cbpeck
Regular Member
This morning on my way to work I was pulled over by Pasco PD for speeding in a school zone. I thought I had slowed down enough, but whatever. The officer was very polite and let me go with a warning. I thanked him and went on my way.
The reason I'm posting is that the very first words out of his mouth were something along the lines of, "Hello, I want you to know this conversation is being recorded. I pulled you over...." I can't remember the exact words, but he definitely said that our conversation was being recorded, and it struck me as interesting because I've never had an officer tell me that before. I presume it is because I haven't been recorded before, but who knows. Knowing that I was being recorded definitely impacted how I responded.
I have a rough understanding of privacy laws, but I'm not sure if a traffic stop - in a 7-Eleven parking lot - is a public or private conversation. Did he have to disclose that he was recording?
I suspect the PDs record conversations to obtain evidence, but it got me wondering if all officers are carrying recording equipment now, or if it is just traffic. Is the cop who visits you in Wal-Mart cause some over zealous liberal dialed 911 going to have recording equipment? If so, and if he chooses to record you is he required to inform you? I'm curious now.
Thanks in advance.
The reason I'm posting is that the very first words out of his mouth were something along the lines of, "Hello, I want you to know this conversation is being recorded. I pulled you over...." I can't remember the exact words, but he definitely said that our conversation was being recorded, and it struck me as interesting because I've never had an officer tell me that before. I presume it is because I haven't been recorded before, but who knows. Knowing that I was being recorded definitely impacted how I responded.
I have a rough understanding of privacy laws, but I'm not sure if a traffic stop - in a 7-Eleven parking lot - is a public or private conversation. Did he have to disclose that he was recording?
I suspect the PDs record conversations to obtain evidence, but it got me wondering if all officers are carrying recording equipment now, or if it is just traffic. Is the cop who visits you in Wal-Mart cause some over zealous liberal dialed 911 going to have recording equipment? If so, and if he chooses to record you is he required to inform you? I'm curious now.
Thanks in advance.