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Is it permissible to record a conversation with an officer?

eye95

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Jan 6, 2010
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13A-11-30 defines eavesdropping. If one party to the conversation has knowledge of the recording, it is not eavesdropping.

13A-11-31 declares eavesdropping a crime.

Are there any other statutes we need to be aware of? I'd like to be able to start a recording if I am ever stopped for OC. But, I don't want to inject any perceived hostility by asking the officer if he minds if I record the goings-on.
 

aadvark

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13A-11-30 defines Eavesdropping as interfereing with the Private Communication of others.

It can not be said, then, atleast in my opinion, that one can Eavesdrop one Himself.

If the Officer of Law interacts with you, in a non-Private Place, i.e. a Public Place, I would think that you would be within your Rights to Record that Conversation.

It is similiar to the Media, in essence.

As long as the News comes to Media, it is Legal.

Likewise, and in similiar fashion, as long as the Officer comes to you, presumably, it would be Legal as well.

I will look furhter into Alabama Code 1975, to see if I can locate any SunshineLawsthatpertain to moderntechnologies.
 

dixieborn

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I agree! And as a personal habit... always bring a voice recorder with me when OC'ing. (In fact I keep it in my truck all the time and will turn it on at a traffic stop as well... you never know when you want to have something you hear recorded.)

The one conversation with LE I had while OC'ing, I really wish I had one on me then!
 

t33j

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King George, VA
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Yeah I read that the first time I hit the Wikipedia article. I was doing some CYA.
 
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