This is important.Read this!

[Dirt Nuker]

I have seen way too many slap downs of both people and their cameras on TV to even follow this advice. Face it, we live in a police state when joe public can't legally video someone their tax dollars are paying.

I've worked in TV news for 24 years now. In all that time we've had someone smack one of our cameras only one time so don't think it happens all the time. If someone smacks and breaks one of our cameras, they're in for some real financial trouble. Photographers have had guns pulled on them for stuff like this so be careful. The good ones can record without the person knowing it. Can't get the on-camera interview? Then just mic up the reporter with a wireless mic and shoot the video from the car. Done.

On that note. Here's a valuable tip for recording anything important.

Record it all. Every single second of it. whether it's legal or not.

It's better to record it and never use it than to need it and not have recorded it at all. Here's an example. Once there was a fatal motorcycle accident. Guy was hit by a passing car. Both drunk and both crossed the yellow line. In that evening's news we showed wide shots of the scene, cop cars and lights, accident reconstruction stuff, etc. What you didn't see was video of the now headless rider's body lying in the street with his head nearby still in the helmet.

Later the cops subpoened us for all the scene video for their internal use. You might not need or use the video, but it's better to have it than not have it.

Drop $10 and get an 808 spy camera. Looks like a car key fob. It'll do the job.

 

[Martin_V3i]

I never heard anything much at all over 24 years of slapdowns, but the recent years "After Rodney" has had many news reports and on-line videos showing cops immediately closing shop on a citizen running a recording of them. I still think it would accellerate the cops attitude.

Y'all do what you want, but I'm not running the risk of heightening the situation with a recording device where the cop might get wind of it on the spot. It simply sucks that the exposure to those events where the cops can limit the free expression from a taxpayer to record their public servant in action, now warrants a physical altercation. The cops record you all the time, right? Where was my permission given? Can my lawyer fight for me on this premise? martin

 

[TheCoilist]

I never heard anything much at all over 24 years of slapdowns, but the recent years "After Rodney" has had many news reports and on-line videos showing cops immediately closing shop on a citizen running a recording of them. I still think it would accellerate the cops attitude.

Y'all do what you want, but I'm not running the risk of heightening the situation with a recording device where the cop might get wind of it on the spot. It simply sucks that the exposure to those events where the cops can limit the free expression from a taxpayer to record their public servant in action, now warrants a physical altercation. The cops record you all the time, right? Where was my permission given? Can my lawyer fight for me on this premise? martin

Remember, your rights haven't been violated until they record BOTH audio and video of you. Land lords, CAN put video cameras in the property as long as there is no audio. It's not considered an invasion of privacy (by FCC definition) until both are recorded together. But regardless, audio is worth more than the video I believe. A small audio recorder is small, like mentioned above, the size of a key remote. Drop it in your pocket and let it go to town.

I agree it's ridiculous to think this is what society has come to. It's sad to think that because we walk around with a metal detector we're harassed for getting a little exercise and enjoying the outdoors with our hobby. And unfortunately, it's only going to get worse with these corny TV shows on destroying the REAL hobby of metal detecting.

We need to take the hobby back! who's with me?

 

[Dirt Nuker]

We need to take the hobby back! who's with me?

Ready your breakfast and eat hearty! For tonight we MD in hell!!!

 

[sgtwilks]

Ready your breakfast and eat hearty! For tonight we MD in hell!!!

Im down death before dishonor!!!!

 

[TheCoilist]

Do we march on capitol hill and the white house demanding to search the premises...after all it is public property right? lol

 

[paulfg]

too bad we're not all cops. This was the best post I've seen in a while.

 

[coin nut]

Sgt. Wilkes, Great Job. I learned alot from your post but I have to agree with a previous poster, if you had no badge, you were in for a bad day. Thank you for representing us in a most favorable manner. HH

 

[BADBAJA]

It would have been a different situation if he had not pulled his badge. She was ready to haul him to the clink. Only those educated with the law can beat it.

 

[JimmyBlueTSI]

Congrats to you for taking a stand, and getting justice for all metal detectorists who are hassled even though they are within their rights.

On the flip side, for the 99% of us that don't carry a badge... You know the rest.

 

[Dirt Nuker]

Do we march on capitol hill and the white house demanding to search the premises...after all it is public property right? lol

I'm headed there in about a month. I'll take my MD and search those spots and get back to you in about 20-50 years.

 

[TheCoilist]

I'm headed there in about a month. I'll take my MD and search those spots and get back to you in about 20-50 years.

Yeah... no, I think you'd "disappear" like so many of the others before you. You'll become part of the biggest government cover up known to man.....

.....

 

[TheCoilist]

....................

 

[ewemule]

Nice work !

Some people think a little bit of authority let's them swing the "Hammer of god" at anyone.
Marty