High profile police shootings across the country have motivated California’s lawmakers to pass laws increasing public oversight and accountability in police departments.
The California Senate passed Senate Bill 411, proposed by State Senator Ricardo Lara, on April 13. The bill prohibits police from arresting people who film or photograph their activities in a public space.
“We are seeing the increasingly important role that recordings are playing in ensuring transparency, accountability and justice,” Senator Lara said in a press release.
Lara, whose district represents part of Southern Los Angeles County including parts of Long Beach, said in a press release that the bill is meant to clarify and modernize existing law.
“Right now, with our society, there is a certain amount of… questioning of actions by law enforcement,” Lt. Richard Goodwin of the University Police at California State University, Long Beach said. “It is great to have the incidents recorded.”
Goodwin said University Police make no effort to prevent the public from videotaping their activities.
The bill clarifies existing statutes by explicitly stating that recording police is not reasonable cause for arrest, nor can it be considered obstruction of justice. It protects the First Amendment rights of citizens and makes police accountable to accusations of excessive force.
The bill passed by a 31-3 vote, and is expected to go to a vote in the California Assembly later this year.
Kamala Harris, the attorney general of the state of California, is going a step further by beginning a pilot program to equip officers with body cameras statewide, Harris said in a press conference.
“We know as leaders of law enforcement that it is critical that we, as leaders, articulate our commitment to strengthening the trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” Harris said during a press conference.
The pilot program was announced during the California Department of Justice’s 90-Day Review of police training, which investigated alleged racial biases and use of excessive force.
The reforms are intended “to increase transparency and foster trust among Division special agents and the community,” according to the office of the Attorney General.
Police agencies across California are testing body cameras, including California State University, Fullerton, according to CSU Fullerton’s student newspaper, the Daily Titan.
Goodwin also said that he supported the installation of dashboard cameras in police vehicles in the past, which has made it easier to document encounters.
Goodwin said that he would support both the right to record as well as body cameras. However, he said that the people recording should not be allowed to directly interfere with police activities.
“It could be dangerous for people recording,” Goodwin said. “But if you are going to get in the way… then you are interfering with a police officer in performing his duty.”
SB 411 would go into effect Jan. 1 2016 if passed, a representative from Lara’s office said.
