if two young black men with dreadlocks came in and did the same thing.

Idiots with a video camera

They sound like they may be part of the Sovereign Citizen movement (*ugh*): same dopey reasoning, same obsession with asserting their rights without considering their responsibilities, same sense of self-importance. Granted, the video recording may be skewing things, but the police officer comes off as a much nicer, and more reasonable, person than the videographers.

Most of the are right wingers who suddenly noticed police misconduct when Obama became President. Some are full blown sovereign types and a few are liberals.


This guy is kind of Squirrley. He tries to emulate another auditor by the name of "news now Houston" who is the king daddy of auditors and YouTube.

A lot of these guys affiliate with Carlos Miller who is, as I understand it, a former (current?) DUer who founded the website Photography Is Not A Crime after he was arrested for filming a protest in Miami.

Following these people is been a bit of a fascination of mine for the last few years.

This auditor "movement" (for lack of a better word) is in part born out of the ridiculous reactions from cops being filmed on the street hassling and arresting and beating minorities.


It's kind of been taken over by white-wingers who refuse to grasp the concept that whatever hassles they get from the cops is amplified 10 times for minorities. They know cops abuse but they think black people deserve it.

The movement turned in to "im a white guy and I can film or carry a gun in public" -- "black people deserve what they get and black lives matter is racist"


I think the cops are finally are catching on to what's going on with these cameras. But once in a while they run across one who goes completely apeshit and arrests the cameraman for completely made up charges.

I believe this is the case that set precedent in the Federal District Court - 3rd I think??

The case put the cops on notice that they no longer have immunity for arresting people filming. The cameraman tried to pierce the immunity that cop claimed for locking him in the hot squad car for an hour. The cop got off by the skin of his teeth put precedent was set for filming protections.

The case is Turner vs. Driver I believe. I'm doing this all from memory

A couple of people with plenty of time, a camera and an inkling to what a "first amendment audit" might be is like giving a newly licensed driver the keys to a Porsche and unsupervised use: "Lets take her out and see what she kin do! yeehaaww"

It may be legal but perhaps not wise, and depending on the situation, could lead to an unintended result. Instead, how about "follow me out to the track". Once there, "put on your Nomex and helmet" give him/her a couple of hot laps and only then, "here's the keys, good luck and have fun". Still might total the Porsche, but much safer.

Kudos to the cop. He seemed to be a good sort.

they don't feel a need to "show out".

Even a mildly interesting clip is made un watchable by moving the camera to where your eyes look. Pan slowly at eye level. Unfortunately, the vast majority of amateur video clips on the internet are like this. i wonder how many people have seizures watching them.