NJ Judge Rules Police Car Videos Are Public Records

Oct 14, 2014 10:20 AM EDT | Matt Mercuro

A New Jersey judge had decided that videos taken by cameras mounted in police cars during traffic stops and other law enforcement activities in the state are public records.

The decision, which was handed down by state Superior Court Judge Vincent Grasso, means authorities can't without the videos, even if they say they pertain to internal-affairs or criminal investigations, according to the Associated Press.

Grasso's decision involved rulings made in two similar but separate cases. Both rulings involved people who made Open Public Records Act requests for videos of specific traffic stops.

Authorities in both cases denied the requests, claiming that the videos were exempt from disclosure under the law since they were "criminal investigatory records," according to the AP.

They also claimed that they were part of ongoing investigations, and internal-affairs investigations as well.

The judge determined that if police agencies need to access the regular recording of law enforcement activities, the videos qualify as government records and can't be shielded if they become parts of investigations later on.

On Friday, the Ocean County prosecutor's office said it plans on appealing the rulings. It will argue that the automatic release of videos could allow defense attorneys to claim their clients can't get a fair trial since the "jury pool has been tainted," according to the AP.

While officials with the office say they don't oppose the release of the videos, they feel it's more of a question of when they should be released.

They feel that it could harm the judicial process of videos were released to the public too soon.

State Governor Chris Christie signed a bill last month will mandate that all new police vehicles carry a video recording device or that a camera is attached to their uniform or belt.

A number of local departments already utilize cameras on their vehicles.

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