Tuesday, November 27, 2012

SUPREME COURT RULES THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO VIDEOTAPE POLICE

If I were still a cop, I would not want some citizen to tape me doing my job. Having said that though, I think that people should have the right to videotape cops so long as they do not interfere with the officer in the performance of his duties.

U.S. COURT REJECTS PLEA TO BLOCK TAPING OF POLICE
Opponents of the law say the right to record police is vital to guard against abuses.

Associated Press
November 26, 2012

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an Illinois prosecutor's plea to allow enforcement of a law aimed at stopping people from recording police officers on the job.

The justices on Monday left in place a lower court ruling that found that the state's anti-eavesdropping law violates free speech rights when used against people who tape law enforcement officers. The law sets out a maximum prison term of 15 years.

Opponents of the law say the right to record police is vital to guard against abuses.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in 2010 against Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to block prosecution of ACLU staff for recording police officers performing their duties in public places. It's one of the group's long-standing monitoring missions.

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