
January 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, from the Glen Rock Police department , we are just reiterating for 2018;
“We have heard that some people have been questioning the fact that photos of juveniles and others have been taken at police incidents in the past by members of the press or public.
The taking of photographs and/or videos by private citizens and media personnel is permitted within areas open to general public access and occupancy and is permitted under the US Constitution in the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. (Christopher Sharp v. Baltimore City Police Department, et. al.). No citizen has the expectation of privacy when they are in public regardless of their status as a victim, juvenile or offender.
A civilian may video record or photograph a police and public safety activities as long as they:
1. Remain at a reasonable distance;
2. Do not interfere with the duties and responsibilities of police and other public safety personnel;
3. Do not create a safety concern for the officer, a person detained, a victim, other persons or themselves.
A citizen’s right to record police activity is coextensive with that of the press. There should be no burden on an individual’s right to record police activity than they place on members of the press. A citizen does not need “press credentials” to record police officers engaged in the public discharge of their duties.”
Many things are legal but that doesn’t make it right or moral. Taking pictures of folks in distress or around events that are accidental or embarrassing through no fault of their own just seems to be a lousy way to treat each other. Many years ago when I was involved in emergency situations we were always more concerned about the persons who listened to police/fire radios and came to scenes.
These folks are mostly a bit creepy and scary deep down and should be viewed with a wary eye. What kind of life are these people living if they are so bored or miserable they need to find a way to be noticed?