Oh ya, go right ahead and record away, unless you intend to seek the LEO'S permission to do so,just make sure to have a team of laywers on retainer, and be prepared to cancel any serious plans for the next 5years and up to $10k in fines ..
Just be smart, and check with your State/County statutes on even considering such a thing. Taking some of the shade-tree advice in here can end up getting you shafted on more than just a possible gun charge...
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
" up to five years' imprisonment or a maximum of $10,000 in fines.
They also allow for civil remedies, by which private parties are entitled to recover actual and punitive damages, together with fees and costs."
"12 states forbid the recording of private conversations
without the consent of all parties. They are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington. "
Listed by State, the no-go's..
http://www.rcfp.org/taping/quick.html
And, as for any hope of using such recordings as any form of evidence in a court action of some sort-kiss that dream bye-bye 90% of the time.
"individuals and businesses that make surreptitious recordings often do so with the expectation that the recordings will be useful as evidence. Such recordings are subject to significant barriers to use as evidence.
First, if made in violation of either federal or state law, the recordings will almost certainly be inadmissible. Second, even if lawfully recorded, the tapes will be exempt from the hearsay rule and will not, in most jurisdictions, be usable for impeachment. Anyone contemplating an evidentiary use of surreptitious recordings should consult with an attorney prior to making the recording.
States Requiring One Party Notification
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
District Of Columbia
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky Louisiana
Maine
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma Oregon
Ohio
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States
Requiring Two Party Notification
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida Massachusetts
Maryland
Michigan
Montana New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Washington
And if all else fails, at least be up to speed under current statutes post-9/11.
http://uscode.house.gov/download/title_18.shtml
http://epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html