New Jersey police car videos deemed public records

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

New Jersey police car videos deemed public records
| October 13, 2014 | Updated: October 13, 2014 5:08pm

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey judge has determined that videos routinely captured by cameras mounted in police cars during traffic stops and other law enforcement activities in the state are public records.

The recent decision handed down by state Superior Court Judge Vincent Grasso means authorities cannot withhold the videos, even if they say they pertain to criminal or internal-affairs investigations.

The judge's decision involved rulings he made in two similar but separate cases. Both matters involved people who made Open Public Records Act requests for videos of specific traffic stops.

Authorities in both cases denied the requests, arguing that the videos were exempt from disclosure under the law because they were criminal investigatory records. They also argued they were part of ongoing investigations, as well as internal-affairs investigations.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Judge-Police-car-videos-are-public-records-5819905.php

[Purveyor]

1. I thought about posting this in LBN but figured would get locked as

'regional news' so I just did GD.

Better safe than sorry. Hope your post remains...



http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025662208

[SoapBox]

2. Public records?

As they should be!

Aren't public dollars used to pay the Militia bills?!?

[FarPoint]

3. Rightfully so....

So, how much will they charge for each released copy? $10,000????

[Hoppy]

4. That is great news.

Last edited Tue Oct 14, 2014, 07:15 AM - Edit history (1)

N.J. State Police have been involved in several fuck-ups over the past few years. This includes one asshole in S.P. uniform, taking a mentally disabled man and ramming his head into the tire well of his cruiser.

Also included, S.P. driving intoxicated D.U.I. cops home instead of to the pokey.

[Jokerman]

5. What a waste of the court's time.

Of course they're public record.

Anyone who obstructed this should have to pay the court costs and should be drummed out of public service.