I understand some folks have different privacy standards than me. I'm not asking you to follow my privacy rules, as they are a bit more open about public spaces than many people enjoy.
If somebody wanted me to not point my camera at their driveway, a legal threat would be the absolute worst way to achieve it.
And obviously a legal threat is a last resort after good-faith questioning.
I am not really sure what your objection is to the comment above yours, because these concerns seem misplaced.
Does this school have traffic 24/7 and do you broadcast everything from your front steps via a megaphone (and keep recordings)?
There are many comments here about video/audio recordings from public onto private property however there are various degrees of recording.
If there was a public park across the street from your house and someone setup surveillance-level equipment pointed at your front door, I'm not sure there is a rational judge who would consider this "oh well, they're on public land, nothing we can do here".
Private spaces that are publicly visible do not automatically become public spaces, though.
If you tried pointing a camera over my fence into my backyard, then I start complaining.
Yes, agreed! Your front yard is a private space, even though it is publicly visible. You have every right to afford as much public access to it as you please, but the mere fact that you're the one who has the right to make that decision means it is a private space.
I think a major difference is that a permanent camera allows documenting who is entering and leaving a house at which times, while street view or driving by do not. Even a nosy neighbour behind the curtains would most probably not be able to gather a complete history.
I agree, just asking is always a sensible first step, as well as making proactively sure that your camera does not invade anyone's private space, but I can see how that can happen unintendedly.