Louisiana Video Recording Laws: Surveillance Rules and Privacy Limits

Louisiana allows video recording in most public settings without restriction. There is no state law that prohibits filming on public streets, in parks, at government buildings, or in other open areas. The legal boundaries appear when recording moves into private spaces where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

This guide covers the full scope of Louisiana's video recording laws, from your rights to film in public to the serious criminal penalties for video voyeurism and nonconsensual image sharing. Understanding where the line falls between lawful recording and criminal conduct is essential for anyone who uses cameras, smartphones, security systems, or body-worn devices in Louisiana.

Video Recording in Public Spaces

Your Right to Film in Public

Louisiana does not have a statute that restricts video recording in public spaces. You can legally:

• Film on public streets, sidewalks, and highways
• Record in public parks and recreational areas
• Video record at government buildings and public meetings
• Use a camera in shopping centers, restaurants, and other businesses open to the public (subject to the property owner's rules)
• Record public protests, demonstrations, and gatherings
• Film from your own property, including areas visible from your property

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to gather information in public spaces, including through photography and video recording. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which covers Louisiana, has recognized this right in the context of recording law enforcement officers performing their duties.

Limitations on Public Recording

While public recording is broadly permitted, some limitations apply:

• Private property rules. Business owners and property managers can restrict recording on their premises. A store can ask you to stop filming and ask you to leave. Refusing to leave after being asked becomes trespassing.
• Government facilities. Some government buildings, particularly courthouses and military installations, may have specific rules about recording. Always check posted signs and follow instructions from security personnel.
• Interference with operations. You cannot use your recording activity as a pretext to interfere with law enforcement, emergency responders, or other official operations.

Video Voyeurism Laws in Louisiana

La. R.S. 14:283 Overview

Louisiana's video voyeurism statute under La. R.S. 14:283 is the primary law governing unauthorized video recording in private settings. The statute prohibits using any camera, video recorder, or other image recording device to observe, photograph, or record a person without that person's knowledge and consent in any place where that person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

The law specifically targets:

• Recording through windows or openings into private residences
• Using devices to look under clothing or through clothing in public or private settings
• Recording in bathrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms without consent
• Any surreptitious recording of a person in a private setting where they reasonably expect not to be observed

What Constitutes a "Reasonable Expectation of Privacy"

Louisiana courts consider several factors when determining whether a person had a reasonable expectation of privacy:

• Location. Bathrooms, bedrooms, hotel rooms, dressing rooms, and medical examination rooms are classic examples of places with high privacy expectations.
• Context. A person undressing in a locked bedroom has a stronger privacy expectation than someone changing in an open office.
• Visibility. If the recorded activity was visible to the general public without the use of enhancement devices, the privacy expectation may be diminished.
• Precautions taken. Actions like closing doors, drawing curtains, or moving to a secluded area demonstrate an expectation of privacy.

Penalties for Video Voyeurism

The penalties under La. R.S. 14:283 escalate based on the offense and the age of the victim:

Offense	Fine	Imprisonment
First conviction	Up to $2,000	Up to 2 years
Second or subsequent	Up to $2,000	6 months to 3 years at hard labor (no parole)
Involving a child under 17	Up to $10,000	2 to 10 years at hard labor (no parole)

Every conviction for video voyeurism under La. R.S. 14:283 triggers mandatory sex offender registration requirements. This registration obligation applies regardless of whether the offense involved a minor.

Nonconsensual Disclosure of Intimate Images

La. R.S. 14:283.2 Overview

Louisiana criminalizes the nonconsensual disclosure of private intimate images under La. R.S. 14:283.2. This law, sometimes called Louisiana's "revenge porn" statute, makes it illegal to intentionally disclose an image of another identifiable person who is engaged in a sexual act or whose intimate parts are exposed when:

• The person depicted has not consented to the disclosure
• The person disclosing the image obtained it under circumstances where the depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy
• The person disclosing knows or should know that the disclosure could cause harm to the depicted person

Penalties for Nonconsensual Disclosure

Offense	Fine	Imprisonment
First offense	Up to $10,000	Up to 2 years
Combined	Fine and imprisonment together	At the court's discretion

Victims of nonconsensual image disclosure can also pursue civil remedies, including actual damages, attorney fees, and injunctive relief to have the images removed.

