Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed legislation making it a crime to knowingly approach within 25 feet of a police officer while they are “engaged in law enforcement duties” after the officer has ordered the person to stay back.

Critics of a new Louisiana law, which makes it a crime to approach within 25 feet (7.6 meters) of a police officer under certain circumstances, fear that the measure could hinder the public’s ability to film officers — a tool that has increasingly been used to hold police accountable.

Under the law, anyone who is convicted of “knowingly or intentionally” approaching an officer, who is “lawfully engaged in the execution of his official duties,” and after being ordered to “stop approaching or retreat” faces up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail or both. The law was signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, Tuesday and goes into effect Aug. 1.

While the legislation’s language does not specifically mention filming, critics say that by default it would limit how close a person can be to observe police. Opponents have also gone further to question the law’s constitutionality, saying it could impede on a person’s First Amendment rights.

  • Verdant Banana@lemmy.world
    0·
    1 month ago

    so it was the citizens who are being put in their place by militarized police, voting restrictions, lead in the water pipes, the underfunded and gutted education system, low minimum wage both state and federal, the pollution, healthcare access restrictions, etcetera that caused bad politicians to gain and hold power not anything else?

    • worldwidewave@lemmy.world
      0·
      1 month ago

      Whenever I see dumb laws like this being passed, I think about all the problems they aren’t fixing. Louisiana is damn-near last place on all of the quality of life indexes. It’s sad that they keep electing politicians who refuse to better their quality of life.

      • Madison420@lemmy.world
        0·
        1 month ago

        That’s the idea, they want a rule that allows exclusion of journalists so their shittness is less public.

  • ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    This is just the result of the general populous allowing the legislators to pass whatever laws they wish, instead of laws to benefit constituents.

    We need more outrage and change when these things happen. At least enough to make people remember what’s happened when it’s time to vote.

  • BigMacHole@lemm.ee
    0·
    1 month ago

    Not being able to approach Police Officers because they legally can then THROW YOU IN JAIL is called FREEDOM!