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Illegal Driving Actions On Camera

R

rickr84

Hi all,

If someone wanted to make a documentary about driving from one border to another in a vehicle, WHILE 100% being within driving codes, is this legal without special permits from state and local agencies?

Then, question #2. If you wanted this to be a race, where people may go up to some radical speed, could you film it and show it? I understand if you were ticketed AT THE SCENE, fine, you deal with whatever you get. Same thing for an accident (you hurt someone, jail here you come) But can things come BACK to bite you in the butt later since you prove your own guilt in video even if nothing happened? Or can you just say it's all an editing trick and everything including timeline was faked?
 
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Well, the actual event is occurring thus Id like to see if I can film it.. I'm just not sure if documenting the potentially illegal activity is wise. It seems like any punishment you receive would be increased 2x simply because everyone would be angry you were doing it potentially just for the camera.

Edit: You edited your post so mine sounds funny now.

But my question is about the legality of it, not the technical how to.
 
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Sorry about that, I accidentally posted a reply to another topic (wrong tab!) and then realizing my mistake, quickly edited the reply to the accurate one. I reread the topic again and thought another one would be more suitable.

I was typing fast! I didn't want to look silly with the previous mistakes, haha. I'm sorry though, I'm unfamiliar with legality issues, as my location reveals.
 
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If someone is doing something illegal, you will likely find they will NOT want you to film it. And if you did film it and show it, boys in blue could be at your door and confiscate you footage so they can press charges. Either way I don't suggest it.

If you want race scenes etc, my suggestion is to play with the speed of the camera and everyone. Which is to say have all the cars drive slowly and one drive fast, then speed up the tape so the slow cars look like they are driving regular speed, etc.
 
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Normally if you wanted to film this kind of 'stunt' in a professional way. You would get permits for professional drivers to do the race. The area would probably have to be closed down for obvious safety reasons and perhaps you would even need to pay for police officers to keep watch.

I think it's a bad idea to race like that at all. But as you said, you are going ahead with it regardless.... so I guess we'll see if you survive natural selection... lol
 
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rickr84 said:
Hi all,

If someone wanted to make a documentary about driving from one border to another in a vehicle, WHILE 100% being within driving codes, is this legal without special permits from state and local agencies?
Click to expand...
Yes. I'm currently editing a documentary on a hiker
who hiked across the US. No permits. He has also
done a don on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from the
Mexican border to the Canadian border. No permits.

Then, question #2. If you wanted this to be a race, where people may go up to some radical speed, could you film it and show it? I understand if you were ticketed AT THE SCENE, fine, you deal with whatever you get. Same thing for an accident (you hurt someone, jail here you come) But can things come BACK to bite you in the butt later since you prove your own guilt in video even if nothing happened? Or can you just say it's all an editing trick and everything including timeline was faked?
Click to expand...
There are several legal issues here that no one here
can answer with any accuracy. But it's fun to speculate.

If there is a law broken and the authorities subpoena
your footage and you say it was only an editing trick,
then you can be held liable. If you video tape a law being
broken and the police ticket the driver you have the right
to videotape what happens. They have the right to tell
you to stop. If you shoot laws being broken, distribute the
documentary and the authorities subpoena your footage
you may be held liable.
 
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The East Coast US to West timed race has already been done by a few people, but I have a few friends that want to do a different geographic region. We'll see.

I'm guessing you guys know the old short film 'C'était un Rendez-vous'. Pretty cool stuff. If for some crazy reason you guys havent, here it is. It's hard to find an accurate youtube video of it somehow because they keep getting removed, but here it one that looks right to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv4dfAf-TbQ&feature=fvsr
 
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