MA- The Boston police attempt to outlaw citizens from taking pictures of them by claiming it's a violation of the "wiretap law."

MA- The Boston police outlaw citizens from taking pictures of them by using claiming it's a violation of the "wiretap law."

A federal judge refused to issue a restraining order for a man who says Boston police routinely persecute citizens who photograph cops in public, allegedly in violation of wiretap law, but the lawsuit can proceed in its entirety.

Max Strahan claimed to have been taking pictures of a crane truck and construction crew near Boston Commons in August 2008 when out-of-uniform Boston Police Department officer Kenisha Stewart ordered him to stop.

Strahan said he may have inadvertently snapped a picture of Stewart, and she ordered him to delete images of her from his digital camera because it is a violation of the wiretap law to photograph police officers without their consent.

Judge Woodlock agreed to let Strahan proceed in forma pauperis and to consolidate his case with Glik v. Cunniffe, which also alleges threats of arrest for photographing BPD employees in public.

Link:
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/27/38496.htm

Court filing:
MAX STRAHAN, vs. JAMES ROWLEY, ET AL.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/27/strahan.pdf