Can I secretly record a conversation with a police officer when they come out for me to make a complaint?

Question

This while making my report in either my driveway or inside my home? Utilizing a video camera.

Answer 1

Very sorry for this boring answer but recording laws vary from state to state. Here is the law in Illinois pasted from the criminal code book. Its a bit long:



(720 ILCS 5/26‑4) (from Ch. 38, par. 26‑4)
Sec. 26‑4. Unauthorized video recording and live video transmission.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly make a video record or transmit live video of another person without that person's consent in a restroom, tanning bed, tanning salon, locker room, changing room, or hotel bedroom.
(a‑5) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly make a video record or transmit live video of another person in that other person's residence without that person's consent.
(a‑10) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly make a video record or transmit live video of another person under or through the clothing worn by that other person for the purpose of viewing the body of or the undergarments worn by that other person without that person's consent.
(a‑15) It is unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed a device that makes a video record or transmits a live video in a restroom, tanning bed, tanning salon, locker room, changing room, or hotel bedroom with the intent to make a video record or transmit live video of another person without that person's consent.
(a‑20) It is unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed a device that makes a video record or transmits a live video with the intent to make a video record or transmit live video of another person in that other person's residence without that person's consent.
(a‑25) It is unlawful for any person to, by any means, knowingly disseminate, or permit to be disseminated, a video record or live video that he or she knows to have been made or transmitted in violation of (a), (a‑5), (a‑10), (a‑15), or (a‑20).

Answer 2

Yes you can! Be polite and cooperative but do not take any BS. Be polite remember to them you are another person who might blow up and try to kill them.
I no longer work in Law enforcement because when you put that uniform on you are pinning a target on for every nutcase to try and prove something. Every single time they interact with the public they are laying their lives on the line!
The first course at the academy was law enforcement officer survival school. The first film was of an incident that happened to a veteran officer involved in making a training tape about how to deal with the public. He was in that cigar store in Berkley, just west of the Campus Mall. A he is being filmed leaving the store two hippy looking teens both black walk up one is playing with a zippo and the other has one of those big plastic cups. He pulls the top off and splashes the contents in the officer's face and the other kid flips th lit lighter against his chest. The contents were gasoline. The kids were caught and when asked why they said it seemed a good day to barbecue a pig.

Think about that and be really polite cause those guys have to think about that every time they deal with a civilian!

Answer 3

Depends on what state you live in. In Illinois it is illegal to record a conversation without consent. If one records audio they are violating the eavesdropping law and can be placed into custody. Video can be taken. This is how a bar, convenient store, restaurant can videotape. Audio can not be done! Yes, audio can be done on traffic stops based on state law. For instance if i am conducting a traffic stop and the person is on the phone I will have them hang up. I do not know if the conversation is being recorded on the other end. Yes, I am recording in my squad car, to be uploaded at the PD. However, I do not want someone to cut and paste my voice, or any other officers voice to say something that they did not. Be careful when you ask questions on here. Make sure you continue to do your research.

Answer 4

Yes you can as long as it's conducted on your property. I have surveillance cameras myself and use them for any kind of evidence. If you're still unsure of its legality for your purpose call and ask a security company who installs the devices. They'll tell you it's legal too. btw - you can get video and audio cameras that way there is no dispute as to what was said. However if you do not have a special mic that filters out all other noise, (such as vehicles going by, planes, train whistles, etc... you'll pick it all up on tape.

p.s. I also have a sign posted that informs all parties who enter my property are being recorded. It would however not be my problem if they failed to read it. So if you do this as well, take a photo that it was posted.

Answer 5

Laws regarding the secret recording of conversations vary from state to state. It's usually legal to record any conversation as long as at least one of the parties involved knows a recording is being made. In this case, if you had a conversation with a police officer and you were making the recording, it would likely be upheld as legal.

A web search with the keywords "law," "secret," "recording" and the name of your state will likely give you the information you're looking for.

Of course if the police officers learn they're being recorded without their knowledge, they very well might be pretty unhappy about it.

Answer 6

Of course if they are in your house. They record you secretly when they pull you over with a video camera. If they are not doing their job correctly, that isn't your fault. People set up hidden cameras all the time to find information they would not normally be able to find because they are not home.

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

Yes. As long as one party being taped is aware of it.

Answer 9

In some states it's illegal to tape someone without their consent, like Md.

Answer 10

totally legal haven't u ever seen people do it on the news. if you only use it for secrurity like making sure they do their job right... go for it.