New York Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights and Limits

New York law gives you the right to record police officers on duty in public. N.Y. Civil Rights Law section 79-p, the Right to Record Act, creates a private right of action against any officer who interferes with that recording. The First Amendment provides additional federal protection.

You have both a statutory and a constitutional basis to record police officers performing their duties in New York. The strongest NY-specific protection is N.Y. Civil Rights Law section 79-p, the Right to Record Act, which creates a direct private right of action against any law-enforcement official who interferes with recording. The First Amendment provides parallel protection, though the Second Circuit has not issued a published constitutional holding establishing a civilian right to record police.

This guide covers the legal foundation for your right to record police, the practical rules you must follow, New York's body-worn camera program, how to access police body camera footage, and what to do if an officer tries to stop you from recording.

Your Constitutional Right to Record Police

First Amendment Protection

The right to record police officers in the course of their public duties is grounded in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Multiple federal circuit courts have ruled that audio and video recording of government officials, including law enforcement, is a form of protected speech and press activity.

The First, Third, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits have all explicitly recognized a First Amendment right to record police. The Second Circuit (which includes New York, Connecticut, and Vermont) has not issued a published constitutional holding specifically recognizing a civilian right to record police, making this an area of unsettled 2nd Cir. doctrine. New Yorkers should rely primarily on Civil Rights Law section 79-p rather than unresolved federal circuit precedent.

New York State Protections

New York enacted Civil Rights Law section 79-p, the Right to Record Act, signed June 14, 2020 and effective approximately November 14, 2020. This is the cornerstone NY-specific statute:

• Creates a private right of action against any law-enforcement official who interferes with a person's right to record
• Protects anyone who is not under arrest and is not in police custody
• Covers audio and video recording of law enforcement performing their duties in public
• Allows the aggrieved person to sue for damages and injunctive relief without needing to prove a federal constitutional violation

Claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 for First or Fourth Amendment violations remain available alongside the state remedy.

Rules for Recording Police in New York

What You Can Do

When recording police in New York, you can:

• Film police officers making arrests, conducting traffic stops, or engaging in other public duties
• Record from any public space (sidewalks, streets, parks, plazas)
• Record from any private property where you have a right to be (your home, a business that permits you to be there)
• Use any device (smartphone, camera, body camera, dashcam)
• Livestream police encounters in real time
• Record both audio and video of police activity
• Record your own interactions with officers during traffic stops, questioning, or other encounters

What You Cannot Do

Recording rights have important boundaries:

• Do not physically interfere with police operations. Stay a reasonable distance away and do not insert yourself into the situation.
• Do not obstruct officers in the performance of their duties. Blocking an officer's path, reaching into a patrol car, or entering an active crime scene are all prohibited.
• Do not trespass to get a better angle. Your right to record does not override property rights or allow you to enter restricted areas.
• Follow lawful orders to move back. Officers can direct you to step back a reasonable distance for safety reasons. Refusing a lawful order to move can result in arrest for obstruction or disorderly conduct.
• Do not tamper with a crime scene or disturb evidence while recording.

The "Reasonable Distance" Standard

There is no specific number of feet that defines a "reasonable distance" for recording police. Courts evaluate the circumstances case by case. Factors that affect what is reasonable include:

• Whether the officer is dealing with a potentially dangerous situation
• Whether your presence creates a safety risk for officers, bystanders, or yourself
• Whether you are impeding the flow of traffic or blocking access
• Whether the officer has given you a specific instruction to move to a particular location

A general guideline is to stay far enough away that you are not interfering with the police action, but close enough that your recording device can capture meaningful footage.

What to Do If Police Tell You to Stop Recording

Know Your Rights

If a police officer tells you to stop recording:

1. Stay calm and respectful. Assert your rights without escalating the situation.
2. Clearly state that you are exercising your rights under N.Y. Civil Rights Law section 79-p and the First Amendment to record police activity in a public place.
3. Do not physically resist if an officer attempts to seize your device, but verbally state that you do not consent to the seizure.
4. Remember the officer's badge number, name, and patrol car number if possible.
5. File a complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in New York City, or the relevant oversight body in other jurisdictions, if you believe your rights were violated.

Police Cannot Seize Your Device Without a Warrant

The United States Supreme Court ruled in Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014) that police generally cannot search a cell phone without a warrant. This protection extends to the contents of your phone, including photos and videos. An officer who seizes your phone or camera to delete footage may be violating your Fourth Amendment rights.

