Billings Montana Rep. Dale Mortensen, doing what he does best—not legislating
Montana House Bill No. 633, introduced by Representative (and bear-hunter!) Dale Mortensen of Billings, reads:
Section 1. Permit to film law enforcement activities -- regulation. A person employed by or for or contracting directly or indirectly with a television or film production company may not accompany and film for distribution a law enforcement officer conducting official duties on private property unless the person or the television or film production company has obtained from the department of commerce a permit to film law enforcement activities.
[Italics my emphasis]
Oh yeah, you will need a permit. That will cost $100. It'll be valid for six months, so, if you plan on having your civil rights violated, try to get the permit and remember the six months thing.
The language of the bill is supposed to seem like it's a reasonable request for municipalities to be paid if people are doing some kind of commercial venture with Fox's Cops! But don't you fear, this bill has nothing to do with that. If it did, $100 permit fee would be particularly laughable. What's that supposed to pay for? This is a clear attempt at cutting out this new annoying habit people have of using their phones to record police misconduct. But just in case you think this is a honest mistake by someone trying to crush our constitutional rights:
"Sometimes law enforcement makes mistakes, and I would appreciate that, as a former law enforcement officer, that is not aired on TV for entertainment," countered Rep. Dale Mortensen.
Sometimes they make "mistakes"? Are you dumb or just evil, Dale? Daily Kos writer Shaun King has written pretty extensively about law enforcement's "mistakes."
I'm surprised Dale didn't put something in there about wild animals having to pay a fee to have the honor of being shot by Rep. Dale Mortensen himself, and posted to his Facebook page.