I've posted about this before (Are Cameras the New Guns?, June 12, 2010), and I still can't believe it. Here is some more information about the motorcyclist who NOW FACES 16 YEARS IN JAIL FOR VIDEOTAPING A TRAFFIC STOP.
Here is a summary of the event, from Slashdot:
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/07/27/0212232/Facing-16-Years-In-Prison-For-Videotaping-Police?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29
And a more detailed description:
http://carlosmiller.com/2010/04/16/maryland-motorcyclist-spends-26-hours-in-jail-on-wiretapping-charge-for-filming-cop-with-gun/
Finally, the ACLU fact sheet on the case:
http://www.aclu-md.org/aPress/Press2010/Graber_Factsheet.pdf
I don't even know what to say about this case. I simply cannot believe that in a "free" state we cannot take videos in public places. I could not agree more with this statement from the ACLU. From the Slashdot article:
"According to David Rocah, the ACLU attorney handling Mr. Graber's case, 'To charge Graber with violating the law, you would have to conclude that a police officer on a public road, wearing a badge and a uniform, performing his official duty, pulling someone over, somehow has a right to privacy when it comes to the conversation he has with the motorist.'"
Interestingly, when the state takes video of us they never ask for our consent. This appears to be a "right" that only works in one direction. There is a lot of hypocrisy here.
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