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Bill would make it legal to record Illinois cops in public
Story Created: Feb 9, 2012 at 7:29 AM CST
Story Updated: Feb 9, 2012 at 7:34 AM CST
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers are working to erase a state prohibition on recording police in public that carries the same penalties as trafficking in drugs.
State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, has introduced legislation that makes it legal to record audio of on-duty police in public places.
The 1994 eavesdropping law prohibiting the recording of on-duty police officers hasn’t changed to keep pace with advancements in technology, Nekritz said.
“Citizens are being charged under the current law for (doing nothing) more than what thousands of citizens do every day in Illinois, and what we all do, which is to pull out our cell phone, open up the camera and start recording,” Nekritz said Wednesday during an Illinois House Judiciary Committee hearing.
It's legal to record video of on-duty police, but if audio is introduced the act becomes a Class 1 felony.
Only Massachusetts and Oregon have similar state statutes.
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Continued here.
Story Updated: Feb 9, 2012 at 7:34 AM CST
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers are working to erase a state prohibition on recording police in public that carries the same penalties as trafficking in drugs.
State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, has introduced legislation that makes it legal to record audio of on-duty police in public places.
The 1994 eavesdropping law prohibiting the recording of on-duty police officers hasn’t changed to keep pace with advancements in technology, Nekritz said.
“Citizens are being charged under the current law for (doing nothing) more than what thousands of citizens do every day in Illinois, and what we all do, which is to pull out our cell phone, open up the camera and start recording,” Nekritz said Wednesday during an Illinois House Judiciary Committee hearing.
It's legal to record video of on-duty police, but if audio is introduced the act becomes a Class 1 felony.
Only Massachusetts and Oregon have similar state statutes.
.....
Continued here.
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