"House panel advances bill requiring 25-foot distance from police officers"

[Mitch Dufour]

I'm just wondering if all the Tueller Drill training materials will need revision.

 

[323MAR]

I would think that if one is merely observing from a respectable distance without interacting with LE or anyone involved, then there shouldn't be a problem. It's perfectly legal to photograph or film anyone in "plain view" at a public place.
Discretion plays a role as well. I doubt that LE is going to arrest someone for just looking at them funny. "Stupid looks are free!"

 

[thperez1972]

I'm just wondering if all the Tueller Drill training materials will need revision.

I doubt this law will affect how fast a person can run.

 

[cbbr]

It seems like all this really does is change define "immediate scene"? Of course the new argument will be over 25 feet... How often is someone cited under the current statute?

 

[pandabear]

What's really missing here is just common sense. If the handcuffs are not being placed on you, just stay out of it! It's really that simple!

 

[GunRelated]

This still allows bystanders to do everything they could do before. They just can't do it in a way that interferes with police duties.



RS 14:329. Interfering with a law enforcement investigation
A. Interfering with a law enforcement investigation is the intentional interference or obstruction of a law enforcement officer conducting investigative work at the scene of a crime or the scene of an accident by refusing to move or leave the immediate scene of the crime or the accident when ordered to do so by the law enforcement officer when the offender has reasonable grounds to believe the officer is acting in the performance of his official duties.

Can you provide an unambiguous definition for "immediate scene?"

Any definition for that term would be subjective, as it is not specific. 25ft does not seem to fit the term immediate when referring to personal space.

 

[thperez1972]

Any definition for that term would be subjective, as it is not specific. 25ft does not seem to fit the term immediate when referring to personal space.

Immediate isn't talking about personal space. Immediate is talking about space for the police to investigate. You walking up to the passenger side of a car during a traffic stop and talking to the passenger while the cop is at the driver's door isn't invading the cop's personal space. But it is walking into their investigation.

 

[hotbiggun]

What's really missing here is just common sense. If the handcuffs are not being placed on you, just stay out of it! It's really that simple!

We are Americans nothing is "really that simple".

 

[hotbiggun]

I wonder if anyone here is opposed to this.

Lets be clear thperez is trolling. Lol

 

[thperez1972]

Lets be clear thperez is trolling. Lol

Ha. I posted the topic because I knew it would start a conversation. "I wonder if anyone here is opposed to this" was 100% pure sarcasm.

 

[Bigchillin83]

It's to keep people far enough away so they are not interfering with the police doing their job while allowing them to be close enough to observe and video the officers doing their job.

they are " trained professional" right? Isnt 25ft further distance than the average joe who has a chp can legally utilizes his pistol with a known threat.... wow thats kinda odd.... we as average every day civilians only get 21 ft to protect ourselves lol, and thats drawing form concealment, not an owb holster with backup around you lol

 

[machinedrummer]

Will there be verbal warning before they start smoking all the bystanders that are too close? Asking for a friend.

 

[Bigchillin83]

Will there be verbal warning before they start smoking all the bystanders that are too close? Asking for a friend.

naa they got a pocket full of fake warrants with the wrong address and name on them...they can use them where ever they want lol... its like a get outta jail free card... lol

 

[thperez1972]

they are " trained professional" right? Isnt 25ft further distance than the average joe who has a chp can legally utilizes his pistol with a known threat.... wow thats kinda odd.... we as average every day civilians only get 21 ft to protect ourselves lol, and thats drawing form concealment, not an owb holster with backup around you lol

You're reaching now. You're trying to cram unrelated and incorrect stuff together.

 

[Gator 45/70]

Another useless law targeting white folks cause other folks out there can't read a ''tape measure''
How many cha-choots in a foot?

 

[machinedrummer]

A good handful of this stuff to the face should keep them pesky video pirates at bay.

 

[GunRelated]

Immediate isn't talking about personal space. Immediate is talking about space for the police to investigate. You walking up to the passenger side of a car during a traffic stop and talking to the passenger while the cop is at the driver's door isn't invading the cop's personal space. But it is walking into their investigation.

I use that term loosely.
I'll go back to the fact that interference with police duties is already illegal, regardless of distance. Now, just being within a predetermined, relatively large distance away, regardless of action, will land someone a charge.

 

[Bigchillin83]

I use that term loosely.
I'll go back to the fact that interference with police duties is already illegal, regardless of distance. Now, just being within a predetermined, relatively large distance away, regardless of action, will land someone a charge.

And im sure the 25ft would be subjective and unprovable by innocent after the perp is arrested and charged

 

[thperez1972]

And im sure the 25ft would be subjective and unprovable by innocent after the perp is arrested and charged

If someone is arrested because they are only 24 feet away, it will possibly be a bad arrest. But I think the most frequent use of the law would be the people who are not actively interfering but are passively interfering by being in the middle of the scene, well within the 25 feet. For example, like I mentioned before, someone walking up to a car during a traffic stop and talking to or exchanging things with the passengers in the car.

 

[Magdump]

So is the purpose of the bill to protect officers are stop people from filming?

I’ve seen vids of cops walking across a street to tell the camera man to run along. 25 feet is likely just a comfort zone so cops don’t have to feel vulnerable when they have their back to someone nearby. Sure, it may not be ideal for audio especially and perhaps video, but I think if this passes it would benefit and limit both sides mutually. Is it 10 feet now? Correct me if I’m wrong, I think it’s 10 feet. That’s pretty close. Close enough to include you in the fray should things take a turn. Close enough to aggravate a testy or jumpy cop. Close enough for anyone with ill will to do damage. Close enough that a jury may sympathize with a cop for what others feel is overreacting.
25 feet is a decent neutral spectator distance. That’s roughly 5 feet longer than a standard full size pickup. If this becomes law, maybe cops won’t be so quick to challenge or intimidate someone maintaining that distance and recording. Too far for a good video? Many of the good videos were recorded at far greater distances. Rodney King beating was filmed at a fairly great distance. The Walter Scott shooting, Oscar Grant shooting and many more were all recorded at greater than 25 feet and all used in court to successfully prosecute the killers. I don’t think increasing the distance will be any true obstacle for observing cops doing their job.