Are Cameras the New Guns?

Gizmodo.com ^ | 6/2/2010 | Wendy McElroy

[RoseyT]

In response to a flood of Facebook and YouTube videos that depict police abuse, a new trend in law enforcement is gaining popularity. In at least three states, it is now illegal to record any on-duty police officer. Even if the encounter involves you and may be necessary to your defense, and even if the recording is on a public street where no expectation of privacy exists.

The legal justification for arresting the "shooter" rests on existing wiretapping or eavesdropping laws, with statutes against obstructing law enforcement sometimes cited. Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland are among the 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" (Illinois does not) but in practice this exception is not being recognized.

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[RoseyT]

I don't know anything about the author of this piece so don't shoot the messenger!

[ClearCase_guy]

Freedom of the press is a great concept -- but if everyone has a printing press (if everyone can create media) then the First Amendment starts to lose some luster for the political establishment.

Recording the actions of our public servants is almost a civic duty, in my opinion. What do they have to hide?

[Gay State Conservative]

Of course in cases where recorders capture evidence of “police brutality” or “oppression” there will be no problem.These laws are meant to protect political hacks and their friends....not law abiding citizens.At least that's the case in Massachusetts.

[GraceG]

Yet the government can put up CCTVs EVERYWHERE to watch the citizen they consider to be “mindless sheep to the slaughter”. But if we want to record them, we don’t have the “right” to watch them....

What’s next, will the congress critters make investigating congress illegal?

[GraceG]

” Of course in cases where recorders capture evidence of “police brutality” or “oppression” there will be no problem.These laws are meant to protect political hacks and their friends....not law abiding citizens.At least that’s the case in Massachusetts. “

This is why cameras in police cars are a good thing, they help show an officer’s side fo the story. But yeah this all reeks of political favortism.

[jiggyboy]

All three states are among the most screamingly liberal in the nation. Citizens, submit to the police state.

[Gay State Conservative]

Most all-party-consent states also include an exception for recording in public places where "no expectation of privacy exists" (Illinois does not) but in practice this exception is not being recognized.

Obviously something that needs to be considered by the courts.Even the SCOTUS if necessary.Cockroach hack politicians and their "civil service" cronies fear "sunlight".

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The argument Big Brother always uses in defense of his total-surveillance state is that the only reason you would object to being taped is because you have something to hide.

The police are objecting to being taped, therefore Big Brother is admitting they have something to hide.

[jimmango]

I wonder how long it will be before someone contests a ticket they got because of a traffic camera. Using the logic of the law, “I didn’t consent to having my picture taken!”

[GraceG]

I love www.thinkgeek.com

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/b550/

Basically a Spy Camera video watch.

They also have spy cams in pens, key fobs, and sunglasses.

Bring it on.

[G Larry]

Ha!
Video as you please.
Have someone else post it to YouTube.

[LonePalm]

What’s next, will the congress critters make investigating congress illegal?

Too late. The Congressional Black Caucus is already trying to get the ethics panel's powers reduced because they are investigating its members.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[KarlInOhio]

This is why cameras in police cars are a good thing, they help show an officer’s side fo the story.

If there is any doubt about your interactions with the police, you have to subpoena that recording and get it into your lawyers hands as quickly as possible so it isn't "accidentally" erased if it will show the police in a bad light. I would even say that if you plan on fighting a speeding ticket you need to work on getting that recording before the officer makes it back to the police station.

[GraceG]

I would say that the information our own eyes capture is our own inherent right and any camera that we are holding right now is an extension of that memory that we record in our brain, consider it an “external memory device”.

While wiretaqpping laws should prevent unauthorized, autonomous cameras and microphones planted on another person’s or organization’s property without their consent. They should not prevent a person from using an “external memory device” that works in the within arms reach of the user’s own eyes. We have the right to our own “memories” be they in the form of brain patterns recordd by our brains or the electronic information in a memory card from a camera we are holding. On someons’e private property they can refuse us entry if we have such a device, but on public land there should be restriction on this whatsoever because public land is owned by the state and the state has no right to restrict your memory, internal brain patterns or external memory device.

[GraceG]

I must apologize for my lack of spelling to myself.

[GraceG]

“The argument Big Brother always uses in defense of his total-surveillance state is that the only reason you would object to being taped is because you have something to hide.
The police are objecting to being taped, therefore Big Brother is admitting they have something to hide. “

State Animals are more equal than Citizen Animals.

[Gay State Conservative]

This is why cameras in police cars are a good thing, they help show an officer’s side of the story.

I think such cameras are,in theory,a good idea.If used "correctly" they have the ability to protect the cops *and* the public...and suspects as well.But in a thoroughly corrupt like Massachusetts you can bet your bottom dollar that when such a video might reveal police misconduct/error there'd always seem to have been a camera malfunction during that incident.And to the best of my knowledge police in this state don't use dashboard cameras...although I'm not sure of that.

[GraceG]

“This is why cameras in police cars are a good thing, they help show an officer’s side of the story.
I think such cameras are,in theory,a good idea.If used “correctly” they have the ability to protect the cops *and* the public...and suspects as well.But in a thoroughly corrupt like Massachusetts you can bet your bottom dollar that when such a video might reveal police misconduct/error there’d always seem to have been a camera malfunction during that incident.And to the best of my knowledge police in this state don’t use dashboard cameras...although I’m not sure of that. “

You say the officer pulled you out of your car and beat you becasue you had a “Don’t tread on me” bumper sticker, and the officer was yelling about it while they were beating you up. That’s too bad.... The tape recorder in the car was busted that day, so sorry, Now for this charge of resisting arrest during that same arrest on the officer’s word, GUILTY, enjoy the book about to be thrown at you.

Of course if you cannot tape the police, I’ll bet any version of the “brownshirts” that may materialize int he future will get the same “privlidge”.

[bike800]

Man....I am a police officer....and this is bulsh&#T. I only have nine more years...will be glad to get out of this work...seriously...seen too much go on that makes me uncomfortable...just keep doin whats right...pray for the best...sighs. Do have the concern that the videos can be reworked to make things look a certain way...this goes for both sides by the way. Welcome to Amerika

[Oldpuppymax]

Well now gee whiz, what’s all the fuss? After all EVERYBODY KNOWS that the police/bureaucrats/politicians/public union employees are the GOOD GUYS! It’s the “little people”...you know, the citizen-nobodies who need watched!!