Maryland Judge Rules It's OK to Video Record Police (follow-up to earlier thread)

http://www.baltimoresu​n.com …-20100927,0,3220573.sto​ry

Good news. This guy was facing big time for nothing.

What disturbs me still is that a judge actually signed the search warrant allowing armed officers to go into this mans residence and illegally seize his equipment. I hope he brings a fat civil suit against the city. They wanted him to pay for his "crime". Now, they should pay for theirs.

alabama1980 wrote in post #11033971
What disturbs me still is that a judge actually signed the search warrant allowing armed officers to go into this mans residence and illegally seize his equipment. I hope he brings a fat civil suit against the city. They wanted him to pay for his "crime". Now, they should pay for theirs.

It's not a crime for law enforcement to enforce a law that's on the books. In fact, it's what they're paid to do. The new interpretation of the law doesn't make their past actions a crime.

true, but this sets a very big precedent going forward.

I have a motorcycle too we've all been following this case very closely for a while now.
If you watch the video, you'll see why it was such a big issue.

If someone cut you off in the middle of a highway, leaped out in plain clothes and no markings on clothes or car that he's a police officer, and pointed a hand gun at you, how can you categorize that as 'just doing his job'?

Getting a warrant to raid his home and take his equipment just SCREAMS 'trying to get rid of evidence'

You give that much authority to someone and they'll feel like they're above the law.
Who will be there to watch the watchers?

moose10101 wrote in post #11038627
It's not a crime for law enforcement to enforce a law that's on the books. In fact, it's what they're paid to do. The new interpretation of the law doesn't make their past actions a crime.

I agree. They are paid to enforce laws. Erred interpretations of those laws, however, can be costly to the city.

I can't imagine the anguish of knowing I was facing 16 years in prison for doing something that is constitutionally protected. I can't imagine the fear of an unidentified man cutting me off on a busy highway and jumping out with a gun demanding that I vacate my vehicle. I can't imagine the feeling of having my home raided and my things taken away.

I hold that he should be compensated. Ignorance isn't a defense of a citizen breaking the law, nor should it be the defense of those that enforce the law or erred interpretations of the law.

Some sanity finally.
As usual, the press got some details wrong, Honda CR V motorcycle???

Read in between the lines.

The indictments were from the grand jury. Do you understand how much time and money was wasted preparing and undertaking grand jury proceedings against such a ridiculous case?

What the hell has happened to people? Nobody seems to have even the most basic ability to think with common sense any more. Who, in their right mind, would even THINK that standing on a public road, in a wide open public area, the actions of a public official could not be recorded?

Government and police officials everywhere - in the US and in GB - have begun to get a little full of themselves (and quite illogical) with "security." Photographers seem to be a prime target. They need to be knocked down a rung or two.

I hope he sues the piss out of them.

alabama1980 wrote in post #11033971
What disturbs me still is that a judge actually signed the search warrant allowing armed officers to go into this mans residence and illegally seize his equipment. I hope he brings a fat civil suit against the city. They wanted him to pay for his "crime". Now, they should pay for theirs.

How is it illegal to seize his equipment if they had a warrant to do so?

Nathan wrote in post #11044583
How is it illegal to seize his equipment if they had a warrant to do so?

Similar arguments were made at Nuremberg Trials

egraphdesign wrote in post #11044666
Similar arguments were made at Nuremberg Trials

Great, it only took ten posts to introduce the N***s. Not quite a record, but impressive nonetheless.

And you apparently can't even say 'N**i' on these boards.

alabama1980 wrote in post #11041655
I agree. They are paid to enforce laws. Erred interpretations of those laws, however, can be costly to the city.

You're confusing a law that was too broadly written with a misinterpretation. Application of the law has been narrowed (finally), but that doesn't make previous applications an error.

egraphdesign wrote in post #11044666
Similar arguments were made at Nuremberg Trials

We're talking about war crimes now?

moose10101 wrote in post #11045365
Great, it only took ten posts to introduce the N***s. Not quite a record, but impressive nonetheless.

And you apparently can't even say 'N**i' on these boards.

First I have not noticed the trend you elude to.
I am not sure about your claim about your word with the asterisks either

My first thought was to respond with an Ansel Adams quote, but I could not find that worked.
What I came up with although maybe not the best choice made the point I was trying to convey in my humble opinion.

I am going to go and find a lighter topic involving photography

Have a great day

Jim

egraphdesign wrote in post #11046133
First I have noticed the trend you elude to.

Look up Godwin's Law. It's a trend at least as old as the Internet.