Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Annals of (in)justice: Jailing the watchers
Via Glenn Reynolds, a political activist serruptitiously films a Boston University police officer at a public political rally, and is convicted of "wiretapping", sentenced to probation, and fined.
A Newton activist who concealed a camera to videotape a Boston University police sergeant was convicted of violating state wiretapping laws. An associate is charged with witness intimidation.
Peter Lowney, 36, was sentenced last week to six months probation and fined $500. A Brighton District Court judge ordered him to stay away from the sergeant and remove footage from the Internet.
Lowney shot the film during a 2006 political protest. Ordered to stop recording, officers arrested Lowney for hiding the still-rolling camera in his coat.
What, pray tell, is the legitimate state interest in preventing people from filming the activities of public officials going about their jobs in, er, public? They are allowed to watch us with hidden cameras, and we are not allowed to watch them? The case is an outrage. I'm just glad this can't happen to me because I live in a state controlled by the Democrats.
Oh. Wait.
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