Legal Question Please

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cornbread33

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This morning our sheriff dept. got in a high speed chase , I saved the file from Archives (mp3) and converted it to mpeg i think it was and uploaded it to you tube so I could post it on my facebook page that coincides with my website for my Live Feed.
Later tonight the actual deputy involved in the high speed chase called me and asked if I could make him a cd of the radio traffic and I did.

Now the Sheriff has sent me word to remove the audio transmissions off of facebook which I did.

But I am thinking as long as I do not try to profit from the radio traffic that I am not breaking any laws and the sheriff can not force me to remove posting it on my facebook or web site.

can anyone answer this legally and what are some opinions of this ? thanks
 

jaspence

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Chase recording

In some jurisdictions, it is illegal to repeat the information from a police transmission to a second party. It is also possible that there was something about the chase recording related to a more serious event and you were asked to do this to protect the privacy of an individual or an ongoing investigation.
 
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DaveNF2G

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Technically, putting the recording out for public listening violated Federal law. Ironic, since if you stream the same communication live while the incident is in progress, there is no violation.
 

cornbread33

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Just for the record I removed the postings from FB and made the audio clip private on utube and the Sheriff is now happy.
 

krokus

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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.973 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

You should submit a FOIA request, for audio copies of all radio traffic relating to the chase. You can post those, as they are public information.
 

gesucks

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Technically, putting the recording out for public listening violated Federal law. Ironic, since if you stream the same communication live while the incident is in progress, there is no violation.

Please detail for those of that do not know what federal law it violated and how. Thanks
 

ST-Bob

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I seem to recall that legal opinions rendered by the FCC and possibly the courts determined that unless it's encrypted, there's no expectation of privacy on public safety communications and you can do whatever you please with the recordings.
 

tampabaynews

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Of course as already suggested, making a FOIA request and paying for it would make it perfectly okay to do what you want with it.

Although I do agree it gives the agency another radio encrypt (as ridiculous as it is), I have never heard anyone getting in trouble for uploading non-encrypted radio traffic. Someone at Radio Reference would have removed the archive feature if that were the case. Sometimes I wish they would because I hear the concern quite often on the street.

Personally, it sounds like he was trying to scare you and it worked.
 
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lep

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I seem to recall that legal opinions rendered by the FCC and possibly the courts determined that unless it's encrypted, there's no expectation of privacy on public safety communications and you can do whatever you please with the recordings.

You recall wrongly. 47 USC 605 (renumbered as 705 in Revisions to the Act) [all the A "means" is that is the annotated version with details of the changes] has made it illegal to reveal communications for many years and the section was strengthed in the 1986 revisions known as the ECPA. Listening is okay though.

Have there been any prosecutions? Yes there have been, notably in the Norfolk VA area some years ago. Has anyone ever gone to prison? Yes but it was under exceptional circumstances not relevant here. Even my small county has a Law library at the Courthouse and with the power of the web at hand, these things can easily re-researched, we no longer have to rely on 'what we 'recall' the law to be. [I've saved a LOT of $$$ as a result of not having to subscribe to USCA anymore and keep up with those peaky pocket parts!]
 

majoco

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I bet you'd kick up if you found the Police were tapping your phone - now you expect them to lie down and have their tummy tickled while you do exactly the same. Get real.
 

RKG

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You recall wrongly. 47 USC 605 (renumbered as 705 in Revisions to the Act) [all the A "means" is that is the annotated version with details of the changes] has made it illegal to reveal communications for many years and the section was strengthed in the 1986 revisions known as the ECPA. Listening is okay though.

Have there been any prosecutions? Yes there have been, notably in the Norfolk VA area some years ago. Has anyone ever gone to prison? Yes but it was under exceptional circumstances not relevant here. Even my small county has a Law library at the Courthouse and with the power of the web at hand, these things can easily re-researched, we no longer have to rely on 'what we 'recall' the law to be. [I've saved a LOT of $$$ as a result of not having to subscribe to USCA anymore and keep up with those peaky pocket parts!]

Do some more research: section 2511 of the Safe Streets Act partially repealed section 605 (now 705) of the Communications Act; in general, anything broadcast by a Part 90 licensee and not encrypted is considered to be in the public domain. See United States v. Rose, 669 F.2d 23 (1st Cir. 1982).
 

lep

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Do some more research: section 2511 of the Safe Streets Act partially repealed section 605 (now 705) of the Communications Act; in general, anything broadcast by a Part 90 licensee and not encrypted is considered to be in the public domain. See United States v. Rose, 669 F.2d 23 (1st Cir. 1982).

Part 90 licensees don't "broadcast" anything within the meaning of the Communications Act if you want to be precise as their communications have a party for which they are intended. But this discussion is getting too far afield. The case you cite is prior to the passage of the ECPA for example.

Enjoy. I have done my pro bono work for April.
 

RKG

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Part 90 licensees don't "broadcast" anything within the meaning of the Communications Act if you want to be precise as their communications have a party for which they are intended. But this discussion is getting too far afield. The case you cite is prior to the passage of the ECPA for example.

Enjoy. I have done my pro bono work for April.

ECPA made no substantive changes to section 2511 of SSA and, in particular, did nothing to alter or limit the partial repealer of section 605 (later 705) of the Communications Act effected by section 2511 and interpreted by the Court of Appeals in Rose.
 

JoeyC

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Another thread that PROVES that legal questions should be left to those in the legal profession.
 
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