Council introduces ordinance to ban private surveillance cameras on parish rights-of-way

The Livingston Parish Council introduced Ordinance 26-28 on Sept. 10, which would amend the code to prohibit private security and surveillance cameras on parish-maintained rights-of-way and set a public hearing for Sept. 24, 2026.

Clerk Caroline read the ordinance title into the record and notified the public hearing date. During the meeting a resident, Chris Gontier, spoke during the introduction noting constitutional concerns: "I just wanna keep it on people's minds that these private surveillance cameras...the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated," he said, invoking Fourth Amendment language and urging the council to limit government access to private camera data. The council did not take action on the ordinance beyond introduction; members said the item was for introduction only and that discussion and public testimony would occur at the Sept. 24 hearing.

The ordinance, as introduced, would add a prohibition to Chapter 50, section 50-9 of the Livingston Parish Code and restrict private surveillance installations in parish-maintained rights-of-way. No vote was taken at the introduction.