Are you allowed to film if a federal agent tells you not to?

[MyLibertyStuff]

I am looking for some deeper information in this matter. Several times this weekend I was told by DHS, Police, and Border Patrol agents that I could not film and needed to turn off my camcorder immediately.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Carson]

Some have tried the, "Ol' Fake license for the Fake Law routine".

http://boingboing.net/2009/05/15/fake-dhs-photography.html




You may want to read some of the www.fark.com commments before you try it though.


This weeks dumbest idea ever: Fake Department Of Homeland Security photography license (http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4392771)

[Carson]

Where were you anyways?

[MyLibertyStuff]

My family went to the Caymans for the weekend, so they were very suspicious of us going for 2 days.

[qh4dotcom]

If you want to film a cop or federal agent what you need to do is use your cellphone and the qik.com application

Your video is broadcasted live to the internet to your qik.com account...so if the cop or federal agent snatches your cellphone, you still have access to the video you just recorded on the internet....just log-in to your qik.com account and it's there.

[Terces]

If you want to film a cop or federal agent what you need to do is use your cellphone and the qik.com application

your video is broadcasted live to the internet to your qik.com account...so if the cop or federal agent snatches your cellphone, you still have access to the video you just recorded on the internet.

Very good information; thanks for sharing.

[MyLibertyStuff]

If you want to film a cop or federal agent what you need to do is use your cellphone and the qik.com application

your video is broadcasted live to the internet to your qik.com account...so if the cop or federal agent snatches your cellphone, you still have access to the video you just recorded on the internet.

thanks ill have to get that

[angelatc]

Dig around photography forums, and I'll do the same....somewhere out there in cyper-land is a very good FAQ about what you can and cannot film. The short answer is that you are allowed to film civil servants, including cops et al, when they are doing their job.

ETA: Found it: http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

[ctiger2]

IIRC the Judge talks about this in the last issue of Freedom Watch. You are allowed to photograph police etc. They just don't like it. The Judge made the statement that the camera is the new gun.

[ladyjade3]

Just get one of these:

http://www.handhelditems.com/camcorder-with-video-audio-function-p-52632.html

I have one and it works fairly well! I was pretty amazed. Just pull it out and take some notes, and hold it absent mindedly. It's just a pen. :D

[Jeremy]

Just get one of these:

http://www.handhelditems.com/camcorder-with-video-audio-function-p-52632.html

I have one and it works fairly well! I was pretty amazed. Just pull it out and take some notes, and hold it absent mindedly. It's just a pen. :D

Nifty =o

[Bruno]

Just get one of these:

http://www.handhelditems.com/camcorder-with-video-audio-function-p-52632.html

I have one and it works fairly well! I was pretty amazed. Just pull it out and take some notes, and hold it absent mindedly. It's just a pen. :D

That's pretty slick for only $40!

[ladyjade3]

I know, right? And the quality - tho not GREAT is better than you'd expect!

[Jeremy]

I know, right? And the quality - tho not GREAT is better than you'd expect!

does it do audio at the same time?

[Dr.3D]

does it do audio at the same time?

Here is a demo video.

YouTube - Spy Cam Pen - 4GB Spy pen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6qT0eeZb3Q)

I don't know if this is the same one mentioned earlier though.

[torchbearer]

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, when i get the money ahead, i'm getting one.

[Dr.3D]

The big question I have is, how long will the battery stay charged while you are not using it?

Can you leave it in your pocket for a month without charging it and still have it usable when you need to use it?

[Jeremy]

doesn't the light kind of defeat the purpose...

[torchbearer]

The big question I have is, how long will the battery stay charged while you are not using it?

Can you leave it in your pocket for a month without charging it and still have it usable when you need to use it?

if it doesn't have an internal clock, there shouldn't be anything pulling on the power.
does a usb jump drive require power to keep its memory? no.
so, i'm sure the charge will last as long as it isn't a capacitor holding the charge.

[torchbearer]

doesn't the light kind of defeat the purpose...

you can eliminate the light easily.

[Dr.3D]

doesn't the light kind of defeat the purpose...

From the video, the light appears to be on the back of the unit.

If it is really a problem, I'm sure a little bit of black electrical tape over it would stop it from showing.

[ladyjade3]

I have one of the "cheap imitations". The engrish instructions alone are worth the price of admission.

The light is on the opposite side of the pen as the lens, so your subject should not be able to see it unless you turn the lens toward yourself.

[Reason]

doesn't the light kind of defeat the purpose...

http://www.magicmgmt.com/magicshop/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/PEN-FULL.jpg

[Jeremy]

so that's assuming i'm wearing the pen in my front shirt pocket.... but i dont have front shirt pockets D:

[Matt Collins]

I have one and it works fairly well! I was pretty amazedYou are DEVIOUS!

