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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFederal judge blocks Arizona law restricting filming of police
U.S. District Judge John Tuchi granted a preliminary injunction requested by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona and multiple media outlets, which argued that the law violates the First Amendment rights of journalists and the public.
The law, which Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed into law in July and was set to go into effect later this month, prohibits people from recording law enforcement activity in the 8-foot radius if they know or reasonably should know the activity is occurring. They are also not allowed to record if an officer warns them that an activity is happening.
The law defines a law enforcement activity as the questioning of a suspicious person, arresting someone, issuing a summons, enforcing the law or handling an emotionally disturbed or disorderly person showing abnormal behavior.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-judge-blocks-arizona-law-restricting-filming-of-police/ar-AA11ELlA?cvid=f6be0842dfa140239088571a68038877
This is good, because we all know that the police hate being filmed and this law is nothing more than police trying to criminalize recording of police while in their official capacity.
Mysterian
(5,173 posts)Thanks for posting.
MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)This seemed important because the repukes are, again, trying to erode our rights.
It's good to see we're fighting back and winning.
ThoughtCriminal
(14,259 posts)Consider that this would include anyone inside a car that had been stopped and dashboard cams.
MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)but we all know that the police will somehow turn it into a crime, their favorite tactic is to claim that it's impeding their "investigation" or obstructing them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti cop, I'm anti corrupt cop, as are most here on DU.
The law was written by an ex cop turned repuke legislature named, get this, Kavanaugh.
I kid you not.
Mr.Bill
(24,695 posts)people filming when getting pulled over by a cop, among other things.
ProfessorGAC
(69,352 posts)I'm certain they couched it in public safety terms, but it feels more like repressing potential evidence.
MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)ProfessorGAC
(69,352 posts)...when it first passed.
Thanks for the confirmation.
MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)Even standing on your own property, the cops could order you to stop recording if they deem it to be interfering with them or it's deemed unsafe.
It makes it illegal to knowingly film police officers 8 feet or closer if the officer tells the person to stop. And on private property, an officer who decides someone is interfering or the area is unsafe can order the person to stop filming even if the recording is being made with the owner's permission.
CatWoman
(79,594 posts)as DeSantis signed several stupid legislation into law.
iluvtennis
(20,685 posts)LiberalFighter
(53,353 posts)MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)We have a winner.
Exactly right, they shouldn't fear citizens filming them if they're not doing anything illegal.
tishaLA
(14,300 posts)and the cops are tired of looking incompetent and corrupt in the eyes of the entire world. The law was patently unconstitutional, though, and the AZ legislature had to know it'd be shot down the first time someone challenged it.
MarineCombatEngineer
(14,293 posts)Warpy
(113,032 posts)Now I just wonder why that is.