Quote:
Originally Posted by TerminatorX5
I've heard, it is illegal to videotape actions of cops (public officials) performing their job (public duties) on the street (public areas) by a bystander (public) in Maryland, based on some electronic eavesdropping laws... someone was facing upto 15 years for doing that!!!
How about the other states?
|
.
No it is not..but cops and DAs are coming down on the public for doing this. There is no expectation of privacy for public acts.
People are getting
charged with felony wiretap violations, but it is an abuse of power and intimidation.
IMO
And the maryland case was the infamous helmet cam- police lost the case, AND here is the new baltimre policy:
Quote:
Police photo, video policy
Upon discovery that a bystander is observing, photographing, or video recording the conduct of police activity:
1. DO NOT impede or prevent the bystander's ability to continue doing so based solely on your discovery of his/her presence.
2. DO NOT seize or otherwise demand to take possession of any camera or video recording device the bystander may possess based solely on your discovery of his/her presence.
3. DO NOT demand to review, manipulate, or erase any images or video recording captured by the bystander based solely on your discovery of his/her presence.
4. For investigative purposes, be mindful of the potential that the bystander may witness, or capture images/video of events considered at some later time to be material evidence.
5. BEFORE taking any police action which would stop a bystander from observing, photographing, or video recording the conduct of police activity, Officer(s) must have observed the bystander committing some act [deemed criminal, such as obstruction, disorderly conduct or interfering with an officer's lawful duties].
Source: Baltimore Police Department General Order J-16
|