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Congressman Edolphus Towns - New York 10th Congressional District - Press Releases
Bill Text - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
CONGRESSMAN ED TOWNS
10TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Press Office
July 20, 2010
(202) 225-5936
Rep. Towns Moves to Affirm Citizens Right to Photograph Police Activity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Edolphus Ed Towns (NY-10) is taking steps to ensure that citizens who videotape suspicious police activity are not improperly prosecuted. Several recent news reports have highlighted instances where police or security personnel have improperly arrested innocent civilians taking photographs and video footage in public. To help raise awareness about the issue, Rep. Towns introduced H.Con.Res 298, a congressional resolution recognizing that the videotaping or photographing of police engaged in potentially abusive activity in a public place should not be prosecuted in State or Federal courts.
We are all deeply grateful for the law enforcement personnel who protect our communities every day while respecting the rights of individuals, said Rep. Towns. With this resolution, we are making it clear that the rights of citizens are balanced with the rights of those who are sent to protect them. Too often innocent civilians have found themselves penalized for exercising their right to document instances of police brutality in public. With this resolution, Congress recognizes every Americans right to record improper law enforcement conduct in public.
A number of court cases across the country have misinterpreted the intent of wiretapping laws and are incorrectly prosecuting individuals for videotaping police activities in public. H.Con.Res 298 strikes a balance between the rights of police officers to diligently perform their duties and the rights of citizens, as guaranteed by the First Amendment, to peacefully ensure that law enforcement officers are not improperly harming individuals.
Two recent examples in New York City further highlight Rep. Towns resolution. In Rep. Towns home district in Brooklyn, NY, citizen groups have come together to help reduce instances of police brutality by videotaping police activities in public. In New York City, video footage of police activity helped acquit an individual who was falsely accused of assaulting a police officer.
These recent events confirm that the law is not clearly understood, added Chairman Towns. I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring some clarity to this important matter and working with them to pass this resolution.
H.Con.Res 298 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
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Bill Text - 111th Congress (2009-2010) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)
CONGRESSMAN ED TOWNS
10TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Press Office
July 20, 2010
(202) 225-5936
Rep. Towns Moves to Affirm Citizens Right to Photograph Police Activity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Edolphus Ed Towns (NY-10) is taking steps to ensure that citizens who videotape suspicious police activity are not improperly prosecuted. Several recent news reports have highlighted instances where police or security personnel have improperly arrested innocent civilians taking photographs and video footage in public. To help raise awareness about the issue, Rep. Towns introduced H.Con.Res 298, a congressional resolution recognizing that the videotaping or photographing of police engaged in potentially abusive activity in a public place should not be prosecuted in State or Federal courts.
We are all deeply grateful for the law enforcement personnel who protect our communities every day while respecting the rights of individuals, said Rep. Towns. With this resolution, we are making it clear that the rights of citizens are balanced with the rights of those who are sent to protect them. Too often innocent civilians have found themselves penalized for exercising their right to document instances of police brutality in public. With this resolution, Congress recognizes every Americans right to record improper law enforcement conduct in public.
A number of court cases across the country have misinterpreted the intent of wiretapping laws and are incorrectly prosecuting individuals for videotaping police activities in public. H.Con.Res 298 strikes a balance between the rights of police officers to diligently perform their duties and the rights of citizens, as guaranteed by the First Amendment, to peacefully ensure that law enforcement officers are not improperly harming individuals.
Two recent examples in New York City further highlight Rep. Towns resolution. In Rep. Towns home district in Brooklyn, NY, citizen groups have come together to help reduce instances of police brutality by videotaping police activities in public. In New York City, video footage of police activity helped acquit an individual who was falsely accused of assaulting a police officer.
These recent events confirm that the law is not clearly understood, added Chairman Towns. I look forward to working with my colleagues to bring some clarity to this important matter and working with them to pass this resolution.
H.Con.Res 298 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
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