Since this has come up a few times in the context of posting videos of races etc ... this guy was riding w/ a helmet cam and had a plane clothes officer jump out of a car with a gun because he did a wheelie on the freeway. The rider posted the video on youtube and Maryland police later showed up at his house, confiscated all his computers and charged him for taking video without two party consent (a state law that applies to audio feeds in closed surveillance situations - usually only pertaining to what would be admissible in court). Consequently a malicious prosecution has ensued and if convicted he is looking at a 5 year sentence.
The ACLU has stepped in because any case law preventing people from being able to film A. police and B. in public is an obvious problem and violates constitutional law. Regardless just thought some might want to see this ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YSx2LjXJZo
Full Version: Man charged over youtube video
FWIW, Nevada does not require two party consent.
There was actually a thread on SVTP, in the LEO section that applies to this.
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/donut...ce-officer.html
I also doubt that a police officer has reasonable expectation of privacy during a traffic stop.
I have a feeling this will get thrown out.
Also, I've seen the video in question, and I didn't think the officer did anything wrong. He never actually pointed the gun at the rider and there was a patrol car directly behind the rider, which you can see in the full length video, right at the end.
There was actually a thread on SVTP, in the LEO section that applies to this.
http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/donut...ce-officer.html
I also doubt that a police officer has reasonable expectation of privacy during a traffic stop.
I have a feeling this will get thrown out.
Also, I've seen the video in question, and I didn't think the officer did anything wrong. He never actually pointed the gun at the rider and there was a patrol car directly behind the rider, which you can see in the full length video, right at the end.
Thats just ridicilous man.
local/federal laws aside, I can only wish that the cops would clamp down even harder on motorcycle riders who screw around in public.
Just last week I had a pair of douchebags in front of me on a surface street - were zig-zagging between cars, doing wheelies, zipping 2x+ the speed limit, etc. There wasn't much I could do except report their make/model/appearance because they were both riding without license plates.
Just last week I had a pair of douchebags in front of me on a surface street - were zig-zagging between cars, doing wheelies, zipping 2x+ the speed limit, etc. There wasn't much I could do except report their make/model/appearance because they were both riding without license plates.
QUOTE (swoosh-stang @ May 25 2010, 11:48 AM) 
Also, I've seen the video in question, and I didn't think the officer did anything wrong. He never actually pointed the gun at the rider and there was a patrol car directly behind the rider, which you can see in the full length video, right at the end.
You can't be serious.
That assclown was waving a gun around for a full 4 seconds before identifying himself as a Police Officer. IMHO that rider would have been well within his rights to shoot the crazy motherfucker coming at him brandishing a gun (aka the plain clothed cop) or ride off. There was also a squad car on the scene with a uniformed officer, so the officer in plain clothes had no business confronting the suspect. Nevermind the fact that the RIDER WAS NOT A THREAT! so why did the officer feel the need to pull his gun in the first place?
QUOTE (SinCity R/T @ May 27 2010, 08:21 AM)
local/federal laws aside, I can only wish that the cops would clamp down even harder on motorcycle riders who screw around in public.
Just last week I had a pair of douchebags in front of me on a surface street - were zig-zagging between cars, doing wheelies, zipping 2x+ the speed limit, etc. There wasn't much I could do except report their make/model/appearance because they were both riding without license plates.
Just last week I had a pair of douchebags in front of me on a surface street - were zig-zagging between cars, doing wheelies, zipping 2x+ the speed limit, etc. There wasn't much I could do except report their make/model/appearance because they were both riding without license plates.
Well they should probably come down on anyone screwing around in public. Been riding for a while. I promise you Cops dont cut bikers any slack. In fact their often over zealous attitude against them is the reason why so many no dont pull over.
QUOTE (TehHorror @ May 29 2010, 12:26 AM)
You can't be serious.
That assclown was waving a gun around for a full 4 seconds before identifying himself as a Police Officer. IMHO that rider would have been well within his rights to shoot the crazy motherfucker coming at him brandishing a gun (aka the plain clothed cop) or ride off. There was also a squad car on the scene with a uniformed officer, so the officer in plain clothes had no business confronting the suspect. Nevermind the fact that the RIDER WAS NOT A THREAT! so why did the officer feel the need to pull his gun in the first place?
That assclown was waving a gun around for a full 4 seconds before identifying himself as a Police Officer. IMHO that rider would have been well within his rights to shoot the crazy motherfucker coming at him brandishing a gun (aka the plain clothed cop) or ride off. There was also a squad car on the scene with a uniformed officer, so the officer in plain clothes had no business confronting the suspect. Nevermind the fact that the RIDER WAS NOT A THREAT! so why did the officer feel the need to pull his gun in the first place?
I have a tendency to agree. There was no need to waive a gun around over a traffic infraction not to mention the rider was probably not going to hear him ID himself with a helmet and over the bikes exhaust anyways. He could have just as easily flashed a badge. If he ran get a plate number and pick him up later.
QUOTE (Lou @ May 29 2010, 09:26 AM)
Well they should probably come down on anyone screwing around in public. Been riding for a while. I promise you Cops dont cut bikers any slack. In fact their often over zealous attitude against them is the reason why so many no dont pull over.
Agreed on both counts. I also think it was a pretty stupid move posting the video on youtube. However, the backlash from the posting rediculous.
QUOTE (TehHorror @ May 29 2010, 07:19 PM)
Agreed on both counts. I also think it was a pretty stupid move posting the video on youtube. However, the backlash from the posting rediculous.
By the time he posted it they had already cited him. The video apparently went up in response to the undercover officers over reaction to the situation ... I am assuming he just didn't want to be an asshole and not show the whole story.
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