Critics of a new Louisiana law, which makes it a crime to approach within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of a police officer under certain circumstances, fear that the measure could hinder the public’s ability to film officers — a tool that has increasingly been used to hold police accountable.

Under the law, anyone who is convicted of “knowingly or intentionally” approaching an officer, who is “lawfully engaged in the execution of his official duties,” and after being ordered to “stop approaching or retreat” faces up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail or both. The law was signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, Tuesday and goes into effect Aug. 1.

While the legislation’s language does not specifically mention filming, critics say that by default it would limit how close a person can be to observe police. Opponents have also gone further to question the law’s constitutionality, saying it could impede on a person’s First Amendment rights.

  • @ironhydroxide
    link
    English
    551 month ago

    This is just the result of the general populous allowing the legislators to pass whatever laws they wish, instead of laws to benefit constituents.

    We need more outrage and change when these things happen. At least enough to make people remember what’s happened when it’s time to vote.

    • _haha_oh_wow_
      link
      English
      371 month ago

      The cost of a functioning republic is vigilance: If people stop participating, things get worse.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        130 days ago

        You mean all the people saying no one should bother voting because “both sides bad and it does nothing” might not have the US’ best interests at heart??

    • @Grandwolf319
      link
      31 month ago

      The issue is that the people who vote for him would see something like this and say good, crime is too high right now.

      No matter how you spin it, when you have enough people without critical thinking, they are gonna drag everything down.