On January 9th Joseph Demary of Lenox, MA, one of our followers on Facebook, was arrested for recording a police officer issuing him a traffic citation.
In his own words,
“I was arrested for “unlawful secret recording” for having my phones camera on as it sat on the passenger seat of my car as I received a speeding ticket. I informed the officer I was just protecting myself and my rights. I was quickly arrested and charged with a felony “unlawful secret recording”, my vehicle was towed, I was booked, fingerprinted and thrown in a jail cell for 3hrs for nothing more than exercising my constitutional rights.
The first Amendment includes the freedom to observe and document the conduct of governent officials, which is crucial to democracy and a free society.
Laws governing recording government officials vary depending on jurisdiction, but the first amendment applies across all of America. We should not have to fear our government and certainly should be able to take reasonable action to accurately record events when we interact with officials. If you think Mr. Demary’s arrest seems unjust, Share this to spread the word and help raise awareness! Mr. Demary goes on to say:
Citizens should have the right to record police during arrests, either of their own arrest or someone else’s, to ensure that they are PROTECTING and SERVING rather than acting as Tyrants. This is not the first time someone has been arrested for simply recording Police officers, and I feel that all people should have the right to film Police Officers, especially during their own arrest to make sure the Officers in question are being fair and not abusing their power.This is a blatant violation of civil rights and a injustice. Currently this is just a state issue but I believe that this should be a federal Constitutional Right.
If you would like to support Mr. Demary, here is a link to a petition to help him out.
Photo: Change.org
I seem to recall that the courts have several times that taking of videos, photos, audio recordings in public places/enviorment, were legal?
Dam Socialist Courts .
They recorded him so why can’t he record them?
the case law in question has already been settled in a 1st district court decsision Glik V Boston. Bring this to the attention of Carlos Miller of “Photography is not a Crime” blog site.. And then sit back and watch the entire load of $#%&!@* unloads upon the Cops and District Attorney.
The arrogance of the police services in North America has become so blatant ,that the “Policy Enforcement Officers” are nothing more than Tax collectors for the Judiciary practicing Admiralty /Maritime Contract Law on the land.Simply put the officers do as they please ,because they know they can get away with it with the full backing of the Justice system.
This is why more and more people are buying Dash Cams in record numbers to protect themselves against Crooked Cops, doing a crooked Judiciaries business.
I have one, and the first thing I did when I pulled over I said the following…
Good Afternoon officer, just before we discuss why you pulled me over know that I am recording this conversation and I will use this recording as evidence to protect myself in a court of law if a ticket is issued,I will hold you liable…. Do you understand these terms?
If the officer says No I do not agree ,then you say ” Then Officer am I free to Go” if he says no then ask him “Am I being detained?” if he says no then ask :Then am I free to go?”
The point here is to forward your rights with the camera to back you up.
Camera’s make Policy Enforcement Officers very nervous. Your only protect against increasingly corrupt police is a Dash Cam or I phone, and once a P.O.L. is being recorded they tent to behave.
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From: http://www.truthandaction.org/1st-amendment-violation-police-arrest-man-recording-traffic-citation/comment-page-1/#comment-433503
We’re а bunch оf volunteers and starting a new scheme іn oսr community.
Your web sit offered սs ԝith usefujl info to wߋrk оn. You’ve done a
foemidable job аnd oսr ѡhole community ϲan be thankful to ƴou.
T new police state is alive and doing well. Time to curb their power over us.
eveyone getting stoped buy cops needs arecording of it
UNCONSTITUTIONAL !! FOR NOW !! OVOMIT IS GOING TO FIX OUR CONSTITUTION !!! V