Smile for the Camera
One Indiana lawmaker wants to give Hoosiers more rights when it comes to videotaping law enforcement during an arrest.
Republican State Senator Jim Banks of Columbia City has introduced legislation that would give citizens the right to sue law enforcement if an officer stops them from taping or photographing him while making an arrest or carrying out some other official duty in a public place.
The citizen cannot be interfering with the officer or engaging in activity that puts the officer in danger.
Banks tells Indy Politics he got the idea from the Reason Foundation. However there have been numerous stories of police confiscating cell phone cameras from citizens who have filmed them making an arrest.
Most recently the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled an Illinois law which made it a felony to tape police likely violated the U.S. Constitution.
Banks says he is not aware of any incidents in Indiana. He says he has not heard from law enforcement about the bill, bu does not think any officer who is operating within the law should have a problem with citizens taping their actions.
Lawmakers convene on January 7.
