Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A law that needs to be changed
It's hard to fathom that the police believe they can arrest someone for recording them in public, whether they know they are being "taped" or not:
I would suggest that the law be clarified to allow the recording of all events in a public place as well as the recording of any public official conducting his or her duties. Either that or change the law to "One party consent." It's not 1968 anymore. ¶ 6:12 AM
Jon Surmacz, 34, experienced a similar situation. Thinking that Boston police officers were unnecessarily rough while breaking up a holiday party in Brighton he was attending in December 2008, he took out his cellphone and began recording.Technology has changed since 1968 and so have society's standards regarding "openness" when it comes to dealing with public officials.
Police confronted Surmacz, a webmaster at Boston University. He was arrested and, like Glik, charged with illegal surveillance.
There are no hard statistics for video recording arrests. But the experiences of Surmacz and Glik highlight what civil libertarians call a troubling misuse of the state’s wiretapping law to stifle the kind of street-level oversight that cellphone and video technology make possible.
I would suggest that the law be clarified to allow the recording of all events in a public place as well as the recording of any public official conducting his or her duties. Either that or change the law to "One party consent." It's not 1968 anymore. ¶ 6:12 AM
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In Massachusetts, Wunsch said Attorney General Martha Coakley and police chiefs should be informing officers not to abuse the law by charging civilians with illegally recording them in public.
The cases are the courts’ concern, said Coakley spokesman Harry Pierre. “At this time, this office has not issued any advisory or opinion on this issue.’’
Why Not???
If its wrong, its wrong - she's the boss isn't she?
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The cases are the courts’ concern, said Coakley spokesman Harry Pierre. “At this time, this office has not issued any advisory or opinion on this issue.’’
Why Not???
If its wrong, its wrong - she's the boss isn't she?
<< Home
