Security cameras arefound in several locations like retail stores, office buildings, parkinglots, etc. They are used to monitor public activity by recording footageonly. Surveillance camerasare designed to alarm the authorities when criminal activity takes place.

If officers have a reasonable belief that a security camera feed would provide critical information to address an ongoing emergency or disaster and preserve life, they can legally access it without a warrant on-site under the exigent circumstances exception.

Cleveland residents voted to end that city's traffic camera program in 2014. Not all the efforts to regulate traffic cameras have passed, and many of the ones that have resulted in lawsuits.