Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

The Republican leaders of the Arizona Legislature said that they wouldn't defend a law limiting filming police blocked by a federal judge. This decision essentially ends the fight over the contentious proposal. In June, the NPPA joined the Arizona Broadcasters Association, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and eight other media organizations in a suit challenging the law as a violation of the First Amendment. The NPPA also wrote a letter to Gov. Doug Ducey after the measure passed, telling him it was unconstitutional and urging a veto. Ducey signed the bill anyway. Mickey H. Osterreicher, the general counsel for the NPPA, called the law "an unconstitutional solution in search of a non-existent problem."
Arizona Legislature won't defend law limiting police filming | AP News
https://apnews.com/article/arizona-phoenix-legislature-news-media-c85b3cdf802bf9dae914315f09fd836c


Ron

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Sorry for Arizona --
The poor dears are now forced to find & hire more Photogenic Cops

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

I was wondering when something political would turn up on this blog. Let's leave it out - it really is too depressing.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well, it IS directly related to photography, laws regarding,
unlike other items of opinion.....

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Attic bound.

Don

Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

I'm sure you would rather hear about someones late camera delivery or the latest problem they had with FedEx or UPS. Try to stay up to date. Please.

Ron

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Your original post starts with "The Republican leaders of the Arizona Legislature" and that makes it political.

UHH rules are very clear that political posts can only be made to the Attic...nowhere else.

I can understand not wanting to post to the Attic, it isn't a very nice place. I wish I had never ventured there, but rules are rules.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

So if the OP started with "The Arizona legislature..." would that still be considered "political"?

TerryVS

The fact that is was the Republicans that voted for this stupid law so the lead is factual. I suspect some here like me are just damn tired of the fact that everything has to be the Republicans or the Democrats. The polarization of this country has screwed things up. So it's a thin line.

Of course if you read the law it should have never gotten to a vote. Fact is if you're 8 feet or less from an officer while that officer is engaged in a situation you are and should be subject to arrest. Those laws are already on the books. When they added the fact you're 8 feet or less and filming /photographing it becomes a problem.

As a life long photojournalist I point my camera at cops every night. There are times I've been less than 8 feet (very rare) but in those cases I wasn't interfering with the officer.

I appreciate the post as it does contain useful information.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Here is a letter covering filming as a 1st amendment right:
https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2012/05/17/Sharp_ltr_5-14-12.pdf

Wise to carry a reference in your from the neck hang tag showing you are an INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST.

"It is important to realize that you do not need a press "credential" to take pictures or cover events in public places (streets, parks, sidewalks that are not closed off to public access). You do not need government approval to work as a journalist, although it may be beneficial to obtain a “Press ID” or an official government-issued press credential for other reasons. "
https://nppa.org/page/press-credentials

Get international press card:
https://nwu.org/member-benefits/press-pass/