Dallas State Representative Jason Villalba has proposed a bill which would make it illegal to record police if you're less than 25 feet away, or less than 100 feet away if you also have a gun.
The core of the bill:
So:
1) Why is a bill like this necessary, when there's already a law against interfering with the police?
2) If you're standing 24 feet away and just staring at the scene, it's okay, but if you then whip out a camera it becomes disruptive?
3) Why does also carrying a gun make it worse? I can understand why police handling a situation might want people with guns to keep away, but as far as this bill is concerned someone with a gun can stand with 24 feet, so long as they're not also filming. (One person thinks that this is specifically in response to Kory Watkins, who is in the habit of getting up close to police while being loud and open-carrying)
4) If filming that close really is disruptive to police work, why are members of the media allowed to do it?
5) Since the bill makes no distinction between bystanders and citizens being questioned/detained, it would prohibit citizens being questioned/detained from filming with a camera/cellphone, and even require that they turn off body cams.
6) "Documenting" isn't defined in the bill. Does it mean determining the badge numbers of the police officers? If so, it technically makes it illegal for citizens being questioned/detained to try to read said badge numbers.
The core of the bill:
Quote:
(f)For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), an interruption, disruption, impediment, or interference that occurs while a peace officer is performing a duty or exercising authority imposed or granted by law includes a person: (1)filming, recording, photographing, or documenting the officer within 25 feet of the officer; or (g)It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under Subsection (a)(1) based on conduct described by Subsection (f)(2) that the interruption, disruption, impediment, or interference was caused by a person who, at the time of the offense, was: (1)a news media employee acting in the course and scope of the person ’s employment; or |
So:
1) Why is a bill like this necessary, when there's already a law against interfering with the police?
2) If you're standing 24 feet away and just staring at the scene, it's okay, but if you then whip out a camera it becomes disruptive?
3) Why does also carrying a gun make it worse? I can understand why police handling a situation might want people with guns to keep away, but as far as this bill is concerned someone with a gun can stand with 24 feet, so long as they're not also filming. (One person thinks that this is specifically in response to Kory Watkins, who is in the habit of getting up close to police while being loud and open-carrying)
4) If filming that close really is disruptive to police work, why are members of the media allowed to do it?
5) Since the bill makes no distinction between bystanders and citizens being questioned/detained, it would prohibit citizens being questioned/detained from filming with a camera/cellphone, and even require that they turn off body cams.
6) "Documenting" isn't defined in the bill. Does it mean determining the badge numbers of the police officers? If so, it technically makes it illegal for citizens being questioned/detained to try to read said badge numbers.
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1xMrGHr
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire