Man Arrested For Unlawful Photography

[DS1]

http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/man_arrested_for_unlawful_photography/11576/

Nearly everyone carries a cell phone and it’s hard to find one without that camera feature. It’s convenient when you want to take that impromptu photo, but a Tri-Cities area man ended up behind bars after snapping a shot of a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop.

The cell phone photographer says the arrest was intimidation, but the deputy says he feared for his life.

“Here’s a guy who takes me out of the car and arrests me in front of my kids. For what? To take a picture of a police officer?” said Scott Conover.

A Johnson County sheriff’s deputy arrested Scott Conover for unlawful photography.

He says you took a picture of me. It’s illegal to take a picture of a law enforcement officer,” said Conover.

Conover took a picture of a sheriff’s deputy on the side of the road on a traffic stop. Conover was stunned by the charge.

“This is a public highway,” said Conover.

[Adsos Letter]

1. WTF?!

I took a picture of a Capitol Police officer, armed and in uniform, on the steps of the Capitol Building in DC and HE didn't have a problem with it. :wtf:

EDITED to add that in my picture his face is plainly highlighted and recognizable, with the minor detail of the usual wrap-around sunglasses. He didn't seem to view it as a threat.

[CC]

2. Wonder what he was doing wrong?

The cop not the photographer. I always figure that when a cop doesn't want his picture taken and gets extreme about it he has something to hide.



Then there are the ones that play to the camera. :)

[mth44sc]

3. And what are his options

Local communities can pass any damn law they want. Ya either plead to it or fight it. And if ya fight it - ya gotta know from the get-go that you are looking at an appeal. You are going to be found guilty and the only way out is to spend the bucks to get the case to a court that might (just maybe) view the law as unconstitutional. How many folks want to fight that fight?

[ManiacJoe]

5. Communities can, but they don't.

Find one community where in general photographing a cop is illegal.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. Typical "say so" law

utter crap

[Ms. Toad]

6. Yeah, but when it goes to court

a particular statute that was allegedly violated will have to be identified - that's just crim law 101. It will be interesting to see what statute they come up with - and it won't be "say so" and probably won't even be one prohibiting taking a photo of a cop.

[ManiacJoe]

7. The Seattle PD tried this a while back.

It did not go well for cops.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/365706_police04.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/338880_aclu09.html

[NV Whino]

8. In the spirit of photographing cops

This one is my favorite: Photographing the cop photographing the crowd. This was the protest when Bush graced the napa Valley with his presence.

[NashVegas]

9. One Good Turn ...

(this was during a Bush visit protest)

[NV Whino]

10. I just learned that Bush is coming to the Napa Valley again.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3629038&mesg_id=3629038