Colorado Bill Would Fine Police $15,000 for Interfering with Citizens Filming ThemBy Alek Hidell Representatives Joseph A. Salazar, Daneya Esgar, Lucia Guzman and David Balmer proposed the legislation. It came about as a result of numerous cases where the current laws and regulations were not properly enforced by police commanders, thereby allowing the unlawful seizure or destruction of legally filmed police video. The Denver police case of Jessica Hernandez, who was shot by officers as she stood in her front yard, is a primary example. A bystander who attempted to film the incident claims that police actively interfered with her attempting to film the incident, resulting in another case where we have to take law enforcements word for it. The right to film public events is not limited to the media. Any citizen with a camera can and should record incidents of police misconduct. The United States Court of Appeals tackled this topic in 2011. The case of Glik v. Cunniffe was pivotal in paving the way for Colorados legislation. Simon Glik was filming police in Boston, where they had made an arrest. When they observed Glik filming, they arrested him on a charge of wiretapping. The court of appeals found that a citizens right to film police in public was clearly established and that Boston Police violated his rights by arresting him. Glik settled the case in civil court for $170,000. Colorados new bill doesnt fine the officer directly, instead deferring the cost to the officers agency. Imposing a $15,000 fine directly to the officer would ensure the officers compliance. It is unknown why the authors opted to take a more lenient route. The bill reads: A person has the right to lawfully record any incident involving a peace officer and to maintain custody and control of that recording and the device used to record the recording. A peace officer shall not seize a recording or recording device without consent, a search warrant or without a lawful exception to the warrant requirement. The right to film officers is guaranteed and protected by the First Amendment. Why we live in a society where it is necessary to pass abill, ensuring officers obey the law and follow the Constitution, I dont know. The police are supposed to uphold the Constitution and concepts of liberty. Seizing cell phone video as a way to avoid discovery of misconduct should not only incur a fine, but termination and prosecution as well. Colorados house bill is, at least, a great first step in the right direction. Sources: Complete Colorado, Legislation State, Colorado. This article (Colorado Bill Would Fine Cops $15,000 for Interfering with Citizens Filming Them) is afree and open source. You have permission to republish this article under aCreative Commonslicense with attribution to the author andAnonHQ.com. The servant must always be under the watchful eye of his master. Keep smoking the deprogramming positive effects of pot -Coloradocheers Excessive fines used to be classed as cruel and unusual punishment but in the near-totalitarian west things like that dont count anymore, so all thats left to say is Sieg Heil! Colorados new bill doesnt fine the officer directly, instead deferring the cost to the This is a fantastic idea, but these ignoramuses are going to try to force the tax payers to cover the fine instead of the cop who committed the offense? That will do ZERO to stop these thugs from yanking a cell phone camera out of a bystanders hand and then stomping it under their boot, so as to save their jobs and pensions. The fine needs to be imposed directly on the cop. edyysachs (the shill) takes an ignorant (status quo) shot at Colorado. Weak bill the officers should have to fork over the money, NOT the agency or taxpayers. Since Im little more than government chattel can I defer any fines I receive to my agency as well? Just another bill to make them think they will look good in the voters eyes.It does nothing but cost us money and increase the cops attitude that he can get away with it. BS. Why expect to alter egregious activity indirectly when it would be much more effective done directly? In other words, fine the individual, not the agency. Colorado used to be such a douchebag police state. See what smoking a little good pot can do for you? Calms you right down. Makes you wanna be all peace and love. Once the cops mellow out Im moving there! I see a lot of Accidental deaths of people filming the police in Colorodo lol Whos going to actually prosecute these cases? The DA thats for the cops? lol 