SB 184 – Hold Enforcement Accountable for Excessive Use of Force
This bill could potentially criminalize the filming of law enforcement and first responders who use excessive force. This bill is worded in a way that seeks to criminalize filming police officers and first responders, which could hinder transparency and accountability in cases of excessive use of force (think George Floyd).
The language in the bill is vague and subjective as it doesn’t definitively clarify the term “harass” and sets the stage for arbitrary enforcement and confusion among citizens about what constitutes a violation.
Moreover, the bill also infringes upon citizen’s First Amendment Rights as it restricts the general public’s ability to record and document instances of excessive use of force. This is concerning because the bill’s language would make it harder to hold bad actors accountable by limiting the ability of citizens to record and freely document instances of harm by law enforcement, in public, even when such documentation is essential for accountability and justice.
SB 184 is coming up for a vote on the Senate Floor. CLICK HERE to email our lawmakers in the Senate and tell them to vote NO on SB 184!