Cameras bring steep fines to HOA

NEW PORT RICHEY - A series of burglaries prompted people who live in the Rosewood subdivision in New Port Richey to install surveillance cameras.

Lisa Hruby, the vice president of the Rosewood home owners' association says

"We're trying to protect our property and our safety," said Lisa Hruby, vice president of the Rosewood homeowners' association.

Not everyone felt a sense of security with the cameras.

"You know you're being monitored all the time, we happen to be right at the entrance and I just didn't like it," complained resident Walt Lamerton.

He is not alone. Pasco County code enforcement officers issued a citation to the association. It turns out the cameras and the poles on which they were mounted were illegal. They were placed in a county right of way.

In an ironic twist, the citation was issued to Lamerton's wife, who is the secretary to the board. She is the one who will get fined.

"It could be $143 dollars on the first day, $260 the next day, up to $500 dollars per day, so by the time the court date was originally set, it was going to be about almost $30,000 dollars," Susan Lamerton said.

With the fines pending, the cameras were removed. Now other residents are furious.

"I'm hoping that nothing happens," said former board member Lynn Collin. "I hope someone is not in danger, someone's house is robbed and someone saying 'gee I wish we had those cameras going.' "