DES MOINES – The secret filming of tenants by landlords could be made illegal as the Iowa legislature looks to criminalize that act.
The right to privacy exists, even in the age of social media, and one may expect to have some level of privacy in their home, even if they rent.
Senate File 2185 is a bipartisan effort to punish unscrupulous landlords and others who film Iowans in their home or apartment without their knowledge, Iowa Democrats say.
The bill expands Iowa’s definition of trespass to include intentionally viewing, photographing or filming another person in a dwelling with no legitimate purpose, when the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and has not consented to being filmed or photographed. This would include placing a camera or filming device on the property and retrieving it at a later date.
FOUND GUILTY AND SETTLED LAWSUIT
A couple of years ago, NIT reported that an Iowa City landlord was peeping on his young female tenants – one of which was a Mason City woman, Ruth LaPointe. Elwyn Gene Miller was found guilty of invasion of privacy involving nudity, where he knowingly viewed female tenants in apartments he owns for the purpose of arousing or gratifying his sexual desire. Miller reportedly had drilled holes in bathroom walls and attempted to watch the women as they showered. Miller was found guilty on six of eleven counts, records show. LaPointe later sued Miller for his actions, and the case was settled out of court.
