Police officer can now charge more than $700 for body camera footage

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has officially turned police body camera footage into a commodity.

Source: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty

According to PEOPLE, DeWine signed HB 315 into law Thursday night, allowing law enforcement to charge up to $750 per request for body camera, dashcam and jail surveillance footage — recordings that were previously a key tool for hold agents accountable.

It's literally someone's check. Imagine that a simple traffic violation takes a turn for the worse, and it now costs you to recover the evidence.

It's not good.

As reported WEWS News 5 Cleveland, the legislation allows agencies to charge up to $75 per hour for processing video footage.

What type of law takes away from transparency and accountability?

'We protect officers,' police say

Ohio police are defending the controversial law as a necessary measure to prevent harassment over frivolous requests. In WEWS News 5 Cleveland, Mike Weinman of the Fraternal Order of Police says:

“What we really want to do is protect people, protect officers and reduce all of these requests that we get that cause people to make money.”

The platform also spoke with Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald to explain the strain that frequent demands put on departments:

“Processing body camera footage takes hours of work, and it really makes it more difficult for the media, attorneys and citizens seeking requests,” McDonald said.

According to Weinman, smaller municipalities often lack the staff to process such requests, making the law a resource-saving measure.

It is absolutely not fair to make taxpayers pay twice for access to footage they are already funding.

Defenders push back: “A step in the wrong direction”

Advocates and legal experts say the law places an unfair burden on ordinary citizens, especially those seeking justice. In WEWS News 5 Cleveland, Attorney Sarah Gelsomino highlighted how this would be financially unfair and impact the local.

“Ordinary citizens who interact with the police, who may be concerned about this, who want to demand accountability, they are the ones who will not be able to access these records because of these financial restrictions. »

Gelsomino also summed up the impact: “It hurts the people who need the video the most. »

As reported by WEWS News 5 ClevelandConstitutional law professor Jonathan Entin also criticized the law, calling it a “universal punishment” for the actions of a few.

“If you increase the price of something, you will decrease demand,” Entin said. “Fewer people will ask for body camera videos, even though…some videos show that the story the government initially told was not accurate. Making it more expensive seems like a step in the wrong direction to me.

Source: photo alliance/Getty

Transparency Concerns Rise Following Late-Night Legislative Moves

The process of adopting the law lasted 17 hours. In WEWS News 5 Cleveland, It was noted that HB 315 was signed while many lawmakers were unaware of its provisions before the vote. Governor DeWine signed the 450-page omnibus bill around midnight without public hearings. Entin criticized the process.

“Passing something at 1 or 2 a.m., literally on the last day of the Legislature, does not indicate some thoughtfulness,” DeWine said.

WEWS News 5 Cleveland states that cities like Cleveland and Akron are studying how to implement the law, with Cleveland saying it will waive fees for traditional media outlets.

Cleveland spokesperson Tyler Sinclair encourages others to use their platforms to raise awareness of this unfair treatment.

“Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of democracy, and we firmly believe in the crucial role that traditional media plays in holding government to account,” Sinclair said.

Use your voices.

Is liability on sale?

Truth be told, this law only benefits one party…how is that fair? Police brutality continues to increase despite images or social media awareness. Today, the government has decided to tax and charge for access to evidence.

Who’s to say that marginalized and underrepresented communities of color, who disproportionately benefit from financial opportunities and are treated with genuine respect by law enforcement, will even be able to afford it?

Ohioans have about 90 days before the law takes effect, and it remains to be seen whether it will face public or legal challenges.