Recording Conversations

RICKO · #1 12-13-2006, 05:19 AM

I was on my way to work this morning on 611 which is in PA towards Willow Grove(DON'T ASK ME WHY THEY CALL IT WILLOW GROVE BECAUSE I HAVE YET TO SEE A WILLOW)and some poor sap was pulled over by two cop cars and one of the police officers was screaming at the top of his lungs. My guess is that person was speeding. It seemed as though this officer was taking this very personal. SHEESH!!!! Anyway, on my way to work I pass through many towns and counties, philadelphia county, cheltenham, yorktown, jenkintown, abington, horsham. Now these are very small towns and I fly through them every morning. But that's the problem. You could be going 45mph one minute and then the speed limit changes with the township. That's how I got nailed going through jenkintown. After $200 and a couple pain killers I was fine. I call jekintown the snake pit because these officers hide in the store lots and you cannot even see them until it's to late. But my point is how much verbal battering did that person had to take before he was cut loose. Then it dawned on me. What if that happen to me. Then I started to think about attaching a tape recorder somewhere(visible or not that is up for debate)in the car so when the police officer gets donut muscles you can get him on tape. Now the big question here is do you have to let him or her know that they are being recorded? Would they yank you out of your vehicle? Will they attempt to search your vehicle? Now I'm not saying I was the first to come up with this but it's something to talk about.

charlesa6 · #2 12-13-2006, 07:53 AM

[quote=RICKO]

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Then I started to think about attaching a tape recorder somewhere(visible or not that is up for debate)in the car so when the police officer gets donut muscles you can get him on tape. Now the big question here is do you have to let him or her know that they are being recorded?

Is not a good idea to let cop no you are taping the conversation or scenery. He/she will yank the tape or video from you because you are keeping the evidence. By law you suppose to let the other party know you are taping the conversation or video, however, for cop situation you have to make exception on that one.

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Would they yank you out of your vehicle?

You never know.

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Will they attempt to search your vehicle?

Yes and NO, depending on your situation.

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Now I'm not saying I was the first to come up with this but it's something to talk about.

Sure, there is no problem with that.

RICKO · #3 12-13-2006, 08:53 AM

Thanks Charles. I guess you would have to use your better judgment. But here is the catch. Could you use the evidence in court if you did not let the officer know that you were taping the conversation?

ndusa · #4 12-13-2006, 08:59 AM

[quote=charlesa6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKO

Is not a good idea to let cop no you are taping the conversation or scenery. He/she will yank the tape or video from you because you are keeping the evidence. By law you suppose to let the other party know you are taping the conversation or video, however, for cop situation you have to make exception on that one.
You never know.
Yes and NO, depending on your situation.
Sure, there is no problem with that.

The only thing I would argue here is, the part of it not being lawful to record ones one conversations. You legally can if your life is in danger. Also, under that provision, you don't need the "beep" on the phone to let others know your recording.

If there are more than two people there, or it is a public place, it's all fair game! (How do you think the pigs get away with video from thier cars). I should point out, I believe it was decided in Florida, that police CAN NOT use the video against you as it is deemed as an invasion of privacy. This was a couple years ago, one better look it up.

the other side of this, I agree with charlesa6 that they might just take it away if they find it. You may also take a sever beating if the bully in blue's steroid rage kicks in. I guess it would come down to how important is it to you? could you get enough evidence to make it worth while? Or would it be a waste of time, and may be the cause of your untimely demise?

ndusa · #5 12-13-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKO

Thanks Charles. I guess you would have to use your better judgment. But here is the catch. Could you use the evidence in court if you did not let the officer know that you were taping the conversation?

RICKO: They record you in banks dont' they? How about a gas station at the pumps? Or a Bank Card machine? They use that, thats a public place. I don't think the pig's need to know, and as public servants, why do they have to hide? LOL, you should be able to find these laws under your states freedom of information act/public records act, and criminal investigations under criminal law section. Good luck, and keep eye's in the back of your head on this one!

They record all are emails, everything we do on the net, the phone, use our own personal records against us. I'm with you, turn the tables, see how they like it! I bet GWB would be ripping his hair out if we had a few "flies on the wall" in the WH!!!!

charlesa6 · #6 12-13-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKO

Thanks Charles. I guess you would have to use your better judgment. But here is the catch. Could you use the evidence in court if you did not let the officer know that you were taping the conversation?

Yes, depending on which state you are in. Some state allow it and some denied it because without the other party consent or awareness is not admissible as evidence in court. You have to check your state Municipal code and civil procedure before any attempt to use it as ammo.

RICKO · #7 12-13-2006, 09:18 AM

Thanks for posting ndusa. You mentioned that in a public arena that it's all fair game. That makes alot of sense. I was a former bill collector and while talking over the phone with clients I had to notify them of the conversation being recorded because it is an invasion of privacy. But again, you mentioned that in florida state troopers could not use there police videos against you in court. I am aware that this is not confirmed but my point is that in the same instance of the issues concerning being recorded in public, doesn't that apply to police officers recording their videos and using that against you and vice versa. If you are allowed to use that evidence in court why can't they. You both were in the public arena.

palani · #8 12-13-2006, 09:25 AM

You might consider an Xonix watch. The 256 meg varieties seem to go for around $60 while the 1 gig watches go for $150 - $250. One gig supposedly gives you 36 hours of audio recording time. Practically though, the battery expires after around 6 hours of recording.

These are pretty stealthy devices, easy to start recording and to stop. You can hang an arm out the window and practically place it in the face of the officer and they provide very clear audio recording. Download to a computer using built in USB.

ndusa · #9 12-13-2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICKO

Thanks for posting ndusa. You mentioned that in a public arena that it's all fair game. That makes alot of sense. I was a fomer bill collector and while talking over the phone with clients I had to notify them of the conversation being recorded because it is an invasion of privacy. But again, you mentioned that in florida state troopers could not use there police videos against you in court. I am aware that this is not confirmed but my point is that in the same instance of the issues concerning being recorded in public, doesn't that apply to police officers recording their videos and using that against you and vice versa. If you are allowed to use that evidence in court why can't they. You both were in the public arena.

RICKO: Well, I'm not from florida, so it would take me way to much time to find it. I'm thinking here, that I found that in the state constitution! "I could be wrong on this" lol. Again, this may have been a case a read, that was over turned.

Have you called your state AG? I would, do all the time, and I know they get sick of it, but i have questions damn it!

Most states they do use the tapes against you. Prob. do in florida, I threw that out to give you a door to look behind.

It comes down to this-why not record everything? If you can't use it in court, you can't. But, that one time when you could, you'd have what you needed. Just because you can't use it in court, doen'st mean you can't record, just means they won't look at it.

If you have a camera set up, to record your property, and it would happen to show the street, AND someone got killed on that street, would they use it? Yep.

Each state differs, but I'm sure if you look hard enough, you will find what you need. If not, you will know more than the public servents in question.

Last, Public Servents do not have the rights retained by the people. In other words, are they protected by the "right to privacy" like you? Not where I live they don't. Your state may differ. And your constitution tell's you you have a right to protect yourslef, property, ect... as well as participate in government activity.

RICKO · #10 12-13-2006, 09:38 AM

You make very valid points ndusa. If it's going to protect me from being bullied by the officers that some not all are corrupt and attempt to do wrong an get away with it they got something coming.