Obstruction of an officer?

Question

So last night we were pulled over and we were all taken out of the car. My friend was being mistreated badly so i decided to record it and the police officers told me to stop and back away. I was a fair way aways and they pulled me down and now I am charged with obstruction of an officer. Is this BS?

Answer 1

Taking your question as the absolute fact... they over stepped their authority. You are allowed to record police officers in uniform as they have no expectation of privacy while performing their duties. But if you were a fair ways away, how were they able to pull you down?  

Answer 2

Well your story is very vauge and appeares you have left a bit out.  But given what you stated, the question is what do you consider a "fair ways away" is and what the police think was the proper distance.  Either way, when you go to court, you will hear their version of the story and you get to tell the judge yours.  

Good Luck  

Answer 3

You'll move farther back next time, I bet...

Answer 4

Contrary to what ABCD says there is nothing illegal about taping police officers in the performance of their duties as long as you are not interfering with them. If you are too close and interfering with them then it would be Obstruction of an Officer.

Answer 5

Get the newspaper's onto it! go national.

Answer 6

it's really called interfering with government administration, it is a misdemeanor charge.

Answer 7

if you were recording a police officer visually and audioably you could also be charged with that. This is a new law that has been recently passed into legislation through the federal government.