Yes you can, No you can't

Court revokes right to tape official forums

"Taking back a right the public has had for 21 years, a state appeals court ruled yesterday the New Jersey Constitution does not protect citizens who videotape open government meetings.

The three-judge court unanimously dismissed a lawsuit by a Camden County man who claimed he was wrongfully arrested for attempting to videotape two borough council meetings in September 2000."

Of course, why should a current court actually follow a precedent.

"Dismissing that lawsuit yesterday, Appellate Division Judge Anthony Parrillo ruled the state constitution protects the right of the public to attend public meetings, not to videotape the proceedings.

"Thus, the right to videotape public proceedings is subject to reasonable governmental restrictions," Parrillo wrote. He characterized Gallagher's order to stop videotaping as "simply an ad hoc means of regulating the manner in which videotaping would occur."

Well, we wouldn't want anyone to actually see what kind of stupidity actually goes on at a town council meeting would we. Perhaps we would see how unprepared all the members are when they give their reports on their areas of oversight. Maybe we would see how the memebrs vote on issues that they have no clue about. Maybe we'd all see how the township attorney really runs the town, not the mayor or council. Nah! that can't be the reasons these politicians want cameras out of meetings.