Growing Number of Prosecutions for Videotaping the Police

[EagleSmack]

Nope. If an Officer has something like his identity to "hide". I'm of the mindset that there is good reason.

Here in the US, vice cops, DEA, undercover cops are, I would say, 99% of the time plain clothes and undercover. They aren't the cops on the beat or in the marked cruisers giving tickets, being the uniformed presence at a scene, etc. When you look at most of the "Cops Caught on Tape" they are uniformed police. The OP video is unique to a point as it is an unmarked, plain clothes statie. But he is most likely out there doing traffic duty catching knuckleheads like the guy on the bike. Pulling the gun? You have to wonder why as I think a badge would have been enough as well as his lights in the vehicle.

 

[karrie]

Cops like this?

What's this Cop like?

I was speaking merely to wolf's examples.

 

[lone wolf]

Here in the US, vice cops, DEA, undercover cops are, I would say, 99% of the time plain clothes and undercover. They aren't the cops on the beat or in the marked cruisers giving tickets, being the uniformed presence at a scene, etc. When you look at most of the "Cops Caught on Tape" they are uniformed police. The OP video is unique to a point as it is an unmarked, plain clothes statie. But he is most likely out there doing traffic duty catching knuckleheads like the guy on the bike. Pulling the gun? You have to wonder why as I think a badge would have been enough as well as his lights in the vehicle.

Pulling the gun would have spelled road-rager to me - especially if I'd just smoked a lot of potential piddled off motorists. The badge is identity. The gun is a threat.

 

[CDNBear]

Here in the US, vice cops, DEA, undercover cops are, I would say, 99% of the time plain clothes and undercover. They aren't the cops on the beat or in the marked cruisers giving tickets, being the uniformed presence at a scene, etc. When you look at most of the "Cops Caught on Tape" they are uniformed police. The OP video is unique to a point as it is an unmarked, plain clothes statie. But he is most likely out there doing traffic duty catching knuckleheads like the guy on the bike. Pulling the gun? You have to wonder why as I think a badge would have been enough as well as his lights in the vehicle.

I can't say.

When I had a Nissan pick up, tinted windows, loud system, I was pulled over by an NC State Trooper, he had his land cannon in his hand, thumb on the hammer as he approached my truck. Not a typical thing here in Canuckistan. I was a little put off, but I can understand why.

 

[EagleSmack]

I can't say.

When I had a Nissan pick up, tinted windows, loud system, I was pulled over by an NC State Trooper, he had his land cannon in his hand, thumb on the hammer as he approached my truck. Not a typical thing here in Canuckistan. I was a little put off, but I can understand why.

That made me crack up. You were Canadian...what do you expect! lol

Sometimes they do draw in the South, particularly in known drug corridors, on routine stops. Plus you had tinted windows.

Pulling the gun would have spelled road-rager to me - especially if I'd just smoked a lot of potential piddled off motorists. The badge is identity. The gun is a threat.

No kidding. For some it is like an extra "appendage" if you know what I mean.

"See my gun...I'm cool"

 

[CDNBear]

That made me crack up. You were Canadian...what do you expect! lol

Sometimes they do draw in the South, particularly in known drug corridors, on routine stops. Plus you had tinted windows.

Yep, and he couldn't see me through the tint.

I can appreciate his apprehension and caution. Once he realised I was just a typical Canuck with a penchant for speed, he called a cruiser to come and get me, drive me to the barracks and pay my ticket there. He stayed with my vehicle. When I came back, he gave me the low down on the stripped suped up 5.0 he was driving. Nice ride. He was impressed with the work I'd had done to my little Nissan.

 

[EagleSmack]

That Anthony Graber broke the law in early March is indisputable. He raced his Honda motorcycle down Interstate 95 in Maryland at 80 mph, popping a wheelie, roaring past cars and swerving across traffic lanes.

Petros... if you see the "long" version of the cip he is going 125 MPH at some points before he got busted. He points it out on his speedometer. The biker was an idiot too.

Yep, and he couldn't see me through the tint.

I can appreciate his apprehension and caution. Once he realised I was just a typical Canuck with a penchant for speed, he called a cruiser to come and get me, drive me to the barracks and pay my ticket there. He stayed with my vehicle. When I came back, he gave me the low down on the stripped suped up 5.0 he was driving. Nice ride. He was impressed with the work I'd had done to my little Nissan.

They made you pay it right there?

The NC Staties don't give military discounts. The Army at Fort Bragg, the Marines at Camp Lejuene... half of the folks speeding are military. You need to get above the Mason-Dixon line before a cop will give a service member a break.

 

[CDNBear]

They made you pay it right there?

It wasn't until a couple years later they made that deal where it would apply to your Canadian license here at home. They were getting ripped off by Canadians just not paying up.

The NC Staties don't give military discounts. The Army at Fort Bragg, the Marines at Camp Lejuene... half of the folks speeding are military. You need to get above the Mason-Dixon line before a cop will give a service member a break.

LOL, he was a Marine. Huge globe and anchor on his arm.

 

[YukonJack]

A few years ago I was driving through Fort Benning Military Reservation on US 280 in Georgia. I was speeding when I was stopped by Military Police.

I readily admitted that I was speeding, but as my excuse I said that being from Canada I was not used to driving on such excellent roads and I got carried away.

He smiled and let me go with a warning.

 

[EagleSmack]

It wasn't until a couple years later they made that deal where it would apply to your Canadian license here at home. They were getting ripped off by Canadians just not paying up.

That makes sense.

LOL, he was a Marine. Huge globe and anchor on his arm.

Not surprised there. They don't give Marines a break either. The city outside of Camp Lejuene, Jacksonville, are all pretty much former Marines. The Jacksonville Police Department's best clients are Marines. We always keep them busy.

 

[lone wolf]

Canadian speedometer....

 

[CDNBear]

That makes sense.



Not surprised there. They don't give Marines a break either. The city outside of Camp Lejuene, Jacksonville, are all pretty much former Marines. The Jacksonville Police Department's best clients are Marines. We always keep them busy.

And as usual, before I even mentioned I was Army, not that Marines give us Doggies much cred, I was polite and treated them with respect.

You just seem to get a better response that way.

When SCB and I moved to Ontario, we were in downtown Tdot. I parked in a no parking zone. Got towed. When we came out, the Officer that ticketed my Jeep, and had me towed was still there. I apologized, I told him that all the babies stuff was in the Jeep, and on que, the little guy let out a little cry. That Officer drove us all over downtown Tdot, trying to find a National Bank, which at that time was just starting to pop up in Ontario. Once we found one, he drove us to the impound yard. He didn't leave until he made sure we were ok.

A little understanding and respect goes a long way with most Officers.

 

[EagleSmack]

A few years ago I was driving through Fort Benning Military Reservation on US 280 in Georgia. I was speeding when I was stopped by Military Police.

I readily admitted that I was speeding, but as my excuse I said that being from Canada I was not used to driving on such excellent roads and I got carried away.

He smiled and let me go with a warning.

He must have cracked up and KNEW you were busting his chops on that one. I am sure a new and good excuse can get a warning.


A Marine buddy of mine was doing about 90 MPH and flew by an NC Statie. He did not even wait for the cop to pull out. He pulled right over. The cop got out of the car and laughed.

"You knew you was busted dintcha boy... you knew it."

"Hell yeah... I was doing 90 at least."

"Yes you wuz son! I ain't neva had someone juz' pull over like that...that wuz funny. Lez see yo' license and proof and we'll getcha on your way. I can't juz let ya go on this one but I kin knock it down to 75 fo' you just cuz I dint have to chase ya and ya juz made my day."

(how was my southern drawl?)

 

[CDNBear]

(how was my southern drawl?)

That was as southern as grits boy!

 

[AnnaG]

Yeah, but, in the absence of consent, I don't think the police should have a right to seize or destroy 'evidence'.

Bump.

Canadian speedometer....

Good excuse for going slow enough to hold up traffic in the US. lol

 

[VanIsle]

I guess if someone sees that a police officer is truly out of control while arresting someone, they should be videoed and it should be given to the courts. So many video's get taken now that police officers are afraid to do their job for fear of losing it. Sometimes their job means they have to use a little more force than Joe Public might think is necessary and then there is a big un-necessary investigation that tarnishes the cops image. And - puts his/her name in the news and their posting. I well know those dangers and my husband was a cop during much "quieter" times then we see now. I don't believe there was ever a time that he needed to draw his firearm. Like all things, video's can be a good thing but I would think in a job like being a peace office, they are a lot more hassle than they are of value. As far as a privacy issue goes, who really needs to know a peace officer's identity besides the person they are dealing with. I avoided using the words victim or criminal because they don't always apply.

 

[lone wolf]

Bump.

Good excuse for going slow enough to hold up traffic in the US. lol

Ah, I just double what the US sign says and go a little bit slower than that (according to my metric meter) Divide by five and multiply by eight is a bit too much math for a pleasure cruise.

 

[AnnaG]

I wonder why people haven't figured out how to video things so they wouldn't be noticed by cranky cop. Do they HAVE to stand there conspicuously taping a scene?

 

[earth_as_one]

In Canada I believe its legal to record your own conversation, even if the other person (or people) doesn't know. Its illegal to record someone else's conversation where the people being recorded are unaware they are being recorded.

 

[Ron in Regina]

I guess if someone sees that a police officer is truly out of control while arresting someone, they should be videoed and it should be given to the courts. So many video's get taken now that police officers are afraid to do their job for fear of losing it. Sometimes their job means they have to use a little more force than Joe Public might think is necessary and then there is a big un-necessary investigation that tarnishes the cops image. And - puts his/her name in the news and their posting. I well know those dangers and my husband was a cop during much "quieter" times then we see now. I don't believe there was ever a time that he needed to draw his firearm. Like all things, video's can be a good thing but I would think in a job like being a peace office, they are a lot more hassle than they are of value. As far as a privacy issue goes, who really needs to know a peace officer's identity besides the person they are dealing with. I avoided using the words victim or criminal because they don't always apply.

That's why, imo, you should be allowed to videotape officers, BUT, you shouldn't be allowed to publish those videos. You should have to make a copy available to the court system, and be permitted to keep a copy for yourself.

How does someone give a video to the courts? Doesn't it have to go through
the Police (or a lawyer...which may be beyond the means of a witness) where
it might be lost or misplaced, or deemed never to have existed in the first place.

If an officer isn't doing anything wrong, then the releasing of a video (or picture)
taken in a public place (where the expectation of privacy is nullified) should be
a non-issue. Releasing it publicly (via the Internet) costs nothing (unlike a Lawyer)
and ensures that the video doesn't disappear or get permanently misplaced.

The police force here has officers working undercover vice squad by night, and writing tickets by day. Their face being published puts them at serious risk. But then, I've never understood how such a small city can risk their cops doing that in the first place, vids or no.

Yes, some officers do work undercover, and if they end up on the Internet, doing
whatever, demonstrating publicly that they're police officers, then they must be
reassigned to a non-undercover role it would seem.

Police Officers, as Civil Servants, are paid to police the public. It is all of our
roles to police the Police, and video is a tool towards that end. Police policing
themselves (& this is my opinion only, from first hand experience as well as that
of Family & Friends) doesn't seem to work well at best, without the tool of video
in some instances.

Again, this all goes back to, "What is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a
public place?"

For the U.S. : Expectation of privacy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For Canada : Ambientlight.ca - Laws

In the case in the O.P. the Police seized everything in the home that this video
might be stored on...so a copy would be a non-issue here. The only way to
ensure the video's existance was to release it publicly.