In some states, it is broadly illegal to record someone without their
explicit consent. This has been recently implemented in California, though
one has to wonder if it is more to protect the government and police than
individual citizens. Most people are not aware that these statutes exist,
so people get nailed with criminal and civil penalties all the time over
things such as recording the illegal behavior of a police officer or
recording a phone call (which is illegal in California, even if the other
person called you). That you are doing it for your own protection is no
defense. Naturally, the government and its agents have legally exempted
themselves from these laws.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com
At 12:13 AM 2/2/2001 -0800, John Marlow wrote:
>But, see, this is the problem--what's okay for them ain't okay for
>you and me. Case in point: Cops in many jurisdictions are now wearing
>mics on traffic stops. Some are wearing cameras, in addition to the
>dash-mounted cams. Guy in MA, I believe it was, audio-recorded the
>cops stopping him and brought it up in court to support his
>contention that he was harassed. Result? He was convicted of
>illegally recording the cops. Last I heard, the officers were also
>considering civil suits.
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