If you're a resident of the town of Riverhead, NY and you have a swimming pool, better make sure you have the correct permit. The town is now using Google Earth to located residents who haven't applied for permits.

"Riverhead’s chief building inspector Leroy Barnes Jr. said the unpermitted pools were a safety concern. He said that without the required inspections there was no way to know whether the pools’ plumbing, electrical work and fencing met state and local regulations. Pool safety has always been my concern,” Barnes said.

I'm sure we all appreciate the need for safety, but is this going too far? So far the town has collected over $75,000 in fees. Some people think it's all about money and not really the safety factor at all and some people think the spying has gone too far.

"... some privacy advocates say the use of Google Earth to find scofflaw swimming pools reeks of Big Brother."

So what do you think? Are these officials abusing the powers of Google Earth or do they have a right to use whatever tools they have at hand to ensure safety?