US Justice Dept Defends Right To Record Police 306
Fluffeh writes "In recent times, it seems many Police Departments believe that recording them doing their work is an act of war with police officers, destroying the tapes, phones or cameras while arresting the folks doing it. But in a surprising twist, the U.S. Justice Department has sent letter (PDF) to attorneys for the Baltimore Police Department — who have been quite heavy handed in enforcing their 'Don't record me bro!' mantra. The letter contains an awful lot of lawyer babble and lists many court cases and the like, although some sections are surprisingly clear: 'Policies should prohibit officers from destroying recording devices or cameras and deleting recordings or photographs under any circumstances. In addition to violating the First Amendment, police officers violate the core requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment procedural due process clause when they irrevocably deprived individuals of their recordings without first providing notice and an opportunity to object.' There is a lot more and it certainly seems like a firm foothold in the right direction."
Re:Why delete the recordings? (Score:5, Funny)
You would be surprised. google around. Specifically gun owners/people WITH cameras have been targeted.
Targeted for what? Gun owners are having the recordings on their guns erased?
Re:that first sentence (Score:2, Funny)
They'll also point out that "US Justice Department has sent letter" is missing an article.
So we can't RTFA then?
Re:that first sentence (Score:3, Funny)
Your mother is so fat, I swerved to avoid her, and ran out of gas.
There. I have ignored the point of this original post, the reply post, this thread, and have managed to cleverly insult your mother and you in the process.
I believe I win.