Title: An act relating to sound and video recordings by law enforcement officers.

Brief Description: Clarifying procedures for sound and video recordings by law enforcement officers.

Sponsors: House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Ericksen, Wood, Dunn, Armstrong and Ericks; by request of Washington State Patrol).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/14/06, 93-4.

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 2/21/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair; Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Esser, Hargrove, McCaslin and Rasmussen.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background: Law enforcement personnel may make sound recordings corresponding to video images recorded by cameras mounted in law enforcement vehicles. The sound recording device may only be operated simultaneously with the video camera. The sound recording device must not intentionally be turned off during the operation o the video camera.

Summary of Bill: It is clarified that the sound recording device may not be intentionally turned off by the officer during the recording of an event. Once the event has been captured, the audio recording may be stopped and placed back in pre-event mode.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: No one.