Opinion from Rep. John Kavanagh: There's no reason why any responsible bystander would need to come closer than 8 feet to an officer engaged in a potentially hostile encounter.
” March 18) on my bill that would place reasonable limits on persons videotaping police officers misrepresented the bill.simply requires persons filming police officers who are engaged in violent or potentially violent encounters with citizens to keep back a safe distance of 8 feet, with some exceptions.I agreed to run this bill because there are groups hostile to the police that follow them around to videotape police incidents, and they get dangerously close to potentially violent encounters.
I recognize the constitutional right of people to videotape police officers performing their duties. However, the United States Supreme Court has also ruled that this right is subject to reasonable time, place and manner limitations.Supreme Court ruling on the distance demonstrators at abortion clinics
Based on similar arguments, I also amended the law to allow the occupants of a motor vehicle to videotape encounters between police officers and the driver because it’s probably safer for the officer to be able to see the hands of people elsewhere in the car, especially when it is dark. Finally, the argument that filming from 8 feet away does not allow for a proper view of the scene is ridiculous.