figure it out, please pretty please let us know!
There is no 100% method, but the best way is to make sure they get caught. Scaring them off your property just sends them to someone else's, having the police fine and/or jail them sends a message that this isn't socially acceptable behaviour. This is why the camera idea, while a lot more effort for the submitter, is a better option than simply signs implying cameras or guns. It is actually possibly less effective in the short run for the submitter (especially if dealing with multiple people dumping), and takes more time, effort, and money then the signs, but it helps all of society, not just himself.
I applaud the submitter for going this route.
Re:Deer cams (Score:5, Insightful)
More to the point. Why not just post the signs all over and skip the cameras.
If it works then you save money. If not then you can put in the cameras.
Re:Deer cams (Score:4, Insightful)
It is sad to see the discussion take such a tangent about the way to most-successfully shoot and intruder.
Really, this is all that should be necessary: "They were in my house, uninvited, fucking my things. I shot them, and they stopped fucking with my things." Done.
If this is insufficient, then the world is broken.