But I somehow feel that this device is going to get used in a future edition of "Ladies $ Liberty" :D:D:D:D:D:D




I have one of the "cheap imitations". The engrish instructions alone are worth the price of admission.


http://www.engrish.com//wp-content/uploads/2008/08/battery-instruction.jpg (http://www.engrish.com)
http://www.engrish.com//wp-content/uploads/2008/08/mobile_phone.jpg (http://www.engrish.com)

[hotbrownsauce]

I am looking for some deeper information in this matter. Several times this weekend I was told by DHS, Police, and Border Patrol agents that I could not film and needed to turn off my camcorder immediately.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

It depends on where you are at. If someone is in public you can record them with no penalty. There is no law against recording in public. However if you are in private, on a phone or somewhere other than a public place the State law will apply.

For example Missouri is a one consent state... meaning if your talking to someone else on the phone you can record the conversation on the phone without telling them. Missouri law also says if someone is in an area that is reasonably private you can not record them. For example, the restroom. You can not record a conversation someone else is having without their consent. Unless of course they are in public or can be heard from a public location.

Look up your State laws.

[MyLibertyStuff]

It depends on where you are at. If someone is in public you can record them with no penalty. There is no law against recording in public. However if you are in private, on a phone or somewhere other than a public place the State law will apply.

For example Missouri is a one consent state... meaning if your talking to someone else on the phone you can record the conversation on the phone without telling them. Missouri law also says if someone is in an area that is reasonably private you can not record them. For example, the restroom. You can not record a conversation someone else is having without their consent. Unless of course they are in public or can be heard from a public location.

Look up your State laws.

Thanks

[hotbrownsauce]

No problem, that is what I am here for... Helping freedom lovers get educated and involved as I hope they help me.

[Krugerrand]

Do you own due diligence on checking out this company, but they've got lots of similar products at good prices (pens, watches, sunglasses:
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.812

I've purchased other things from them. This is no Amazon. Some things ship in a week and are received within two. Other things ship a month later. I believe you're buying direct from Hong Kong. The product reviews are handy.

This item also has my interest:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.21448

[angelatc]

Just get one of these:

http://www.handhelditems.com/camcorder-with-video-audio-function-p-52632.html

I have one and it works fairly well! I was pretty amazed. Just pull it out and take some notes, and hold it absent mindedly. It's just a pen. :D

How do you tell where you're aiming it without looking at a viewfinder?

[malkusm]

How do you tell where you're aiming it without looking at a viewfinder?

Sounds like that's what the light on the back is for? Not sure though, I don't have one.

[idirtify]

If you want to film a cop or federal agent what you need to do is use your cellphone and the qik.com application

your video is broadcasted live to the internet to your qik.com account...so if the cop or federal agent snatches your cellphone, you still have access to the video you just recorded on the internet.

This I very encouraging. It looks like my predictions are starting to come true. I hope I live long enough to see all of them.

--------------------

“Cell-phone capacity will reach the point where we can effectively record everything all day every day in HQ audio and video; and the “recording” will be a wireless transmission to a remote PC so the cops won’t be able to destroy it. Imagine your whole life on “tape” and all you need occasionally do is reference a specific date and time to retrieve what you need. Could it be the perfect self-defense weapon against the state? Will there be Rodney King videos going online, and statists getting busted, every day? Kinda like Big Brother turned on Big Brother.”

---------------------

It may not be long. The technology is really only a matter of memory and battery capacity. Of course it needs to stay small (within the phone), but I wouldn’t mind a bigger cell-phone if it provided such 24/7 “personal monitoring”. If I were insanely optimistic, I would say that this future technology has the potential to completely expose gov.

[Matt Collins]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bFl4H-toyU&feature=player_embedded

[MN Patriot]

Dig around photography forums, and I'll do the same....somewhere out there in cyper-land is a very good FAQ about what you can and cannot film. The short answer is that you are allowed to film civil servants, including cops et al, when they are doing their job.

ETA: Found it: http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

Good link. Next question, what states require you to disclose your identity? Would be good info to know.


You are under no obligation to explain the purpose of your photography nor do you have to disclose your identity except in states that require it upon request by a law enforcement officer

Edit: Wikipedia knows all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_and_identify_statutes


In the United States, interactions between police and citizens fall into three general categories: consensual (“contact” or “conversation”), detention (often called a Terry stop, after Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968)), or arrest. “Stop and identify” laws pertain to detentions.

[Carson]

If it is bugging him and he ask it might be courteous to cut it for him or her. I would guess about two out of three times.

Sometimes it may be worth being jailed or beaten for. No one can answer that for you but yourself.


As for the law I can't say. I can say we have laws concerning immigration... or do we. Is this another border? Do the laws we have apply. I don't know anymore.

It's a crap shoot.