MA: Force-Wide Badge Cameras for Uniformed Officers Act (Passed)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

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Sponsor: Windjammer

[windjammer]

I'm tired irl  so any question you might have I will answer tomorrow.

[windjammer]

Well well,
I believe it would be great that uniformed officers get force widge cameras for thse 2 following reasons:
-it would significantly reduce violence made by some corrupt officers
-it would protect officers against potential violence made by citizens.

This bill would cost nothing. There are many conditions that needed to be in this bill in order to get the funding from the federal government, and I believe I have respected all of them.

Before writing amendments, please take into account this federal law:

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Any questions?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I don't have any serious problems with this. Do we need to include language officially establishing Police Integrity Commissions in the Mideast, or does the federal law already do that?

[Hatman 🍁]

Proposed amendment:

3)   The public will have the ability to view live and archived footage of direct relevance to themselves, after filing a freedom of information request through either their local jurisdiction, the regional government or the Federal Department of Internal Affairs of every on duty police officer in the region via their local police department's website.


This should be readily available to the public. They should not have to go through an AOI request.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Representatives have 24 hours to object to EarlAW's amendment.

[VPH]

What about privacy concerns? Will there be screening out from public view of footage that could potentially be used as blackmail by others or that can cause harm to victims or witnesses?

[Hatman 🍁]

What about privacy concerns? Will there be screening out from public view of footage that could potentially be used as blackmail by others or that can cause harm to victims or witnesses?

Alright, if my amendment passes, then I will introduce an amendment that would block (from public views) the cameras while the police are on private property. The footage would still be archived, and would be free to be viewed by the property owners or any of the necessary parties.

[windjammer]

Well,
Hatman's concerns are obviously good.
But I have a big problem with this amendment, and I'm sure Hatman didn't think about it:
Sometimes, police officers need to act "secretly". For instance, if they try to catch burglars etc etc. If what they're doing is seen "openly" by everyone, the burglars would just have to watch this website with the footages to make sure the police officers aren't in their area.

I know Hatman's intents are good, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

So I object to this amendment.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I object as well.

A vote is now open on EarlAW's amendment. Please vote AYE, NAY, or Abstain. Voting will last 72 hours or until a majority has been reached.

[VPH]

Abstain

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

NAY

[Hatman 🍁]

I'll withdraw my amendment and replace it with:

The public will have the ability to view archived footage of police active on public property of every on duty police officer in the region via their local police department's website. Footage shall be archived with 24 hours of occurrence.  Footage of police activity on private property shall also be archived, but only be available to those who are of direct relevance to the footage.

Is this better?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

In accordance with the wishes of the sponsor, EarlAW's first amendment has been withdrawn.

Representatives have 24 hours to object to EarlAW's second amendment.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Seeing no objection, EarlAW's amendment has been adopted.

[windjammer]

Can we go with a final vote?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

As debate has stalled for more than 36 hours, I motion for a final vote. Representatives have 24 hours to object.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Seeing no objection, a final vote on this bill is now open. Please vote AYE, NAY, or Abstain. Voting will last 72 hours or until every Assemblyman has voted.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

For reference, here is the final version of the bill:

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[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AYE!

[windjammer]

AYE!

I like your enthusiasm.

Haha

[VPH]

AYE

Since this is a commonsense step to ensure safety of both officers and suspects with sufficient privacy provisions, I vote in favor.

[Hatman 🍁]

Aye

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

By a vote of 3 Ayes and 0 Nays, with one member not voting, this bill has passed the Assembly.