Eric D. Coleman

Senate Votes to Protect Right to Record Police Activity

Senators Looney, Coleman say right to record will ensure accountability in law enforcement

Today Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senator Eric Coleman (D-Bloomfield), Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee, said the Senate has voted to approve legislation that would make police officers liable for interfering with individuals who record them in the course of their duties.

“It is difficult to understand how a police officer might claim any expectation of privacy in his or her public duties. Under current law, Connecticut citizens have a right to record police officers, but there have been recent incidents in which officers threatened and harassed citizens who were attempting to do so. I believe creating a possible cause of action against officers will help deter this behavior,” said Senator Looney.

“Police officers should be held accountable for their conduct, and a citizen’s right to record officers helps to ensure that. A forthright officer who obeys and enforces the law need have no objection to being observed. Regrettably, some officers have sought to prevent their being recorded,” said Senator Coleman. “I believe there are many valiant police officers who properly perform their duties. Yet police officers are powerful individuals, with the ability to take an individual’s freedom away. There must be accountability to go with that kind of power.”

Senate Bill 1206 makes police officers legally liable, and subject to a cause of action, when they interfere with a person taking photographs or videos of them in the course of their duties. The liability applies whenever the officer lacks a reasonable basis to deny recording for the purpose of enforcing state or municipal law, protecting public safety, upholding judicial branch facility recording rules, preserving the integrity of a crime scene or investigation, or safeguarding an individual’s privacy interests.

The legislation now proceeds to the House of Representatives.