Is law enforcement in your video shot?

Gene Moore

Gene Moore

EF3
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
295
Location
San Antonio, TX
In Texas: "as defined in the bill, only a radio or television that holds a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, a newspaper that is qualified under section 2051.044 or a magazine that appears at a regular interval would be allowed to record police." Many chasers make additional money shooting news and especially weather news. This legislation if enacted would impact not only news stringers, but all chasers. The first thing that comes to mind is damage and rescue scenes, but often police vehicle are present while chasers watch a tornado in progress. Another big issue would be if the video is aired and charges filed after the fact. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/po...g-rights-of-citizens-to-videotape-6130903.php
 
A similar but more draconian law here in Illinois was ruled unconstitutional last year. The state is now trying to push a revised version through.
 
I think you would have a good argument that you were not there to record the police; you were recording a rare atmospheric event and the police were incidental to the shot. Otherwise we might as well never shoot pics at public events because police are always present somewhere.
 
Granted this isn't going to pass - but note it says you have to be within 25 feet of the officer when filming to be in violation. If he's in the middle of a house searching for someone, and you are within 25 feet just to record video, you are too close...
 
rdale said:
Granted this isn't going to pass - but note it says you have to be within 25 feet of the officer when filming to be in violation. If he's in the middle of a house searching for someone, and you are within 25 feet just to record video, you are too close...
Click to expand...
It's not uncommon for me to have police vehicles parked nearby during a chase especially when a tornado is in progress. The worst situation is if they are across the road. About 10+ years ago a law was passed allowing anyone going past flooding barricades to be arrested. Near San Antonio they were arresting news reporters that got out of their vehicle and walked to the flooding. This was far beyond the intent of the law that was passed to stop vehicles from driving past barricades. So it this passes I would try to keep all police out of my shot. As for it not passing, don't bet on it Texas has been going crazy with goofy legislation recently.
 
Gene Moore said:
It's not uncommon for me to have police vehicles parked nearby during a chase especially when a tornado is in progress. The worst situation is if they are across the road. About 10+ years ago a law was passed allowing anyone going past flooding barricades to be arrested. Near San Antonio they were arresting news reporters that got out of their vehicle and walked to the flooding. This was far beyond the intent of the law that was passed to stop vehicles from driving past barricades. So it this passes I would try to keep all police out of my shot. As for it not passing, don't bet on it Texas has been going crazy with goofy legislation recently.
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Definitely agree on Texas being stone cold crazy, but this seems like a difficult law to police if the chaser doesn't make their video viral. I can't see how they plan to ever act on 100-200 chasers lined up in the same spot shooting the same tornado with the same police cruiser in the foreground, as a purely incidental object. I can definitely see where, if it ever came to pass, this might affect ENG/money chasers. But for folks who are just quietly out there doing their thing, it's doubtful any recorded law enforcement vehicle video would ever be known about.
 
This falls under the heading of 99% of the time no one is going to care, especially in emergency situations. But....... of course there will be one unfortunate individual who gets slammed. On the larger scale, that has to be the most idiotic law in history.
 
This is from a lunatic state senator from Dallas. This isn't the first time he has tried to get legislation passed that the little voices in his head made him write. There have been several articles in the media today about this elected official. This bill will die a quick death just as all his others. Whats up with Dallas and their "elected" officials???
 
I don't expect this sort of law to pass and even if it does it would run into the same issue that the Illinois law had. Not to mention in recent times there has been a push for more video taping of police, not less, so this sort of law goes against the current grain anyways.
 
I really see this very unlikely to pass and also it will be hell for them to even enforcing it. In most situations, it would be hard for any chaser to actually keep a "Police Cruiser" out of a shot, especially during scenes of damage. Hopefully silly TX Legislation realize that this is barely constitutional..
 
Actually, from the three page bill, it seems to read more as an extension of an existing law. But I haven't had time to dig deeper.

Let's not kid ourselves that it won't pass. There are some pretty conservative folks in Texas and with strong police connections and many departments with police with their own constitution, I can see this passing. Would it hold muster later...perhaps not. But who wants to be the one dealing with the issue for the next 10-12 years of legal battles and fees.

It is funny that LA is actually training officers to accept and right to film and encourages it now. Talk about a role reversal.
 
I think that this is just one of many hurtles we are going to be seeing during this years chase season. Hopefully we dont have any major issues that will draw a negetive light on us.
 
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