Should Recording Cops Within 25 Feet Be Illegal?

WCCB Edge,

[gtxvideo vid=”80bHqc8d” playlist=”” pid=”Bbt3TRDe” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/80bHqc8d.jpg” vtitle=”edge recording cops”]

A bill introduced to the Texas House of Representatives would make it illegal for private citizens to record police within 25 feet.  The bill, introduced Tuesday by Republican Jason Villalba of Dallas, would make the offense a misdemeanor.  Citizens who are armed would not be permitted to record police activity within 100 feet of an officer, according to the Houston Chronicle.

According to the bill, only representatives of radio or TV organizations that hold an FCC license, newspapers and magazines would have the right to record police.  

On Twitter, the legislator disagreed with people who said he’s seeking to make all recording of cops illegal.  “My bill just asks filmers to stand back a little so as not to interfere with law enforcement,” he said.  

The bill would go against precedent set in 2011 by an appeals court, which found that citizens are allowed to record police, according to the ACLU.

And this brings us to the Question of the Night: Should recording police within 25 feet be illegal?

Plus:

  • SAE to Sue University of Oklahoma
  • Obama Reads Mean Tweets
  • St. Patrick’s Day in Charlotte