Google Earth Used To Catch Swimming Pools Without Permits

The Long Island town of Riverhead has been using technology for the past year in an effort to save lives – and to raise money. Specifically, it has been using Google Earth to find houses that have swimming pools that do not have the proper permits – it’s apparently found about 240 so far. The town then contacts the homeowners, gets the permit fee ($300 per homeowner – about $75,000 to date), and makes sure the pool has the required fencing and safety alarms. Oh, because a pool raises local property taxes, there’s a long term benefit to the town, too. 

Some homeowners feel that government officials’ use of Google Earth in this way invades their privacy. The objecting homeowners probably thought they were getting away with something and don’t like being called to account.  It’s unlikely, though, that a court challenge on that ground would succeed, if it were brought.