A bill introduced to the Texas House of Representatives would make it illegal for private citizens to record police within 25 feet.
House Bill 2918, introduced by Texas Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) on Tuesday, would make the offense a misdemeanor. Citizens who are armed would not be permitted to record police activity within 100 feet of an officer, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Only representatives of radio or TV organizations that hold an FCC license, newspapers and magazines would have the right to record police.
The legislator disagreed with people on Twitter who said he’s seeking to make all filming of cops illegal.
“My bill … just asks filmers to stand back a little so as not to interfere with law enforcement,” Villalba tweeted.
What a crock of BS! Even in my nanny state of Massachusetts the courts have repeatedly ruled for filming cops in public; the heroes are still harassing people who do, of course, but in every case the cops get a legal smackdown. That being said I am surprised no legislative whore has attempted a similar law here at the behest of the police unions.