WASHINGTON - Is it a way to protect yourself from abuse of power? Or is it an invasion of privacy? A YouTube video of a Maryland traffic stop is at the center of that debate.
Maryland motorcyclist Anthony Graber had a camera on the top of his helmet to record his ride down Interstate 95. He admits he was speeding and popping wheelies.
A Maryland State Trooper in an unmarked car pulled him over. The trooper, in a sweatshirt and jeans, pulled out a gun to make the traffic stop.
Graber was indicted for violating Maryland's wiretap laws, for recording the trooper without his consent.
The 1970s wiretap law applies to audio recordings. Maryland requires all parties to consent before a recording is made. Virginia and D.C. do not.
The law came about well before the age of cellphones and tiny video cameras.
GO HERE to read more and watch video.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
8 comments:
ANOTHER example of "public masters" and not "public servants". I'm not aware of ANY consent being given by a citizen to be filmed and recorded by the dash-cams on police cars, which sometimes end up on TV shows and YouTube (with consent by all parties??). Is the law made for everyone or not?? If they (police) can use these cameras to (supposedly) protect themselves against accusations of misbehavior, then why can't citizens do the same to protect THEMSELVES against cops who abuse their authority (and THAT happens frequently...volumes of cases make THAT fact indisputable)...thank God that people DO film the police, otherwise we would have to believe their story that these things NEVER happen. The law is outdated and a disservice to the people. But then again, those paid to "protect" us are just trying to "protect" us more and more every day....
I guess once again we have a response without thought or at least reading the article. It is about voice recording, audio, sound of the conversation. Second point it is about MD. MD requires this, that is why in MD a police officer's first comments to you when a camera with audio is recording is that he is telling you that it is recording. If the cops have to do it, then all should have to, to follow your fair is fair comment
Hmmmmmm....I believe this site carried a post not too long ago regarding the possible prosecution of the people who filmed the vicious (and unprovoked) assault on the college student who supposedly assaulted an officer and his horse....the police filed a false report and without the film, their word was gold and the innocent--- INNOCENT!!! --- victim would have been plea bargaining to stay out of jail!! But, according to the post, Maryland officials were considering criminal charges for recording without consent.?? Is that correct?? My point, and it IS well thought out, with MUCH documentation to back it up, is that our police don't, in the REAL world of their day to day work, don't consider themselves "public servants", but "public masters", able to beat and shoot you at will, ignore the law (which is also made for THEM too), and generally use the "I can do whatever I want" badge to its full effect, backed up by the code of silence among officers (also UNDENIABLE) and State's Attorney's offices all too willing to go along. I have also seen a few films of traffic stops and I have NEVER heard an officer tell the driver he's being recorded...has anyone??? Every day --- EVERY DAY!! -- one can find a newspaper/internet article about an officer being filmed beating or shooting (sometimes killing) someone...."protecting" us, I guess. And as far is fair is fair, try recording your next traffic stop (even tell the officer you are doing it)...let me know how THAT turns out....lol...and notice, for what it's worth, I ain't using "anonymous"....
5:27 - since the police are such "bad guys", next time you are in need of assistance (your house is broken into, someone assults you, or any of the many other reasons people call for help), please don't dial 911 or call your local police. I wouldn't want you to ask someone of whom you hold such a low opinion to risk his or her life and limb to protect yours. Especially since whoever you call for help will be someone else's brother, husband, son, father, (or sister, wife, daughter, or mother for that matter).
And I won't hide behind annonymous either.
8:08- I would never call the police to "help me" because the only thing they can help do is load my body into a coroners van.
Unlike the mindless masses who think that a tin badge on a stranger 3o miles away makes them save, I defend myself.
the only reason why we even need police is because the law prevents ctizens from protecting themselves properly in the first place.
Apparently Joe didn't feel my comment was worthy, but 4:40 what happens when you say that it is not ok for them to record you?
"bad guys"??? Your words, not mine. As far as calling the police, I handle my business, but the law says, for the most part, you are NOT ALLOWED to "handle your business"....I merely point out the facts --- the government we have now, with the police being their ARMED agents/enforcers, doesn't appear to be that interested in stopping crime as much as they appear to be a revenue enhancing arm bent on taking our money and (sometimes)using their power in very, very questionable ways. As I stated before, seat belt violations are a BIG deal that make tons of money, as do the thousands of speeding tickets that are written EVERY day, but bank robberries, assaults, murders, purse snatchings, car thefts, etc are going on with apparent ease. If someone does something to my family, I prefer to take care of it myself, but if I do, the police will arrest me. So, I am FORCED to call the police...by the police, so your point SOUNDS really good, but it's disingenuous. And these Nazi "checkpoints" I've complained about?? Why aren't people stopped while they are walking down the side walk and searched for weapons or drugs?? BECAUSE ITS ILLEGAL (for now, anyway)... so just because you are in a car, its supposed to be okay to stop innocent people to CHECK TO SEE IF THEY MAY (!!) BE COMMITTING A CRIME??? I observe and comment...and point out some uncomfortable truths...such as the law being made for ALL of us....and believe this ---I am not the only one who wonders what the heck all these police are doing...other than, of course, "protecting" us through strict traffic enforcement...and Mandy, it might as well be John or Susie or Bill ---it's still as anonymous as "anonymous", you brave little thing ---you go girl!!
Police haters are tools, but they'll come save your butt no matter how much you hate them. That's one of the low points in the job, saving dumb a#%Ys that dont wanna be saved. That's apart of what makes them great, they rush into the most dangerous of situations to rescue even the most arrogant of bone heads from situations that they cannot handle themselves. And to think that one can handle any/all situations themselves is additional evidence of narcism and arrogance. Good luck handling a group of armed and violent gunmen invading your home, your nickname must be ARMY or MARINES
LOL...anonymous....don't be so sensitive...but the truth is non-negotiable...the police take millions of dollars (look up the Maryland budget) from the citizens of this state...the large and overwhelming majority of which is from seat belt violations and speeding tickets....thats a fact..and I have NEVER heard of the police stopping an armed home invasion....lol...I HAVE heard of them showing up about 20 minutes AFTER the fact to take pictures of the bodies. And its also a FACT that the police kill dozens of unarmed citizens under very questionable circumstances...its also a FACT that police ignore the laws.. (especially speeding) that are made for ALL of us....its also a well-documented FACT that police look the other way when they see other police commit crimes (assault, traffic violations, murder (yes, murder), drug violations, etc (its called the code of silence)...these are facts and cannot be realistically disputed....if you don't like it when citizens point these facts out, well, I don't know what to tell ya...I'm not hating the police, but I am disgusted by the out-of-control crime going on while the police do their "seat belt enforcement zones" and their Nazi "checkpoints" harrassing a huge group of INNOCENT people. With great authority comes great responsibility...do the job correctly and stop some crime, please...and as far as tools go....you wouldn't be one of those 5'5" inch tall cops would you, cause ya sound very sensitive....lol
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