I would like to read the opinion. I know the Illinois law. It is pretty clear that you cannot record private citizens. But there is an exception for “law enforcement purposes” recording by a private citizen as long as he is not “an agent of the police”. Which I always took to mean that a private citizen could record an encounter with the police.
The eavesdropping of an oral conversation or an electronic communication between any law enforcement officer, State’s Attorney, Assistant State’s Attorney, the Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, or a judge, while in the performance of his or her official duties, if not authorized by this Article or proper court order, is a Class 1 felony.
Unc, that’s not really what happened. Its very likely what the end result will be, but its not there yet. This was about a preliminary injunction banning the law’s enforcement while the case goes forward.
May 9th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
I would like to read the opinion. I know the Illinois law. It is pretty clear that you cannot record private citizens. But there is an exception for “law enforcement purposes” recording by a private citizen as long as he is not “an agent of the police”. Which I always took to mean that a private citizen could record an encounter with the police.
May 9th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
nk,
the court opinion
Illinois law
INAL but from Sec. 14-4
May 9th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Unc, that’s not really what happened. Its very likely what the end result will be, but its not there yet. This was about a preliminary injunction banning the law’s enforcement while the case goes forward.
May 9th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Thank you, milquetoast.