Community reacts to new body cam law going into effect Saturday

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Protests and riots after the shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte have many questioning a new law forcing people to sue to see body camera footage from law enforcement.

Some believe it could create even more tension between police and citizens, others say it protects evidence needed for trial. The shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte sparked outrage and led to riots after protesters said they wanted to see body camera video of what happened.

A new law takes effect Saturday in North Carolina that means body and dash-camera videos will no longer be public record.
Instead, you’ll need a court order if police refuse to release them.

Attorney and former senator, Thom Goolsby said, “It’s quite reasonable. It sets up an entire protocol that if you’re pictured in it, you’re involved in any of the recordings, they can be released to you. If there’s a problem, and they’re not released to you in three days, then you can go into a superior court and get a court order in order to have them released.”

While criminal defense attorney, James Payne says he sees the benefits of the new law, he also understands why it may cause issues, especially with everything going on right now. “It could cause more unrest by the public wondering why aren’t you releasing it. And then what it does is it forces the courts to get involved with that release,” Payne said.

The federal government recently awarded more than 20-million dollars for law enforcement agencies around the country, to enhance their use of body cameras.

A study in the U.S. and Britain has shown a 93% decrease in complaints against police when they use the cameras.