Cop-watch

[anarcho-communist4]

I'm thinking about starting a cop watch where i live, how successful have they been in other places?

[danyboy27]

I'm thinking about starting a cop watch where i live, how successful have they been in other places?

The hells engels had a similar program where i live. they would take the plate number of fantom car in the police station parking lot, gather the ID and other identification of various cops.

Needless to say those guy where arrested for that and did some serious time in jail.

feel free to try it at your own risk.

[StoneFrog]

it would be interesting to see legal issues involved in such acts, what would be faced if you did this and were found out?

[Battlecat]

The hells engels had a similar program where i live. they would take the plate number of fantom car in the police station parking lot, gather the ID and other identification of various cops.

Needless to say those guy where arrested for that and did some serious time in jail.

feel free to try it at your own risk.

Do you mean the Hells Angels, or is there an actual group called the Hells Engels?

'Cause that would be *****in'.

[danyboy27]

Do you mean the Hells Angels, or is there an actual group called the Hells Engels?

'Cause that would be *****in'.

The hells engels, you know, the biker gang well known for its brutality and ruthlessness.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

The hells engels, you know, the biker gang well known for its brutality and ruthlessness.
Lol yeah they're called the Hells Angels, not Engels :laugh:

[anarcho-communist4]

I mean somthing along th lines of recording cops in actipn to keep them on the upandup just incase they do decide to get brutal

[Smyg]

Hells Engels, founded by Fredrik Engels when he began realising that comrade Karl's Marxist crew was starting to overshadow him.

[Leonid Brozhnev]

Do you mean the Hells Angels, or is there an actual group called the Hells Engels?

'Cause that would be *****in'.

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/AsiniDiabolica/Things/hellengles.jpg

[danyboy27]

I mean somthing along th lines of recording cops in actipn to keep them on the upandup just incase they do decide to get brutal

Hooo that another story then.

Its something that have been done for a while know, its perfectly legal.

[anarcho-communist4]

Hooo that another story then.

Its something that have been done for a while know, its perfectly legal.

How well do they usually do? Do they actually accomplish anything?

[PhoenixAsh]

it is illegal in three states in the US to videotape cops. The law used are the wiretapping and eavesdropping laws and include places where the expectation of privacy does not exist. These states are Maryland, Illinois, Massachusettes. The penalty could amount to 4 to15 years in prison.

edit on 20.9.11: the first circuit court of appeals made a ruling on 26th of august 2011 that videotaping cops is legal under the first amendment constitutional rights. See below in post #14 for more info. (hs20/20)

Several states in the US require all parties to consent before being recorded...but depending on the state there maybe exemptions for news crews (syndicated) and for locations where no expectation of privacy exists. Beware though that courts do not always recognize this socalled absence of expectation of privacy argument. Which states these are I have no idea.

Also beware that such groups and its members are often targetted by the police for supposedly having an anti-cop agenda....and that may turn into actual harrassment.

In the Uk we have a group called Fitwatch...a group which fotographs and publishes pictures of undercover cops and uniformed police fotographers. Fit stands for foreward intelligence teams. Fitwatch also engages in direct obstruction.


And yes...it is effective. Many cases have been brought to light. In some cases judicial action has been taken against cops who overstepped their boundraries.

I found this manual from copwatch LA. I haven't read it but it may proof useful if you want to start something:

http://www.copwatchla.org//index.cgi?content=trainingmanual

[#FF0000]

it is illegal in three states in the US to videotape cops. The law used are the wiretapping and eavesdropping laws and include places where the expectation of privacy does not exist. These states are Maryland, Illinois, Massachusettes. The penalty could amount to 4 to15 years in prison.

Several states in the US require all parties to consent before being recorded...but depending on the state there maybe exemptions for news crews (syndicated) and for locations where no expectation of privacy exists. Beware though that courts do not always recognize this socalled absence of expectation of privacy argument. Which states these are I have no idea.

Also beware that such groups and its members are often targetted by the police for supposedly having an anti-cop agenda....and that may turn into actual harrassment.

In the Uk we have a group called Fitwatch...a group which fotographs and publishes pictures of undercover cops and uniformed police fotographers. Fit stands for foreward intelligence teams. Fitwatch also engages in direct obstruction.


And yes...it is effective. Many cases have been brought to light. In some cases judicial action has been taken against cops who overstepped their boundraries.

I found this manual from copwatch LA. I haven't read it but it may proof useful if you want to start something:

http://www.copwatchla.org//index.cgi?content=trainingmanual

I am pretty sure the Supreme Court says "nah it's cool videotape pigs all day eryday"

[PhoenixAsh]

I am pretty sure the Supreme Court says "nah it's cool videotape pigs all day eryday"

Thanks! I looked into it.

You are right...as it turns out. I made an edit in my earlier post to correct the info.

The first circuit court of appeals made a ruling very recently (august 26th 2011) in which they state that video taping government officials on the job is within a citizins first amendment righst as long as this does not intervere with police doing their jobs.


"Moreover, changes in technology and society have made the lines between private citizen and journalist exceedingly difficult to draw," the Court continued. "The proliferation of electronic devices with video-recording capability means that many of our images of current events come from bystanders with a ready cell phone or digital camera rather than a traditional film crew, and news stories are now just as likely to be broken by a blogger at her computer as a reporter at a major newspaper. Such developments make clear why the news-gathering protections of the First Amendment cannot turn on professional credentials or status." It confirms several court rulings on the matter. However...as with such court rulings that will not prevent the cops from deaining, harasment and attempts to try and argue the videotaping intervered with their jobs. So I advice to be careful.

As it stands the court ruling for videotaping is clear. What is not clear however is if an induvidual is liabel for damages or punitive actions when they publish a videotape of police actions which are later deemed to be within the scope of police responsibility and "justifiable" actions....as the court also said they realised the need for balance:


"accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably."

[Iraultzaile Ezkerreko]

Copwatch Atlanta's presence has kept myself and several other comrades from getting arrested by the po-lice on a couple occasions recently.