Bill acknowledges the right of citizens to record on-duty police

[TalkingDog]

http://www.theagitator.com/2011/02/24/short-but-sweet/

Connecticut State Sen. Martin Looney (D-New Haven) has introduced a short bill that not only acknowledges the right of citizens to record on-duty police officers, it also provides for a civil action against police officers who violate that right.

That second part is important. A right doesn’t mean much if there are no consequences for government officials who ignore it. Witness this case in Florida, where an officer erroneously tries to say federal law prohibits citizen recordings of cops. Even in states where courts have thrown out criminal charges, a cop who doesn’t want to be recorded can still harass, threaten, and even arrest you. You may not be charged. But he won’t be punished, either.

[TheWraith]

1. Good. Hopefully this spreads to other states, like NY. nt

[NuclearDem]

2. Small steps...small steps.

This is good.

[LiberalFighter]

3. I think if it is mandatory for video recordings of police incident stops

then it should be okay for civilians to record them too.

[ThomCat]

4. I hope this passes, and I hope other states get similar laws.

[dreamnightwind]

5. Could a bill like this happen at the federal level?

I know, in my dreams. They're out in public, performing services we pay them for, what possible right to any expectation of privacy could they reasonably have? Police abuses are common and mostly go unpunished. Their behavior would improve a lot if they had reason to think it would be revealed by citizen video.

edited to add "of privacy" as I had originally intended

[TalkingDog]

6. Doubtful in this incarnation. Federal vs. State

Police officers are state employees (or city, which is in the state) Their jurisdiction does not extend outside the state borders.

It would take a different angle, some constitutional right being violated for it to become a Federal issue. Free speech... due process... I'm not well versed enough in the legalities to say how it might be tackled in order to get it to a higher court.