On May 28, Louisiana became the latest state to pass legislation enforcing a buffer zone between police officers and people recording them with cameras. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill (HB) 173 into law, making it illegal to be within 25 feet of law enforcement while the latter is “lawfully engaged in the execution of [their] official duties.” More specifically, getting within 25 feet is illegal after law enforcement “has ordered the person to stop approaching, or to retreat.”
According to MSNBC, those who disobey the law face up to $500 in fines, 60 days in prison, or both. The source additionally reported that the law starts being enforced on Aug. 1.
During the signing, Gov. Landy noted that HB 173 had been previously vetoed. The state representative who created the new Louisiana law, Republican Bryan Fontenot, argued that it’d protect policemen from violence. In footage of the signing, Fontenot said, “There was a delicate balance of finding a safe distance for police officers to be able to do their job, both for them and the person they’re effecting an arrest on… This is a bill that’s enacting all across America, that gives our police officers a peace of mind and a safe distance to do their job.”
Louisiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union argues the bill could prevent or hinder citizens from recording police misconduct. After countless incidents of American police brutality caught on camera, the bill and those like it threaten future documentation.
“The twenty-five-foot buffer legislation fundamentally seeks to curtail Louisianians’ ability to hold police accountable for violence and misconduct,” the chapter stated. “Moreover, HB 173 is impractical to enforce consistently and will exacerbate tensions in any situation involving law enforcement.”
The Gov. Landry shared the signing on X, starting around the 19:30 mark.
Governor Jeff Landry to Hold Bill Signing Ceremony https://t.co/oYtHK6UNFL
— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) May 28, 2024
What Other States Have Similar Legislation To Louisiana’s “Buffer Zone” Law?
The legalities of an Indiana law requiring a 25-foot buffer around police are pending, as noted by MSNBC.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 184 in April. The law enforces a 25-foot “no go” barrier between police (or first responders) and bystanders. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Last year, a federal judge ruled that a similar Republican-backed Arizona law was unconstitutional. In that state, the law prohibited knowingly recording within 8 feet of a police officer if asked to stop.
