The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee unanimously passed legislation that would make it more difficult to access police video booking photos.
Senate Bill 482 would change the rules for requesting police body cam footage and mugshots, by requiring outlets to submit notarized requests in person, instead of electronically. Sponsor Senator Brian Strickland.
“Body camera footage and mugshots are not entertainment, they’re news, they’re something that should be preserved for open records, but not be preserved for entertainment and for making money in our state” according to Strickland.
Those making requests would also have to specifically name the individuals in images.
“We will know exactly who is getting mugshot images. We’ll know exactly who is getting body camera footage. We will ease the burden off of our law enforcement at the same time when it comes to how these requests are made.”
Credentialed media is exempt from the changes, but critics oppose the limits. Sarah Hunt Blackwell is with the Georgia ACLU.
“The ACLU of Georgia generally opposes the law enforcement video restrictions, in part because of how it can significantly impair access to videos of officer-involved shootings and other potential misconduct made by law enforcement, Hunt Blackwell said.”
Some news organizations expressed concern that the measure would limit some outlets.
