Question:

    Dear Ken,

In your experience is there any potential downside to a residential
condominium recording video from "some" of their cameras and not all ?

We installed a DVR recorder at a property that just wanted to record video
within their 3 elevators.  The remaining 22 cameras are not recorded.
Just
wondering if doing this has ever come back to hurt a property.

Thanks in advance,

R. Garfield
CHS Inc.
Hollywood, FL
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Answer:

    The issue is how does dummy equipment mislead subscribers or other
potential third parties into a false sense of security.  A false sense of
security relied upon by another who has a right to rely on that security
may very well expose a party responsible for security.  Thus a landlord in
a building known to be dangerous who installs dummy CCTV in the laundry
room to entice tenants to continue using the machines so that landlord can
profit or comply with lease terms for services, may suffer consequences of
liability if a tenant is injury and thought that a guard was watching the
CCTV.
    If you install dummy equipment, and I don't recommend it, you should be
certain to specify that in the contract and installation specifications.
Using the new Disclaimer Notice is also a good idea since it will point out
all the security the subscriber has elected not to get.  Add the dummy
equipment on that form.
    I thought we had a great deal of emails dealing with lawn signs for
homes with no alarm systems.  I think everyone agreed that it's not a good
practice from a security point of view, or a business point of view.  You
want to be thought of as a professional; you need to act like one.  I can't
imagine a client coming to me, paying me, and telling me it's alright for
me to advise only half the information or the wrong information.  Same goes
for you.  Professional alarm installers don't sell alarm stickers instead
of security systems, and they don't install dummy equipment.  If the
subscriber can't afford a system then put a more modest system in.  If you
do install dummy equipment be certain to spell it out in the contract.
Maybe I will have a new paragraph heading called Additional Terms for
Dummies.