N.C. law seeks to block public from seeing dashboard, body cam videos recorded by police
A new law signed two months ago would reclassify dash cam and body cam videos, making it harder for the public to get police to release the footage.
Police have finally released footage from the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, but a law that goes into effect on October 1 could ensure that the Scott shooting is the last footage of such an incident to be released to the public.
The new law, signed by Gov. Pat McCrory two months ago, would reclassify dash cam and body cam video. Under current law, these kinds of videos are considered to be public record, while the new law means they will no longer be considered public, meaning it will be harder for activists and others to get police to release the video footage, as there will be less incentive to do so.
The controversial law is, according to McCrory, supposed to stand for “respecting the public, respecting the family, and also respecting the constitutional rights of the officer.” However, it’s already clear watching the case of the video footage in Scott’s shooting that it will only be another obstacle to getting answers in police shootings.
Even though the law does not go into effect until October 1, meaning the video footage of Scott’s death is still considered public record, Police Chief Kerr Putney was reluctant to release the footage. It wasn’t until after serious public outcry as well as the release of footage recorded by a family member of the encounter that Putney released department footage.
Protesters in North Carolina came out in force against the new law on Saturday, chanting “no tapes, no peace.”
