I run a glamping business where guests expect a secluded, confidential, and safe overnight stay. My neighbor installed high-powered PTZ cameras (long-range zoom, audio, and infrared night vision) aimed across my property. Based on Oregon law, this behavior fits what most people would call “peeping” and stalking, and it can violate multiple statutes.
1) “Peeping” / Voyeurism (Invasion of Personal Privacy)
Oregon makes it a crime to visually record people’s intimate areas or nuditywithout consent when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g., undressing in an enclosed space not open to public view). This is called Invasion of Personal Privacy (Second Degree = Class A misdemeanor; First Degree = Class C felony). Tents used for overnight stays are private, enclosed spaces.
Why it applies here: Glamping tents are enclosed guest quarters, not open to public view. Cameras capable of zooming into tent openings or windows at night raise exactly the privacy concerns these laws target.
2) Stalking & Stalking Protective Orders
Oregon’s stalking law prohibits repeated and unwanted contact that knowingly alarms or coerces a person and causes reasonable fear for personal safety (Class A misdemeanor; can be a felony with priors). “Contact” is defined broadly and includes coming into the visual presence of another at their home/property—persistent camera monitoring aimed at a person or their guests can qualify. Victims can also seek a civil Stalking Protective Order (SPO).
Why it applies here: A network of cameras persistently trained on my residence and guest tents is repeated, unwanted visual “contact” at my property that alarms me and interferes with business operations—grounds to pursue an SPO.
3) Illegal Audio Recording / Eavesdropping
Oregon restricts obtaining the contents of conversations without proper consent. The statute (ORS 165.540) is technical and has exceptions, but as a rule, secretly capturing private conversations (e.g., guests talking at their tent) can be unlawful. Oregon’s law has been amended and litigated; today there are narrow exceptions (like openly using an unconcealed recorder at certain public proceedings), but covert audio pickup of private conversations on private property is risky and may be a crime.
Why it applies here: Long-range mics or two-way audio aimed at guest tents could capture private conversations without consent—potentially violating ORS 165.540.
4) Harassment / Related Offenses
Oregon also criminalizes harassment and related conduct. While classic harassment often involves threats or offensive contact, targeted surveillance that alarms a person can be part of a harassment or stalking pattern and may be chargeable in combination with other conduct.
5) Business & Guest-Privacy Duties
As an overnight lodging operator, I must adhere to privacy laws and provide a secluded environment. If a neighbor’s cameras can observe inside guest areas, it undermines my legal obligations and forces me to suspend operations to prevent further violations—precisely what happened here. (If needed, a court-ordered Stalking Protective Order can bar the conduct.)
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What this means, in plain terms
• Aiming long-range cameras (with zoom, audio, and IR night vision) at occupied tents is voyeuristic “peeping” and can be charged as Invasion of Personal Privacy—especially if intimate areas or undressing could be recorded in a place not open to public view.
• Persistently surveilling me, my staff, or guests is repeated, unwanted contact that can meet Oregon’s stalking standard; I can request a Stalking Protective Order in civil court.
• Audio pickup of guest conversations from my private property can violate Oregon’s communications law.
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Quick references (statutes)
• Invasion of Personal Privacy (2nd degree, Class A misdemeanor) — ORS 163.700.
• Invasion of Personal Privacy (1st degree, Class C felony) — ORS 163.701.
• Stalking (criminal) — ORS 163.732 (amended by HB 4156, effective July 1, 2024).
• Definitions for Stalking / SPOs — ORS 163.730 (“contact” includes coming into the visual presence of the person at their home/property).
• Civil Stalking Protective Order (SPO) — ORS 30.866.
• Obtaining Contents of Communications (audio recording) — ORS 165.540 (with limited exceptions).