ACLU-NJ Launches Smartphone App That Lets Users Secretly Record Police Stops

CBS NY ^

[matt04]

New Jersey’s branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has taken its mission of policing the police to smartphones.

The ACLU has released an app called “Police Tape” that lets users secretly record police stops.

The ACLU’s Alexander Shalom said the app is easy to use.

“There’s really only three buttons that the user needs to deal with,” Shalom said. “There’s a know your rights button that educates the citizen about their rights when encountering police on the street, in a car, in their home or when they’re going to be placed under arrest, and there’s a button to record audio and a button to record video.”

...

“You can think back to when Rodney King was beaten at the hands of the LAPD,” Shalom said. “For years, we’ve watched the police on video and that’s led to reforms and police accountability, but now that cellphones and smartphones are becoming more ubiquitous, people have this ability to videotape. It really is a cutting-edge tool to ensure accountability in the 21st century.”

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

“Will the ACLU be liable if some pervert uses the App for nefarious activities?”

“Will gun manufacturers be liable if some criminal uses their product for nefarious activities?”

The answer to both questions should be the same. I vote for “no”.

[Graybeard58]

My son, who is a cop was the subject of a scathing letter to the editor, in which the woman lied repeatedly. The police chief wrote his own letter to the editor, daring the woman to sue my son or the police department. It seems the entire traffic stop was audio and video taped, he invited her or any expert to examine the tape, to insure that it was original and unedited.

The chief had high praise for my son’s professionalism. Not so much as an impolite word or action from him, the woman, one of Holder’s people made up the whole thing, including charges of racism.

She has not taken the chief up on his dare.

Video/audio tape works both ways.

The police department should sue her for every food stamp she has.

[RandallFlagg]

The police department should sue her for every food stamp she has.

Rotflmao!!

[Mike Darancette]

“There’s a know your rights button that educates the citizen about their rights when encountering police on the street, in a car, in their home or when they’re going to be placed under arrest, and there’s a button to record audio and a button to record video.”

Is there a button to get a replacement for the cell phone the police officer shoved up your patoot?

[LevinFan]

Good for your son. Video is great for defense. But too many videos are “lost” or “accidentally deleted”, or they “forgot” to turned it on.

And some take their victims out of camera view. Officer harless did that. a third party recording and storage is best. No cop should have control of his recording device or tape. And the shouldn’t be allowed laws protecting against being recorded. Cockroaches love the dark.