Cops are concerned about people shooting in the citys streets. The trouble is, theyre concerned about people who shoot with cameras. Photographer Jerome Vorus writes on his blog that he was recently detained for photography by D.C. police after taking pictures of a traffic stop from a distance far enough not to impede in any police investigation. An officer asked him for security reasons why he was taking pictures and then asked him to produce identification. When Vorus asked if he was being detained, the officer, after dancing around the question, said he was free to go. But as that officer left, another approached, told Vorus he was being detained, and told him to put his camera away, according to the photog.
Vorus says four officers told him it is against the law to take pictures of people on a public street, or to take any pictures of police officers, without prior authorization. This, of course, is nonsense. As DCist observes, If this were the case, you could pretty much close your eyes, point to any tourist and call the cops on them.
The District has no law against recording on-duty police officers. Whats troubling is, three states do. Gizmodos Wendy McElroy says these laws apply even if the encounter involves you and may be necessary to your defense, and even if the recording is on a public street where no expectation of privacy exists.
In Illinois, a man who recorded his own arrest on a misdemeanor charge -- later dropped -- is facing prosecution for illegal recording, a Class I felony that could get him 15 years in prison.
Maryland also has such a law, which was recently used against motorcyclist Anthony Graber. As I wrote last month, that 1970s-era law was intended to protect citizens against secret recording, but is now being used by those in positions of power to avoid accountability.
Since 9/11, there have been more and more cases across the U.S. of police arresting citizen photographers without cause. Though some of these citizens, like YouTubes Jimmy Justice, are trying to document police wrongdoing, others have less political motives.
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Target shooting fundraiser for Wicomico County Council candidate Mike Brewington at an undisclosed location. Suggested donation is $20 per person, with details and location available by calling (410) MAX-9999.
