Gov McCrory signs bill restricting view of police camera recordings

[Liberal_in_LA]

Gov. Pat McCrory signed controversial legislation Monday regulating the release of recordings from police body and dashboard cameras.

There were growing calls for McCrory to veto the legislation because it makes it difficult for the public – including people involved in a recorded police action – to see it. But the Republican governor said the law will strike a balance between improving public trust in the police and respecting the rights of officers.

_______

McCrory referenced those deaths in his remarks and said the law “ensures transparency.”

The law allows people who are recorded, or their representatives, to see footage if law enforcement agencies agree. The police chief or sheriff would decide whether to grant access. The law enforcement agency can consider a number of factors in making the decision, including whether disclosure may harm someone’s reputation or jeopardize someone’s safety, or if confidentiality is “necessary to protect either an active or inactive internal or criminal investigation or potential internal or criminal investigation.”

Subjects of the recordings don’t have minimum guaranteed access to footage, Birdsong said in an interview. “A police chief can deny them access for any reason,” she said.

If access is denied, the subject can seek a court order to be allowed to see the video.

A court order also will be required for the general release of police camera footage. Even law enforcement agencies that want to release the footage must obtain a Superior Court judge’s order.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article88985782.html#storylink=cpy

[cherokeeprogressive]

1. Ensures all the transparency of a fucking brick.

[SheilaT]

2. Somehow I suspect that this law will be challenged and will be struck down.

Something along the lines of the 1st Amendment.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Will conservatives and libertarians come screaming about "statist" overreach

Doubt it.

[patricia92243]

3. It is almost unbelievable the damage a Republican governor has done in such a short time. I'm

from NC until two years ago and keep up with the NC news.

I'm afraid he is going to mess up the economy until my hubby loses his state employee pension.

Unfortunately, I moved from one Republican governor to another

[66 dmhlt]

4. Even after a severe "comeuppance" right-wingers are neither ...

Conflicted or constrained in their unbridled desire to trample on citizens' rights.

They only give lip-service to our Constitution
... Well, other than A-2, which is revered by them.

[Captain Stern]

5. McCrory sucks, but this law isn't as bad as it seems.

For instance, if the police answered a call at my home, I wouldn't want the footage their cameras recorded inside of my house to be available for everyone to see.

Of course, like with any policy, there is plenty of room for abuse too. Hopefully, over time, we'll tweak it, and get it right.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. Blue Secrets Matter

A culture of poor training, incompetence, and corruption.