Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Citizens Recording Cops On Video


Like it or not cameras are everywhere and people are using them. Cops have the same rights to film citizens and their conduct.

The Conservative think tank, The Cato Institute produced this film with their position on cameras.

Cops can come off as tyrants or heroes on video recordings. The cameras are not going away and officers must learn how to use them for their advantage.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

howcome you dont have the link included on the bottom whereas someone can click on cool, funny, ect

Anonymous said...

Paul, thanks for posting this. In an earlier post I recall you saying that people recording cops was making their lives miserable and I believe you said it was inappropriate. If that's what you believe, then posting this Cato clip supporting Americans' right to equal protection is commendable and (once again) demonstrates you are a man of great character.

Paul Huebl Crimefile News said...

It is not so much what I support but our law and Bill of rights has dictated for our life in a free society. Cameras and the right to use them are here to stay. I guess we need to adapt to technology.

Those silly cop cameras the UK has experimented with will guarantee citizens will not be engaging in any helpful conversations with police. I think pulling out a camera on a misbehaving person in many cases may deter continued misdeeds.

For the most part video works for the cops because they are trained professionals that know how to control their impulses. Many a video has cleared a falsely accused cop in recent years. The same can be said for wrongfully fingered suspects.

The cameras are here and we’ve got what we’ve got. I must admit we don’t like living in a goldfish bowel and will adjust somehow.

As we discuss this small cheap video cameras are the fastest selling gadgets on this earth.

Anonymous said...

I think that, right or wrong, the Illinois Eavesdropping Law is being interpreted as prohibiting citizens from videotaping police.