Michigan is a one-party consent state for audio recording under the Eavesdropping Act. One party to a conversation must consent. Installing surveillance in private places is a felony. Video recording in public is legal.
Michigan's Eavesdropping Act (MCL 750.539c) makes it a felony to willfully use a device to eavesdrop on a private conversation without the consent of all parties. However, Michigan courts have interpreted this as a one-party consent state — if you are a participant, you can record. MCL 750.539d prohibits installing surveillance devices in private places (bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.). Video recording in public is protected under the First Amendment. Michigan law also prohibits divulging illegally obtained recordings (MCL 750.539e). These laws apply uniformly across Wayne County.
Eavesdropping: felony, up to 2 years prison, $2,000 fine. Installing surveillance in private place: felony, up to 2 years. Divulging illegal recordings: felony, up to 2 years.
Dearborn, MI
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See how Dearborn's recording & consent laws rules stack up against other locations.
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