Exceptions to the Nonconsensual Disclosure Law

La. R.S. 14:283.2 includes exceptions for:

• Disclosures made in the public interest, including reporting unlawful conduct
• Disclosures made by law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties
• Images that the depicted person voluntarily exposed in a public or commercial setting
• Disclosures made in the course of medical treatment

Video Recording and Audio: Different Rules Apply

The One-Party Consent Audio Component

When your video recording also captures audio, Louisiana's wiretapping statute La. R.S. 15:1303 comes into play. Louisiana is a one-party consent state for audio recording, meaning you can record conversations you participate in without informing others.

However, if your video camera is capturing conversations between other people that you are not part of, the audio component may violate the wiretapping statute even if the video component is lawful. For example:

• A security camera with audio in your business. The video is generally legal in common areas, but the audio recording of customer conversations where you are not a participant could raise issues under La. R.S. 15:1303.
• A dashcam with audio. Recording your own conversations inside your vehicle is fine. Capturing conversations of people outside your vehicle from a parked dashcam could be problematic.

Best Practices for Combined Audio-Video Recording

• Disable audio recording on security cameras in areas where you do not participate in conversations
• Post clear signage informing people they are being recorded if you capture audio in business settings
• Ensure your participation in any conversation being audio recorded

Surveillance Cameras on Private Property

Residential Surveillance

Louisiana homeowners can install security cameras on their own property. Legal guidelines include:

• You can point cameras at your own property. Doorbell cameras, driveway cameras, and backyard cameras are all permissible.
• You can capture public areas visible from your property. A camera that records the street in front of your home is legal.
• You cannot point cameras into a neighbor's private spaces. Aiming a camera at a neighbor's bedroom window, bathroom, or fenced backyard where they have a privacy expectation may violate La. R.S. 14:283.

Business Surveillance

Louisiana businesses can use surveillance cameras throughout their premises with some restrictions:

• Common areas. Cameras in lobbies, hallways, retail floors, parking lots, and warehouses are generally permitted.
• Restricted areas. Cameras in bathrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, and break rooms where employees have privacy expectations are prohibited under La. R.S. 14:283.
• Employee notification. While not strictly required by Louisiana state law for video-only surveillance, notifying employees about camera locations is a best practice that reduces legal risk.

Drones and Aerial Video Recording

Louisiana enacted drone-specific legislation under La. R.S. 14:337 that addresses the use of unmanned aircraft systems. The statute makes it illegal to use a drone to conduct surveillance of a person on property owned or leased by that person without their consent, when the surveillance is done with the intent to conduct video surveillance.

Key provisions include:

• First offense: Fine of up to $500 and imprisonment for up to 6 months
• Second offense: Fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to 1 year
• Using a drone to commit voyeurism: Subject to the enhanced penalties under La. R.S. 14:283

Federal Aviation Administration rules also apply to drone operations in Louisiana, including registration requirements, altitude restrictions, and no-fly zones near airports.

Body Cameras and Wearable Recording Devices

Personal Use

You can wear a body camera or other wearable recording device in Louisiana. The legality of the recording depends on:

• Location. Public spaces are generally fine. Private spaces require consent considerations.
• Audio capture. If your body camera records audio, the one-party consent rule under La. R.S. 15:1303 applies. You can record conversations you are part of.
• Privacy expectations. Recording in areas where people have reasonable privacy expectations (such as inside someone's home) may raise issues under La. R.S. 14:283.

Law Enforcement Body Cameras

Louisiana has addressed law enforcement body cameras through La. R.S. 44:3(A)(4)(b), which governs public records access to body camera footage. Under this provision, body camera recordings are not automatically public records but may be disclosed through a formal request process. Family members of individuals captured in body camera footage have certain access rights.

Using Video Recordings as Evidence

Admissibility in Court

Video recordings are admissible in Louisiana courts when they are:

• Lawfully obtained. The recording must not violate La. R.S. 14:283 or any other privacy statute.
• Authenticated. A witness must testify that the video accurately depicts what it claims to show.
• Relevant. The video must relate to a matter at issue in the case.
• Not unfairly prejudicial. The court may exclude video whose prejudicial impact substantially outweighs its probative value.

Chain of Custody

Maintaining a clear chain of custody strengthens the evidentiary value of video recordings. Document:

• When the recording was made and by what device
• Who has had access to the recording
• How the recording has been stored and protected from tampering
• Whether any copies were made and for what purpose

More Louisiana Recording Laws

Audio Recording | Video Recording | Voyeurism & Hidden Cameras | Workplace Recording | Recording Police | Phone Call Recording | Security Cameras | Recording in Public | Landlord-Tenant | Dashcam Laws | Schools | Medical Recording

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