SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Here's a small quote from an article about photographers' rights vs law enforcement rights:

“Police officers,” he continued, “do not need citizens out there with cameras videotaping each and every move that they make.”

"He says cameras get in the way of good law enforcement."

Here's the whole article:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/01/taking-liberties-iphone-youtube-and-first-amendment/

What are your thoughts?

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I don't agree that "cameras get in the way of good law enforcement"......

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Any comments on the article?

Did the police go too far with their actions?

Should law enforcement ever delete images from a citizen's camera?

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

[quote=MisterWilson]Here's a small quote from an article about photographers' rights vs law enforcement rights:

“Police officers,” he continued, “do not need citizens out there with cameras videotaping each and every move that they make.”

"He says cameras get in the way of good law enforcement."

As ex-law enforcement my view is that the 1st amendment and people with cameras are a critical element in preserving what constitutional rights we have left.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

no doubt ....wonder what Rodney Kings' thoughts might be on that?

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Without seeing the video in question, my first thoughts are the the so-called "policeman's advocate" who made that statement needs spend a few days in a Turkish jail pretending to be a drug smuggler. He's an idiot.

Regardless of what happened at Pimlico, any public servant doing his or her assigned duty in the public eye should be completely fair game for observation, including video and/or photograph. If they can take a picture inside my car when I slide by the EzPass booth at 16MPH instead of 15, then I can damn well video a bunch of armed thugs beating on a woman.

If they weren't doing anything wrong, they should have no concern about being watched. Only crooks want to operate in the dark - well, crooks and politicians..but then, I repeat myself.

The Constitution trumps EVERYTHING.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Yes I would say that law enforcement over stepped their bounds. If you aren't doing anything wrong then the video shouldn't be a problem.

Law enforcement should not be able to delete images. I would think that this would be right up there with tampering with evidence.

I think that as long as you are not interfering with the police, though in this case it seems some interference might have been warranted, (not being there it is hard for me to make a statement on the actions of either the police or the photographer), the photographer was within his legal rights.

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

As much as it pains me to link to ACLU (LOL) this was not the first time that MD has struggled with this issue. In this case a motorcyclist was charged with wiretap violations for recording his interactions with a helmet mounted camera.

http://www.aclu-md.org/aPress/Press2010/052810_Motorcyclist.html

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Personally, I've only been accosted once for taking pictures, many years ago. I was only 18 and had just bought my first 35mm at a pawn shop. Soon after that I decided to take pictures at a wreck scene, and one of the drivers questioned me about my intentions. I thought maybe he had something to hide, but never found out.

I should have pursued a career in news photography, but I just became an everyday photographer. But, who knows? Maybe tomorrow I'll still get that rare opportunity to get a shot of something newsworthy ... besides the rare local snow storm or hurricane.

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-photographers

This topic has come up a few times. I keep a copy in my gearbag. I am pro law enforcement but they need to deal with technology too....its here to stay

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

This topic has come up a few times. I keep a copy in my gearbag. I am pro law enforcement but they need to deal with technology too....its here to stay

Thank You Rocco. That is a valuable piece of information and I am glad to have access to it.

Lupine Loc: SF Bay Area

WRT attempting to prevent the incident from being recorded, yes.



Absolutely NOT! http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Unhappy/mad-047.gif

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

I would agree with the comment that cameras don't get in the way of good law enforcement, but sometimes photographers do. I worked almost 10 years as a photojournalist and saw photographers sometimes get in bad situations with police officers. Remember if you cooperate, they can make your job easier.

I have seen young graduates from college courses in photojournalism strutting around a wreck scene with the attitude that nobody can stop them. What they overlook is, all first amendments rights aside, when there is a wreck or crime scene, that particular little piece of real estate belongs to that investigating officer and you are at his mercy as to how close you can get to the scene.

Here is another factor. If it is private property, you have no assumed rights to be there. One night in the news room, we heard on the police scanner that there was a fire inside the local Walmart. The editor sends me out with my trusty Nikon. When I get there, guess what? The Walmart people will not let me through the door. It is private property, after all, and they are within their rights to bar photographers if they want to.

Here,s a tip. Do you have a good working relationship with police and other emergency officials? It surely does help. The fire dept. captain on the scene knew me and that I was working for the local paper. He told the Walmart people that he needed pics of the damage and guess what. I got in.

So if you are at a 'scene' and the ones in charge don't want you near the action, give them a break. If they see that you are cooperative they can be helpful. Over the years, I got to know most of the police, city, county and state, well enough that they would allow me onto any wreck or crime scene. But I can guarantee you that I stayed out of their way and that makes a big difference. I am sorry, but fresh out of college, you haven't had time to cultivate that relationship.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Law Enforcement likes to have pictures/videos when it supports their actions- just not the other way around. They can't have it both ways.

I don't think (for the most part) the people taping are getting in the way--- if their intention is to "get in the way" they put down their camera and intercede int he injustice being done.
If police were indeed punching a person cuffed and on the ground I would have had to find a way to make myself heard for them to stop--- usually yelling only aggravates violence - it would have to be a calmer approach.

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

Hey Rocco,
Thanks for the link to the ACLU article. I printed a copy to carry with me too. Very practical.
Thnx again,
nikon_jon