Small victory in right to film police officers

[garybeck]

Motorcyclist wins taping case against state police

A Harford County Circuit Court judge ruled this afternoon that a motorcyclist who was arrested for videotaping his traffic stop by a Maryland State Trooper was within his rights to record the confrontation.

Judge Emory A Pitt Jr. tossed all the charges filed against Anthony Graber, leaving only speeding and other traffic violations, and most likely sparing him a trial that had been scheduled for Oct. 12. The judge ruled that Maryland's wire tap law allows recording of both voice and sound in areas where privacy cannot be expected. He ruled that a police officer on a traffic stop has no expectation of privacy.

"Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public," the judge wrote. "When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation."

the youtube vid is here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHjjF55M8JQ

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. The judge ruled in his favor?

Quick! Change that law! We're not quite fascism yet!

[Subdivisions]

2. K&R! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, garybeck.:thumbsup:

[msanthrope]

4. Good. Taping helps, not hinders justice. n/t

[COLGATE4]

5. By tonite Fux News and all their little psuedo-news shows will be

howling about "another damned librul commie judge", giving out the judge's name and home phone number so that their legions of mouth breathers can call and otherwise harass and/or intimidate him/her.

[catgirl]

6. K&R

[X_Digger]

7. BIG K&R! n/t

[TexasObserver]

8. Kicked and recommended.

It was a gross abuse of the law for them to charge him.

[Dawson Leery]

9. I am not a supporter of law enforcement.

I am a supporter of the Constitution. Law Enforcement must join in this endeavor.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. big victory

[dajoki]

11. K&R

[Towlie]

12. Thank you, Judge Obvious.

And give our regards to your brother, the Captain.

[Scurrilous]

13. K & R

:thumbsup: