Current Events > New Arizona law makes it illegal to film nearby police

(+) Yeah! (+)

I really doubt the law is upheld under a First Amendment challenge if / when someone is prosecuted under it

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/6/3/AAd2inAADcAr.jpg

This is like a middle range SCOTUS litmus test

Your topic title is objectively false.

Is this one of the laws that only bans bystanders from filming that close?
People who the cops are directly questioning can still film?

FLAMING_EVIL_HOMER posted...

Is this one of the laws that only bans bystanders from filming that close?
People who the cops are directly questioning can still film?

Yes.

FLAMING_EVIL_HOMER posted...

Is this one of the laws that only bans bystanders from filming that close?
People who the cops are directly questioning can still film?

On paper, sure, but if you don't think cops are primed and ready to abuse the shit out of this you're a fool.

did they say we can't film them from a distance?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/7/4/AAfMaiAADcA2.jpg

Don't worry we can always just watch the body cam footage that is easily accessible to the public and never "accidentally" deleted.

FLAMING_EVIL_HOMER posted...

Is this one of the laws that only bans bystanders from filming that close?
People who the cops are directly questioning can still film?

Only until the cop decides that they're "interfering with lawful police actions"

don't worry, i'm sure cops will have complete knowledge of the law and not abuse it in order to make false arrests or beat up innocent civilians. yep yep

I mean, it is illegal to take pictures of or film the police in other countries. The countries that allow it are very few if I recall.

I had my camera and phone seized by the police in Europe (I can't recall exactly which country, I want to say. . . Latvia or Lithuania)

Murphiroth posted...

On paper, sure, but if you don't think cops are primed and ready to abuse the shit out of this you're a fool.

It's pretty easy to prove you're outside of the 8 feet though.

Serious_Cat posted...

It's pretty easy to prove you're outside of the 8 feet though.

Not if the cops say you're not. Or decide to move towards you.

Again...if you think this won't be immediately abused and is anything more than a blanket method to help cops not be accountable, you're a fool.

Murphiroth posted...

Or decide to move towards you.

Which would make it a direct interaction.

dave_is_slick posted...

Which would make it a direct interaction.

And the cop would then say you're interfering and aren't allowed to film

Murphiroth posted...

Not if the cops say you're not. Or decide to move towards you.

Again...if you think this won't be immediately abused and is anything more than a blanket method to help cops not be accountable, you're a fool.

Easy to prove distance if they attempt to prosecute for it.

Serious_Cat posted...

Easy to prove distance if they attempt to prosecute for it.

unless you're pretty far or have measuring tape showing the distance (which would also then be interfering), the judge will probably take the cop's word

KnightofShikari posted...

unless you're pretty far or have measuring tape showing the distance (which would also then be interfering), the judge will probably take the cop's word

Or a video showing the distance.

Serious_Cat posted...

Or a video showing the distance.

victim: here's the calculations based on the objects in the video between the camera and the cop that show that i was 10 feet away
cop: i believed he was 6 feet away
judge: cop wins

unless you have some other way that would show the distance that a judge will accept

KnightofShikari posted...

victim: here's the calculations based on the objects in the video between the camera and the cop that show that i was 10 feet away
cop: i believed he was 6 feet away
judge: cop wins

unless you have some other way that would show the distance that a judge will accept

You can go out with a measuring tape and measure the distance exactly.

This topic has already been talked about here in CE:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/80086314

Serious_Cat posted...

You can go out with a measuring tape and measure the distance exactly.

sure sure, if your video is clear enough and if the judge doesn't just take the cop's word for it

and in the meanwhile the cop has forced you to stop recording or you get arrested

UnholyMudcrab posted...

And the cop would then say you're interfering and aren't allowed to film

But by doing that they've made you a part of it and the law allows you to film that close if it's a direct interaction.

You're right guys, there's absolutely no potential for abuse in this law and the police, particularly Arizona police, are always on the up and up.

dave_is_slick posted...

But by doing that they've made you a part of it and the law allows you to film that close if it's a direct interaction.

No, my point is that the law makes exceptions if you are part of the police interaction and are "interfering with lawful police actions."

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/55leg/2R/bills/HB2319S.htm

Subsection B.

Which is just a lengthy way of saying that the cop is going to tell you that you're interfering with him, and that your recording is illegal anyway, even if you would otherwise be able to, no matter what you were actually doing.