Reflections

Google Earth Busts Homeowners Using Illegal Swimming Pools

Posted by on Aug 5, 2010 | 7 Comments

The eye in the sky known as Google Earth is now being used by one local government to bust those using illegal pools. The town of Riverhead in Long Island used Google Earth to locate some 250 illegal pools in their town. The city requires that homeowners apply to the city to build a swimming pool and it seems that some homeowners did not do this. The city of Riverhead was able to able to get the homeowners to apply for the proper paperwork which brought in $75,000 to the city.

In a recent article it also stated that:

It’s not the first time Google Earth has been tapped by municipal and law enforcement officials. A 2007 report by USA Today alleged that municipalities had already begun scanning the satellite images available through the Google’s popular software to spot illegal home construction and additions built without proper permits, although the report gave no specific examples.

Other previously reported examples mostly involve the detection of marijuana fields. The USA Today story included details on one such bust in Wisconsin, and a similar case in Switzerland was also widely reported.

But the most intriguing confluence of Google Earth and suburban swimming pools comes from Britain. Groups of teens allegedly use the software to spot pools and then post the addresses on Facebook, along with a designated swim time, so that a mob of uninvited swimmers turn up for surprise dips.

It makes one wonder who else is spying on us. What do you think? Should this type of spying be legal?

Comments welcome.

Source – WSJ

  • Steve C.

    What really scares me is when they can identify the toilet paper name brand when I am wiping my butt in my own house.. It is comming!!!

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  • http://www.justenrobertson.com Justen

    It’s not the spying I care about – it’s the scum who, given the information, use it to rob people. You don’t need #$%#$% permission, let alone to pay a bribe, to build something on your own property. It’s wanton corruption, just another way for these ill-managed little petty gangs to cover their inability to manage a budget or – gasp – make money by doing something productive and profitable, instead of leeching off everyone else.

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      Hi Justen – I agree.
      Thanks for stopping by.

  • http://www.gavinstipsandtricks.co.nr/ Gavin Roskamp

    LOL those teens are pretty much the bomb.

    I don’t find it terribly scary that they can see my yard at a horrible resolution. My entire four-acre yard is about 16 pixels since I live in the middle of nowhere. I could care less.

    What I do care about, though, is the governments (local, state, and national) trying to make us give them money for things we’re putting on OUR property. It doesn’t make sense! UGH! I personally think we should ban all current politicians and replace them with people like Justen, Ron, and every other person on here and other places who don’t have their heads in their asses. Seriously.

    Name this quote:
    “I’ve been tooo……. fifty……seven, I think. Fifty seven states, and I think I still have one more to go to.”

    Hint: It’s a president and he’s black.

    …oh wait…

  • Buffet

    I’m in agreement with Justen. I recently watched a movie called “Eyeborg” starring Adrian Paul, that vividly illustrates where we’re headed if this trend of privacy invasion continues.

  • http://ronknights.com/ ronknights

    Cities have laws requiring building permits, etc.

    It is up to us to obey those laws.

    If you don’t like the laws, get active, politically, and work to change those laws.

    Or be prepared to pay the price for disobedience.