Bill Introduced in Arizona to Prohibit Recording of Law Enforcement Activity

Bill Introduced in Arizona to Prohibit Recording of Law Enforcement Activity

State Senator John Kavanagh from Arizona, introduced Senate Bill 1054 on January 7, 2015, which, if passed will make it illegal to make a video recording of law enforcement activity within 20 feet without the officer’s permission.

The bill will also allow police officers to order occupants of private property to stop recording if they suspect that the recording interferes with law enforcement activity or is unsafe.

However, critics of the law say it isn’t necessary because police officers are already allowed to arrest anyone interfering with their activities and courts have upheld a First Amendment right to record police in public.