Taking video of police... legal? or not...?

[oldkim]

So as many know by now that happened in South Carolina with the police officer shooting a victim after a traffic stop...
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=54370

What are the legal issues around videotaping a police officer... not just here but other states.

Here is an article stemming from the above shooting incident...

Attorney Thomas Porter has practiced law as a criminal defense attorney in Charlotte for more than 20 years. Simply, he says the answer is yes, but not without some exceptions. "An officer who's performing his duties," Porter said. "Yes, he can be filmed - as long as you don't interfere with that process."

http://www.wbtv.com/story/28754557/is-it-against-the-law-to-videotape-police-officers-on-the-job


But in the wake of "more" push for police officers to wear body cameras, police car video, etc...

In most states... it is legal (as stated above) but I remember a story not long ago that one state made it illegal.

NYC had some laws - you could video but not audio... etc. But I'm lost in the "sea of new" and change laws...


In Washington State... it is legal... right.


*I'm hoping someone will have the right "citations" to back up my statement (or not).

[Sinus211]

IMO public domain. But that's just my POV from the peanut gallery.

[Massivedesign]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glik_v._Cunniffe

[oldkim]

Also the point of... when an officer tells you to stop "filming"

In Seattle back in 2013 an officer told a "journalist" to stop filming... He didn't and was threatened with arrest, etc
http://www.infowars.com/seattle-journal ... ng-police/

I know that case has been resolved and the officer in question was at fault (not within his rights to demand - stop filming).




We live in a video world. Soon we'll be like "Truman Show"

The Truman Show is a 1998 American satirical social science fiction comedy-drama film... The film chronicles the life of a man who is initially unaware that he is living in a constructed reality television show, broadcast around the clock to billions of people around the globe. Truman becomes suspicious of his perceived reality and embarks on a quest to discover the truth about his life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truman_Show

[Duke EB]

Yes, it's legal. Don't get in the way though.
Here's a site for you that may help:
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/
There was a state recently (texas?) that wanted to make it illegal to video police within 25 feet, but the police got that quashed, because then it's unquestionably legal to record 25+ feet away.

[H2obouget]

Yes, it's legal. Don't get in the way though.
Here's a site for you that may help:
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/
There was a state recently (texas?) that wanted to make it illegal to video police within 25 feet, but the police got that quashed, because then it's unquestionably legal to record 25+ feet away.

There's a website to make your blood boil!

[ANZAC]

If you are close enough that the officers have to keep an eye on what you're doing, or if you are fiddling around in your pockets, then that could be an issue. As long as you're standing where you can legally be standing (without interfering with their investigation) you can film.

I get to deal with this all the time, and people who get bent out of shape about either being told to back up, move out of the way, or stay out of an area. I'll also say, don't act like a dick. I saw a guy from the "media" (actually a conspiracy blog site) want to have a full blown argument with a sgt at a homicide scene. I couldn't be sure if she was going to cuff him or shoot him, I took a step back to avoid the cross fire.