I want to raise awareness about the local police. I was thinking about cruising around town on weekend nights and whenever I spot those ominous flashing red and blues, stop, get out, walk over, and snap some pictures. But what, if any, ramifications could there be? I imagine this would really piss off some of the local cops and maybe even elicit a interfering with police business citation, but how is taking pictures of a public event not allowed?

Videotaping and or photographing the police in public is usuually legal, but you can not interfere with the police activities. Even though it is usually true that you are allowed to videotape the police many times it does lead to an arrest, usually obstructing justice.

Police don’t like to be watched or documented in any way, so they’ll sometimes bend the rules to stop you. Most people that end up getting arrested end up having the charges dropped I would assume. If you’re taping or photographing police, make sure you don’t interfere, because “obstruction” is the most likely charge, so if you are really not interfering then the popo cant really do much. I would not get to close and I would not verbally interact with the police or the people being arrested (harassed). Also obviously make sure your not doing anything illegal (example: have drugs on you, drunk in public, have an illegal gun, etc) while film.

Its also good to film police becasue it makes them behave, but at the same time will piss them off. If they harass you keep filming, and if they assualt you get a lawyer and keep your photo-evidence for court.

Happy Filming!

On the other hand if the person being arrested is being a dickhead.

The Police would like you to say to them "How did you get those bruises...."

This guy (http://www.youtube.com/user/JimmyJustice4753) does, and I don't think he's been arrested...

Google "Copwatch".

A few friends and me are in the process of setting up a Copwatch group in my city. We're in the very early stages though.

Our website so far: http://www.copwatchtallahassee.com/

Hopefully we'll get this going by Christmas.