diff --git a/sensors.py b/sensors.py
index ed904c3..1147922 100644
--- a/sensors.py
+++ b/sensors.py
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ from threading import Timer
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-# this should never be higher than INFO or motion will never be logged
-logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+# this importantly controls which sensor events get logged. DEBUG logs
+# everything, INFO logs only events that occur when state machine in
+# "sensitive states" (armed, armedCountdown, triggered)
+logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)
 
 # delay GPIO init to avoid false positive during powerup
 INIT_DELAY = 60
@@ -32,15 +34,14 @@ def startMotionSensor(pin, location, action):
 
 	def trip(channel):
 		if lowPassFilter(pin, 1):
-			logger.info('detected motion: ' + location)
-			action()
+			action(location, logger)
 	
 	logger.debug('waiting %s for %s to power on', INIT_DELAY, name)
 	t = Timer(INIT_DELAY, partial(_initGPIO, name, pin, GPIO.RISING, trip))
 	t.daemon = True
 	t.start()
 
-def startDoorSensor(pin, action, sound=None):
+def startDoorSensor(pin, action):
 	def trip(channel):
 		nonlocal closed
 		val = GPIO.input(pin)
@@ -48,15 +49,7 @@ def startDoorSensor(pin, action, sound=None):
 		if val != closed:
 			if lowPassFilter(pin, val):
 				closed = val
-				if closed:
-					logger.info('door closed')
-					if sound:
-						sound.play()
-				else:
-					logger.info('door opened')
-					if sound:
-						sound.play()
-					action()
+				action(closed, logger)
 	
 	_initGPIO('DoorSensor', pin, GPIO.BOTH, trip)
 	closed = GPIO.input(pin)
diff --git a/stateMachine.py b/stateMachine.py
index 916ba21..54f5a5c 100644
--- a/stateMachine.py
+++ b/stateMachine.py
@@ -264,28 +264,41 @@ class StateMachine:
 		# start all managed threads (we retain ref to these to stop them later)
 		self._startManaged()
 		
-		def action():
+		sensitiveStates = (self.states.armed, self.states.armedCountdown, self.states.triggered)
+		
+		def sensorAction(location, logger):
+			level = logging.INFO if self.currentState in sensitiveStates else logging.DEBUG
+			logger.log(level, 'detected motion: ' + location)
 			if self.currentState == self.states.armed:
 				self.selectState(_SIGNALS.TRIGGER)
-		
-		sensitiveStates = (self.states.armed, self.states.armedCountdown, self.states.triggered)
 
-		def actionVideo(pin):
+		def videoAction(location, logger, pin):
+			sensorAction(location, logger)
 			if self.currentState in sensitiveStates:
-				self.selectState(_SIGNALS.TRIGGER)
 				self.fileDump.addInitiator(pin)
 				while GPIO.input(pin) and self.currentState in sensitiveStates:
 					time.sleep(0.1)
 				self.fileDump.removeInitiator(pin)
 
+		def doorAction(closed, logger):
+			self.soundLib.soundEffects['door'].play()
+			
+			level = logging.INFO if self.currentState in sensitiveStates else logging.DEBUG
+			entry = 'door closed' if closed else 'door opened'
+			logger.log(level, entry)
+				
+			if not closed and self.currentState == self.states.armed:
+				self.selectState(_SIGNALS.TRIGGER)
+
 		# start non-managed threads (we forget about these because they can exit with no cleanup)
-		startMotionSensor(5, 'Nate\'s room', action)
-		startMotionSensor(19, 'front door', action)
-		startMotionSensor(26, 'Laura\'s room', action)
-		startMotionSensor(6, 'deck window', partial(actionVideo, 6))
-		startMotionSensor(13, 'kitchen bar', partial(actionVideo, 13))
+		startMotionSensor(5, 'Nate\'s room', sensorAction)
+		startMotionSensor(19, 'front door', sensorAction)
+		startMotionSensor(26, 'Laura\'s room', sensorAction)
 		
-		startDoorSensor(22, action, self.soundLib.soundEffects['door'])
+		startMotionSensor(6, 'deck window', partial(videoAction, pin=6))
+		startMotionSensor(13, 'kitchen bar', partial(videoAction, pin=13))
+		
+		startDoorSensor(22, doorAction)
 		
 		startWebInterface(self)