Police Cannot Order You to Delete Footage

Ordering a citizen to delete recorded footage is not a lawful police action. If an officer instructs you to delete video or photos:

• Verbally decline and state that you do not consent
• Do not physically resist
• Document the demand and report it afterward
• The footage may be recoverable through forensic methods even if deleted

Civil Remedies If Your Rights Are Violated

If police illegally prevent you from recording, seize your device, or delete your footage, you may have legal recourse:

• A Section 1983 lawsuit against the officer and potentially the department for violating your constitutional rights
• A claim for unlawful seizure under the Fourth Amendment
• A complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board (in NYC) or other oversight bodies
• Filing a complaint with the New York Attorney General's Office for pattern-of-practice violations

Recording During Traffic Stops

As the Driver or Passenger

You can record your own traffic stop in New York. Keep these guidelines in mind:

• You do not need to ask permission to record
• Keep your hands visible and inform the officer before reaching for your phone
• Mount your phone on the dashboard or hold it in plain view rather than making movements that could be misinterpreted
• Audio recording of the stop is legal under one-party consent since you are a participant
• Do not hold your phone in a way that looks like you could be concealing a weapon

As a Bystander

If you witness a traffic stop from outside the vehicle, you can record from a public sidewalk or other public space. Maintain a reasonable distance and do not approach the vehicle or interfere with the officer.

New York Body-Worn Camera Program

Executive Law Section 234

Executive Law Section 234 established the New York State Police Body-Worn Cameras Program. Key provisions include:

• All state police officers must wear body-worn cameras while on patrol
• Cameras must record interactions immediately before an officer exits a patrol vehicle
• Cameras must record all uses of force, all arrests and summonses, and all interactions with people suspected of criminal activity
• Officers may, at their discretion, decline to record certain sensitive encounters (speaking with confidential informants, conducting strip searches, or when a member of the public requests the camera be turned off)
• Even when a public member requests the camera be turned off, the officer may continue recording if they believe a record should be generated

NYPD Body Camera Policy

The New York City Police Department operates its own body-worn camera program, separate from the state police program. NYPD officers are required to activate their cameras during law enforcement encounters, including arrests, uses of force, searches, and vehicle stops. The NYPD program was developed in response to federal court orders and covers one of the largest police forces in the country.

Pending Legislation on Body Camera Footage

Several bills in the 2025-2026 legislative session address body camera footage access:

• S5289 would require police agencies to release body camera recordings of instances where a police officer fires a gun and hits someone, uses a stun gun, or uses force that causes harm
• S3926 proposes additional requirements for body camera footage retention and disclosure
• A7202 addresses search warrant execution recording requirements

Accessing Police Body Camera Footage

Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) gives the public the right to access government records, including body camera footage, subject to certain exemptions. To request body camera footage:

1. Submit a written FOIL request to the relevant police agency's records access officer
2. Identify the incident as specifically as possible (date, time, location, officers involved)
3. The agency has five business days to acknowledge your request
4. The agency must provide a response within a reasonable time (typically 20 business days, though extensions are common)

Challenges in Accessing Footage

Obtaining body camera footage in New York can be difficult. Agencies may deny requests based on several FOIL exemptions:

• Law enforcement investigation exemption: Footage related to ongoing investigations may be withheld
• Privacy concerns: Footage that reveals the identity of victims, witnesses, or confidential informants may be redacted or withheld
• Interagency materials: Internal communications about the footage may be exempt

If your FOIL request is denied, you can appeal to the head of the agency and, if necessary, file a challenge in court under Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.

Recording Police in New York City

Civilian Complaint Review Board

The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is an independent agency in New York City that investigates complaints about NYPD officers. If you believe your right to record was violated, you can file a complaint with the CCRB. The CCRB has jurisdiction over complaints alleging force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, and offensive language by NYPD officers.

Right to Know Act

New York City's Right to Know Act requires NYPD officers to identify themselves during certain encounters and to inform people of their right to refuse a search when the search is not legally required. While not directly related to recording, this legislation reflects the city's approach to transparency and accountability in policing.

Using Recordings of Police as Evidence

Admissibility in Court

Recordings of police activity are generally admissible as evidence in New York courts if they are:

• Authenticated as genuine and unaltered
• Relevant to the matter at issue
• Not overly prejudicial compared to their probative value

Both your own recordings and police body camera footage can be used as evidence in criminal defense, civil rights lawsuits, and civil proceedings.

Recordings in Civil Rights Lawsuits

Video and audio recordings of police misconduct can be powerful evidence in Section 1983 lawsuits. Courts have recognized that citizen recordings provide critical documentation of law enforcement encounters and serve a vital role in police accountability.

More New York Recording Laws

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