Appeals Court Rules it is not illegal to film Police

[Pete]

Appeals Court Rules it is not illegal to film Police

http://www.prisonplanet.com/appeals-court-rules-it-is-not-illegal-to-film-police.html

"Despite the mass hoax still being promulgated by both the mainstream media and local authorities across America, the First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that it is not illegal for citizens to videotape police officers when they are on public duty......."

We have a number of threads on this subject. I'm wondering if NYC officials will want to push it up to the Supreme Court?

From: http://www.dailytech.com/First%2BCircuit%2BCourt%2Bof%2BAppeals%2BRules%2Bt hat%2BCitizens%2BCan%2BVideotape%2BPolice/article22587.htm

".........The Court concluded that police officers are to expect to deal with certain "burdens" as citizens practice First Amendment rights, but that there needs to be a healthy balance between police officers being videotaped while acting irresponsibly and the harassment of officers with recording devices while they're conducting their duties responsibly................"

So what will the reaction of police be? What to bet they still continue to do the same thing? Just walk up and first say "You're harassing me with your recording device!"

[BigJimCalhoun]

I think I saw this posted on the Drudge Report yesterday and the link below it was someone who was arrested and faces 75 years in jail for filming police.

[Intel Cop]

NYC doesn't appear to have anything to do with either of those articles.

[Intel Cop]

BTW, I only say that because I am a NYC police officer and this has never been a significant issue here in the city (and because NYC wasn't mentioned in either of those articles).

I can't recall a single issue involving photographing police here in my 10 years OTJ that became big in the media. We have plenty of problems of our own, but I can vouch that most cops here can really give two-you-know-whats about people filming us because we are so used to it. It's happened to me and I've never even acknowledged the filmers. Once, it even benefited me, much to the wanna-be Oliver Stone's chagrin ;)

[grog18b]

I had a few people video me while at incidents. Never even acknowledged them (I could tell that really bothered them, as they were after some sort of reaction). Even had one come right up to me and announce "I'm taping you!" My response... "Don't get in my way, or someone will have to hold your camera."

I always acted as if my behavior was being recorded anyway. You never know...