People publicly videotaping police being prosecuted under wire tap laws

[thewayne]

This is more than a bit disturbing.

In 'Are Cameras The New Guns?', "...12 states in which all parties must consent for a recording to be legal unless, as with TV news crews, it is obvious to all that recording is underway. Since the police do not consent, the camera-wielder can be arrested. Most all-party-consent states also include an exception for recording in public places where "no expectation of privacy exists" ... but in practice this exception is not being recognized."

So basically, if you video a cop rescuing a dog or kissing a baby, that's OK. Body-slamming a bicyclist? Potential arrest and felony trial.

Not good.

http://gizmodo.com/5553765/are-cameras-the-new-guns

Comments

[beeyochkitty.livejournal.com]

But then again, I have friends who sell stock footage and stills, and have *always* dealt with those laws. They're not new.

Nor are they admissible in court. Rodney King still went to jail. I've never seen an article where videotaping a cop lead to that cop being punished beyond a paid suspension. I may have just missed them - that would be nice. But I don't think I have.

I also used to do a website for a guy that sold "upskirt" pics. His were staged ... but with phones, a lot of those sites are real shots, taken without the girl's permission or knowledge.

There's also a growing problem at public pools, with them having to run off guys taking pics of children that are not theirs. So, they just stand outside the fence. This has happened outside of schools, too.

Film is dangerous because it can be edited, and with pirated software, anyone can afford to do it. Ask the Mythbusters, who've done more than one YouTube-busting show.

Cops in New York were prosecuted for beating and torturing a guy without film evidence. It can happen. It just doesn't get as much publicity.

[silveradept]

If only the police are allowed to use video to corroborate themselves, then there isn't anyone who will be able to successfully defend themselves once the evidence, or "evidence" is available.

Citizens should be able to record the people enforcing the laws in their name.