What rights do I have to view the videotapes at my child's daycare?
As a parent and paying customer do I have any rights to view any video of my children and their caregivers at the daycare? What if their was a problem amongst the kids or I feel maybe one of the caregivers was being negligent? Can I see them?
Answers:
I am not aware of a particular right you have to view security footage if the daycare records it. I would ask them to view it and chances are they will be happy to do so if they have nothing to hide. If you suspect a crime or if you believe your child has been harmed then there are steps you can take. File a police report if you think a crime has occurred. The police will take the security tapes and view them as a matter of course. You could hire an attorney if you think your child has been harmed. The attorney can demand the tapes as part of their discovery.
This is sort of a reasonable expectation rather then a right. If you ask to see security tapes and the daycare is innocent of any wrongdoing then they should be happy to show you. They would probably expect you to either pay a fee, provide your own materials for copying or view them on their premises but seeing them shouldn't be a problem. But no I doubt if your state has this codified as a actual parental privilege.
You have no legal rights whatsoever to private property of a third-party.
the ONLY provision in law that would grant you such right is during discovery phase of a trial/lawsuit or under subponea.
