How to Legally Take the Law into Your Own Hands

Disclaimer Statement: The author is not an attorney and does not intend or imply to provide legal advice in anyway shape or form. This information based on personal experiences and personal interactions with her personal attorneys for various life situations only. Always consult with a qualified attorney to determine your rights based on your specific situation.

Periodically, you'll run into situations where you need help or intervention from someone in authority. The challenge comes when the police can't or won't help you because either the situation you're dealing with is technically not against the "law," law enforcement doesn't believe you, or law enforcement simply doesn't want to take the time to help you. So how do you prove your side of the story or prevent others from performing annoying and or potentially dangerous acts against your or your property?

Documentation
Documenting the facts can be helpful with dates, times, and witnesses if you can gather that information. He who has the most "valid" types of documentation in court is he who usually wins. Some types of documentation, such as a log of incidences may not be valid or considered not to carry much weight since anyone could have forged them or had them typed up to support false claims. A better type of documentation is police reports, police incident logs, police complaints or video and audio recordings.

Call the police every time an incident happens. Even if the police refuse to file a report, there will be a history of "calls" made to the residence. A history of calls or complaints does not mean that the complaints against you or the other party are true. It simply means someone felt the need to call the police. You can obtain a copy of these incidents or complaints filed by filling out a request for public records form at your local police department. There may or may not be fees to obtain these reports.

Video and Audio Recordings
Each state and city varies in its own laws on what can be recorded and where. Some states allows you to record conversations without the other person's knowledge while others strictly prohibit it. Some states will allow you to video record others on public property as long as the person is over the age of 18. Video and audio evidence can show law enforcement your side of the story and whether or not the other party is clearly lying or not. Again, laws vary in this department so check with an attorney before proceeding with this type of documentation.

Personal Safety
Homeowners and renters have some leeway in terms of what can be recorded on their property and what can't be. The Internet offers several types of home security cameras for both indoor and outdoor use that can monitor your property fence lines and record activity on hidden and secure data cards. Consider hanging up signs that say "Beware of Dog," "No trespassing," or fake "This property is under video surveillance," signs on your property as a means of deterrent.

Other Things to Consider
If you're a homeowner and you subscribe to a homeowner's association, obtain a copy of the most recent rules and regulations and review them with a fine tooth comb. Specifically look for clauses that restrict the size and types of signs you can place in your yard or on your house. If you're a renter, check your rental contract for the same type of restrictions and contact your landlord to make sure it's OK to hang up security cameras to the building structures prior to doing so.

You can also purchase inexpensive web cameras meant to be attached to personal home computers and hang them in strategic places on your property but never hook them up. If a neighbor who is giving your trouble or a potential thief comes your way, them seeing the "camera" could deter them from making choices they will later regret.

If you've already consulted with an attorney on exactly what type of precautions you can take and you receive complaints from neighbors or law enforcement questions the placement of your "cameras," simply let them know you've already consulted with your attorney and placed them there based on legal advice. If they have any questions, they can speak to your attorney. If the cameras are fake and law enforcement comes calling at your door, let them know they are there as a deterrent because of the situations you're having. Request, for your personal safety, that the officer does not let the neighbors know they are fake, but instead assure the officer he or she can reassure the neighbor(s) that the camera has a very "close" range of view and that the neighbor's privacy is not any danger of being violated. You can prove this by showing the officer that they are fake and or are not hooked up.

These things will not stop all individuals from harassing you, slandering you or otherwise causing problems for you, but they will deter some and if your cameras were "real" you can provide evidence that proves it.