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: Senators Weinstein and Haugen; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 1/24/06, 1/31/06 [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, Rasmussen and Thibaudeau.

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 of 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: This technical change is needed to adapt the statute to current technology. Both the video camera and the audio machine always record the entirety of events that occur when the police vehicle's emergency lights are activated. The camera runs continuously and preserves the 90 seconds of video prior to any time the lights are activated, but not the audio.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Jeff DeVere, WSP.