# Ring Doorbells

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ring-doorbells/1000206>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 12, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ring-doorbells/1000206 "2024-04-12T18:52:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ring-doorbells/1000206/1 "2024-04-12T18:52:11Z")

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I’ve watched some police type shows. They show alot of videos from Ring Doorbells. Many crimes are committed and recorded. From traffic things, porch pirates and assaults.

If the homeowner submits these videos to Police, what responsibility do they have after that?  
If it’s a crime committed on their property or person I suppose they’d be ok with it. Assuming they’re making a report.

But what if it’s a crime in the street?  
Or at their neighbors house?  
Will they have to testify?  
Wouldn’t a person who just didn’t want to get involved just not show it?

Could they be forced to do it? If the doorbell camera is noticed. They are obvious.

Curious.

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ring-doorbells/1000206/2 "2024-04-12T19:26:07Z")

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Used to be police would routinely ask homeowners to provide video. If refused, a subpoena would force disclosure. Where the homeowner was using Ring cloud storage, their participation or permission was not required; the video records were supplied by Amazon (Ring’s owner).

> **[Ring camera footage can be obtained by police. Here's how](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/consumer/ring-camera-footage-can-be-obtained-by-police-heres-how/3381940/)**
>
> Whether you’re on the lookout for “porch pirates,” wild animals or car thieves, a video doorbell or security camera can come in handy — and law enforcement agencies are taking notice.

Though due to privacy and other complaints, Amazon is curtailing the practice of allowing police to solicit video from homeowners. Police can still get the video via subpoena, of course.

> **[Amazon's Ring will stop allowing police to request doorbell video footage...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/amazons-ring-will-stop-allowing-police-request-doorbell-video-footage-rcna135614)**
>
> Ring plans to discontinue its "Request for Assistance" tool, which allowed law enforcement to submit requests for users' footage in the Neighbors app.