photography is not a crime

Proposed Texas Law Makes It a Crime to Photograph Police from within 25 Feet

March 16, 2015 By Eric Reagan

The Texas Representative Jason Villalba filed House Bill 2918 last week in Texas House of Representatives that attempts to criminalize any photographs, video, audio recording or other documenting of a police officer within 25 feet the officer.

I’ll cut right to chase and tell you that this bill is unconstitutional under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. No questions asked. This is Constitutional Law 101. There is no way this bill could withstand a constitutional challenge in court.

The bill seeks to amend an existing Texas law that states in pertinent part: [Read more…]

Filming Police Acknowledged as First Amendment Right

August 30, 2011 By Eric Reagan

Glik Civil Rights Case Holding

A federal appellate court recent held that Maryland’s wiretapping statute could not be used to prevent citizens from recording police activity. [Read more…]

TSA Anti-Terrorist Poster Depicts Photographer as Suspect

September 11, 2010 By Eric Reagan

If you have read any photography websites this week, then you have probably seen this poster already. I first saw it over at Carlos Miller’s Photography is Not a Crime blog.

Somehow, the TSA has managed to take a general warning for everyone to “be on alert” and depict photographers who photograph planes as terrorist suspects. Newsflash to TSA: planes are fun to photograph. Ever hear of Airliners.net?

Maybe you’ll be ok though if you don’t wear a hoodie.