Federal Court: Massachusetts Law Against Recording Of On-The-Job Cops Is Unconstituti

The statement wasn't based on an extrapolation. It was based on direct memory that I -thought- was associated with you, but apparently wasn't. No need to act like a faggot about it
 
A federal appeals court ruled that the people have the right to record police officers when they're on the job in public. A U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals judge found that a Massachusetts law used to ban such actions is unconstitutional.

Universal Hub reports the case involved a Boston lawyer who was arrested and had his phone seized when he recorded a drug arrest. In the ruling (PDF), the judge wrote "Gathering information about government officials in a form that can readily be disseminated to others serves a cardinal First Amendment interest in protecting and promoting "the free discussion of governmental affairs."

The judge noted that because the recording took place in a public park, the officers weren't able to claim immunity to the protections.

Court says state law used to ban recording of police officers in public is unconstitutional [Universal Hub via Slashdot]

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/federal-court-rules-massachusetts-law-banning-public-cop-recording-is-unconstitutional.html

Score one for the good guys
 
Police are in public, and are public servants. They are also allowed to video record us.
If they are allowed to video record us in public, we are allowed to video record them in public. Period.
They are not above the law. They are there to enforce it.
 
I have always been taught that while in public there is no expectation of privacy.
This is why it is perfectly legal to take a picture of my house from the sidewalk. This is also why it is illegal for me to run naked through the park.

For me this has always been the be-all, end-all of the 'recording cops in public' debate for me.

I mean, bottom line, if he is beating up a hippy in a park then the cop is in a public space.

Now, it is nice to say, 'well he can record me, I should record him!'. But the playground rule 'turn about is fair play!' is NOT a legal standard.

I agree with the majority of people in this thread, I would like to see one of these incidents get to the supreme court. This is the highest order of bullshit.
 
And then you come across crap like this

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-6006155-504083.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/fairfax/woman-flipped-off-naked-guy-th.html
 
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