Audio recording without permission will get you in deep trouble in Florida. deed restrictions were hopefully read before signing. It is not about crosses or other yard fixtures, it is about rules.

If the lady is trespassing or peeking in windows that is a different problem. Walking on a public street taking notes is her right.

What did the Sheriff say?

If she had an acceptable reason for doing what she did, she would have said it.

As it is, the police should have a copy of your camera’s video. (I’m talking about the one looking inside.)

I think that people driving around doing this have another agenda than deed restrictions. I would have stopped her and asked about what she was doing. I have had my home broken into and am always suspicious of something like this. Never hurts to ask !

Was the woman on the PUBLIC street or on private property? Maybe she was noting covenant compliance violations, or maybe she was checking out different landscaping for ideas for her property. Maybe she is doing a home appraisal and is making notes about the condition of the home and property. We had our home appraised for a refinance and not only did she take notes, but she even took photos of the property. If she is on a public street and taking notes, that may not be enough to warrant asking her about what she is doing. How many women, by themselves on a public street, would feel comfortable with a stranger approaching her asking her of her business? If she was using binoculars to appear to be looking in windows, well that would reasonably considered to be suspicious, but then, why not call the police or at least Community Watch and let them handle it? If she is actually on your property, you have every right to ask her to leave. If she was on private property looking into windows, the call that should be made is to the police. You could make that video of her and show that to the police when they arrive on the scene. She could then explain to them what is going on.

I have no sympathy for anyone reported for violating a covenant that they AGREED TO when they bought their home. There is a process that was set up to seek official approval for changes/additions that are potentially desired. Should one choose to not follow the process (which also doesn't guarantee approval), then they basically are crossing their fingers that a violation report doesn't get filed. Just because someone was violating their covenants for years without being reported doesn't entitle them to get a free pass. We are after all, an advanced age community, which means that homes on average will turnover faster than in non-age restricted communities. There may be new neighbors who may not be of the same opinion on the "tasteful aspects" of yard decorations that are violations.

I readily admit that the covenants are one of the reasons we chose to live here. No one held a gun to our head when we signed the paperwork and agreed to comply with the covenants, and I have yet to hear that such drastic measures have ever been needed to make a sale in the Villages. If the covenants are personally too restrictive, why not sell and move out of the Villages to a home without covenants or homeowner associations? Or, even better, just say NO and don't buy here.

Yes, absolutely correct, but not (IN FL) to record and share a conversation (if any) one has with a person on a public street without their explicit permission.

I don't understand.
If one has a right to absolute privacy on a public street, wouldn't photographing someone mean a lack of privacy?

With all the fun things to do in the Villages, even the longest days of the year are way too short. It is beyond my imagination how someone could be so pathetic that they choose to wast their time driving around neighborhoods with a clipboard recording deed restriction violations when it is not their job?

She could be legally shot as a burglar for crossing the curtilage in some parts of the country. Curtilage - Wikipedia

The statement was "One has NO right......"

Well, actually it's all our job.

Not if you don't get paid for it!

I agree it is all our jobs to report BLATANT and OBVIOUS deed restrictions in our IMMEDIATE neighborhood. But it is not our jobs to travel throughout the Villages with the sole intention of finding any nit picking little thing to report. Get a life!

I'm selling torches and pitchforks to anyone interested.

Please , please, please post it on a Villages group on fb. PM me and I'll post it myself..