Smile, Officer

This past week the U.S. Department of Justice affirmed that citizens have a protected constitutional right to record police officers during the performance of their duty. It further stated the Justice Department would take steps against law enforcement personnel who prevent citizens from recording them or who destroy such recordings.

Photo vs. police incidents just never seem to stop, so it would be nice to see something similar in Canada from Les Feds. With the Toronto G20 back in the news again, it's worth pointing out that I know several photographers who were told by police they weren't allowed to take photographs of law enforcement, even though that's flatly wrong. And these incidents occured before the rioting started.

If you're so inclined, you can read a legal essay that argues citizens even have the right to record law enforcement officers in private.