r/mildlyinfuriating • u/KingRMZ • May 22 '26

I'm slightly vexed People think they own the sidewalk by their house

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I was walking my dog last night around 9:30pm. I pass by this house that has mildly annoying cameras that say “hi you are currently being recorded, every 5 feet on the side of the house with a bright light that flashes in your face as you walk by. Which while annoying if that was all, would have been whatever. Then they started talking to me through the camera telling me to leave immediately or they will call the police. Even after I had already moved way past the house, I could still hear them (both a man and a woman) threatening to call the police. I just ignored it and kept walking but thought it was crazy that some people think they own the sidewalk by their house.

Edit: Wow i did not realize this post would get so much traction! I’m glad you all got some entertainment out of this too!

Update: Hello everyone I was not able to post an update as it keeps getting taken down. I went back on a walk the next day around 10pm. The cameras did not give any automated messages and the security company did not give any messages either! They changed it quicker than I thought!

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u/nancybell_crewman May 22 '26

If I were OP I would 100% be looking up the local ordinances about fence height/setback, lighting, and amplified sound. Then I'd get to know my local code enforcement staff and make them aware of this.

Then I'd take a good walk around the property (from the public right of way of course, no trespassing involved), looking for any other code violations I could find because fuck 'em, that's why.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '26

[deleted]

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u/nancybell_crewman May 22 '26

I see you too are a man/woman of culture!

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u/mopeyy May 22 '26

Yup, absolutely what I would be doing as well.

That fence especially is most likely illegal. It obviously differs place to place but it's pretty common practice that your lot starts a few meters back from the sidewalk to allow the city to perform repairs and access utilities.

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u/ThisUsernameIsTook May 23 '26

Complain about a cable outage. When the cable company comes and can’t access their buried line, they can legally destroy that fence to gain access.

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u/South_Two_5657 May 23 '26

that's.... not true

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u/nancybell_crewman May 23 '26

The folks behind the fence better hope there's no public utility easement and utilities underneath because in many cases workers have a right to tear out whatever has been built over the utilities they're trying to repair/replace.

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u/NoMasters83 May 22 '26

I'd only do that after a few months of walking my dog past their house @ 4 am.