Well this is ridiculous...

[MakiSupaStar]

And I'll just leave this right here.

75 Years in Prison For Videotaping Police - YouTube

[Fassa Albrecht]

Seriously? 75 years isn't even what some people serve for murder.

[Joe Gress]

Wow.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Seriously? 75 years isn't even what some people serve for murder.

Some people serve less for murder. I'm sure he won't serve 75 years, but the fact that this is even a possibility is crazy. As long as they aren't interfering with the officers line of duty, then I see no problem with filming an officer.

[jmattbassplaya]

I like this one quote of his, "The statute, the way it is written, can be interpreted many different ways."

That seems to be the way a lot of laws are being written these days. As far as I'm concerned, if you're a public servant then you should be able to be recorded while you're on the public's dime.

[MatticusMania]

Clearly, this is an attempt to reduce the amount of footage in circulation showing some officers performing less than their duties as Law Enforcement Agents. Too much backlash from the public capturing video of officers abusing their powers/privileges.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Some people serve less for murder. I'm sure he won't serve 75 years, but the fact that this is even a possibility is crazy. As long as they aren't interfering with the officers line of duty, then I see no problem with filming an officer.

In the UK as far as I'm aware you're free to film in public as long as doing so doesn't cause distress, harm or interference, and this includes the emergency services.

Whether he serves the actual term or not, I'm going to agree that even thinking about such a term is absurd.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Clearly, this is an attempt to reduce the amount of footage in circulation showing some officers performing less than their duties as Law Enforcement Agents. Too much backlash from the public capturing video of officers abusing their powers/privileges.

It's the old rule again: the only people who need worry are the ones doing something wrong.

And surely accountability should count for something here? You give someone some special rights and they should be more than welcoming to demonstrate that they are using them appropriately.

[sandmangeck]

Man. I have so much to say. But, I would like to steer clear of getting banned.

[Bloodhammer]

I'm not surprised. This reminds me of many other things currently going on that I'll decline to comment on due to TB rules.

Really, this guy's fate is in the hands of his lawyer. The "wiretapping laws" being vague could work in his favor.

[Jinro]

Wait.....I thought it was perfectly legal to video tape anyone, even a law enforcement officer or TSA agent, without their consent, if they are in public view or on public property.


Oh.....this is in Illinois. Nevermind.

[MatticusMania]

For the record, my comment was not made as a generalization of all LEOs, but rather those few who do let their power go to their head. And get filmed in the act.

[Bloodhammer]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Clearly, this is an attempt to reduce the amount of footage in circulation showing some officers performing less than their duties as Law Enforcement Agents. Too much backlash from the public capturing video of officers abusing their powers/privileges.

Some lawmaker:
"Sigh...Just think of what things would be like if the Rodney King video wound up incriminating the video-taper rather than the cops who beat him..."

Some other lawmaker:
"Wait a minute! I got a great idea!"

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Bloodhammer

Some lawmaker:
"Sigh...Just think of what things would be like if the Rodney King video wound up incriminating the video-taper rather than the cops who beat him..."

Some other lawmaker:
"Wait a minute! I got a great idea!"

Exactly. Welcome to the new police state.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

One of the comments said it has been overturned as being unconstitutional.

Either way, f'd up that it had to go that far.

[runmikeyrun]

Watch some of the videos on youtube that skateboarders take of cops harassing and beating them up for SKATEBOARDING. SKATEBOARDING!!! And they're kids- jr high and high school.

ALL cops should be miked and have dash cams. Citizens should have the right to tape them. The reason they don't want to me taped is because they break laws and when they get caught doing that the city gets sued for millions of dollars and it makes them look bad. Jeez, sorry I'm holding you to a standard of the law!

As a paramedic I've been taped hundreds of time in public at accidents, fires, etc. I've never told anyone to turn off a camera because there's no reason to. I am held to a professional standard just like the police and I behave. If cops just followed the law there wouldn't be an issue. Problem is they want to act irresponsibly and get away with it.

I always wear a helmet cam when I ride my enduro so I can tape myself riding. I should check the Ohio law to see if I can get in trouble if I get pulled over.

[Selta]

Judge Frankland ruled that Allison had a First Amendment right to record the police officers and court employees. And while a ban on recording devices in the courtroom might be justified, he said, the eavesdropping charge was inappropriate. As applied in this case, Frankland said, the eavesdropping law "includes conduct that is unrelated to the statute's purpose and is not rationally related to the evil the legislation sought to prohibit. For example, a defendant recording his case in a courtroom has nothing to do with an intrusion into a citizen's privacy but with distraction."

Judge Rejects Eavesdropping Charges for Recording Police - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

[sneha1965]

I guess there would have been no Rodney King case if this law was in effect 20 years ago. I think it's a great form of accountability and a source of embarrassment to departments who have officers having sex on their patrol cars and beating people senseless.

[Herrlster]

So child molesters (at least around my area) only get several months to a year but this case got 75 years?

[fjadams]

Originally Posted by sandmangeck

Man. I have so much to say. But, I would like to steer clear of getting banned.

I hear that!