Comments on: Cops can be sued for arresting people who record them in public - new law in Connecticut http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 04:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Brad Stone http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1407277 Brad Stone Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1407277 This makes since....a lawful cop wouldn't want this law passed. They all do their jobs according to the law right? I mean they do enforce it.... This makes since….a lawful cop wouldn’t want this law passed. They all do their jobs according to the law right? I mean they do enforce it….

]]> By: TheKaz1969 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1407174 TheKaz1969 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1407174 Unfortunately, with somewhat vague exception clauses, it seems like a pretty weak law... Unfortunately, with somewhat vague exception clauses, it seems like a pretty weak law…

]]> By: Thorzdad http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1407157 Thorzdad Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1407157  Yes. Police enjoy a form of limited immunity in cases like this.  Yes. Police enjoy a form of limited immunity in cases like this.

]]> By: Dewi Morgan http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1407106 Dewi Morgan Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1407106  That's exactly why this law exists. Because they've been told "it's OK to record you" and they've been using other bullshit reasons instead (like "obstructing police officers", "interfering with an investigation" etc.) And there's been no way to appeal that. Now, there is. The court can say "Your reason for this arrest was a clearly bullshit attempt to stop them recording you, you are guilty of a crime, here is your slap." Persistent slappings would look really bad on your annual performance review, not to mention your department look bad.  That’s exactly why this law exists. Because they’ve been told “it’s OK to record you” and they’ve been using other bullshit reasons instead (like “obstructing police officers”, “interfering with an investigation” etc.)

And there’s been no way to appeal that. Now, there is. The court can say “Your reason for this arrest was a clearly bullshit attempt to stop them recording you, you are guilty of a crime, here is your slap.”

Persistent slappings would look really bad on your annual performance review, not to mention your department look bad.

]]> By: Justin Forposting http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406980 Justin Forposting Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406980 A step forward?  This sounds like a law that shouldn't be needed to begin with.  The police (or anyone) violating your civil rights through an abuse of power has always been a sue-able offense. A step forward?  This sounds like a law that shouldn’t be needed to begin with.  The police (or anyone) violating your civil rights through an abuse of power has always been a sue-able offense.

]]> By: Miami_Adam http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406536 Miami_Adam Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406536 Under the bill, "peace officers" would only get the fine paid by the state if they "were acting within their scope of authority and the conduct was not willful, wanton, or reckless." Under the bill, “peace officers” would only get the fine paid by the state if they “were acting within their scope of authority and the conduct was not willful, wanton, or reckless.”

]]> By: Joseph Francis http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406514 Joseph Francis Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406514 The arrests won't stop. They'll just invent another reason for the arrest. The arrests won’t stop. They’ll just invent another reason for the arrest.

]]> By: Paul Harrison http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406513 Paul Harrison Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406513 Or you could properly train, resource, and pay your officers of the law so that they are able and willing to enforce the law as it is, and have enough breathing space to do so with courtesy and politeness. Many countries do this successfully. This doesn't have to be adversarial. Just a thought. Or you could properly train, resource, and pay your officers of the law so that they are able and willing to enforce the law as it is, and have enough breathing space to do so with courtesy and politeness. Many countries do this successfully. This doesn’t have to be adversarial. Just a thought.

]]> By: Sean Nelson http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406501 Sean Nelson Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406501 Is the law necessary?  I mean - I get that it sends a message, but would the officers currently be insulated from a lawsuit of this kind? Is the law necessary?  I mean – I get that it sends a message, but would the officers currently be insulated from a lawsuit of this kind?

]]> By: magicdragonfly http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406498 magicdragonfly Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406498 Um... not so fast: the bill originated in the Senate, and while it was passed there, it's still got a way to go -- the House hasn't voted yet, nor has it been signed into law by the governor. Can we have a headline that's more true to fact, please?  Um… not so fast: the bill originated in the Senate, and while it was passed there, it’s still got a way to go — the House hasn’t voted yet, nor has it been signed into law by the governor.
Can we have a headline that’s more true to fact, please? 

]]> By: Manuel Smirnoff http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406497 Manuel Smirnoff Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406497 That sure make Illinois look foolish. Of course just about everything that happens in Illinois make Illinois look foolish. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120302/12363517959/yet-another-court-says-illinois-eavesdropping-law-that-criminalizes-recording-police-is-unconstitutional.shtml That sure make Illinois look foolish. Of course just about everything that happens in Illinois make Illinois look foolish.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120302/12363517959/yet-another-court-says-illinois-eavesdropping-law-that-criminalizes-recording-police-is-unconstitutional.shtml

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406490 Mitchell Glaser Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406490 Good news! I just wish the penalties didn't come out of the taxpayer's pocket. Good news! I just wish the penalties didn’t come out of the taxpayer’s pocket.

]]> By: Stonewalker http://boingboing.net/2012/04/26/cops-can-be-sued-for-arresting.html#comment-1406479 Stonewalker Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157022#comment-1406479 Yay.  A glimmer of hope every now and again feels nice. Yay.  A glimmer of hope every now and again feels nice.

]]>