Yeah, I'm recording for >> I always record my interactions with government officials just for your safety and mine. >> law times no >> My safety? How's that going to help me? >> It it it helps for liability. It's government transparency. >> When you go get your uh registration you record that? >> Just yeah, just any any government workers that yeah, I always record. >> Seriously? >> Mhm. That's a First Amendment uh protected activity. It's it's our it's our freedom of press. >> it makes us feel safe. >> Yeah, I understand. But isn't it their freedom not to be filmed? >> No. >> In this video, an Illinois State Trooper pulls over a couple for allegedly failing to use their turn signal while changing lanes. The stop starts off calmly with the trooper saying he'll only issue a warning while asking about their registration and travel plans. But the moment the officer notices he's being recorded, the entire conversation takes a different direction. Instead of wrapping up the stop, he suddenly wants to know why the driver is filming him. It's always interesting how some officers have no problem recording the public with dashcams and body cameras, yet become uncomfortable the second a citizen points a camera back at them. The driver explains that recording public officials is a First Amendment protected activity, while the trooper makes it clear he isn't thrilled about officers ending up on YouTube. Watch how quickly the officer's attitude changes once the camera becomes the center of attention. >> And the registration is all >> Um >> You can roll that other window up. You know, it's kind of windy. Couple things you need to use your turn signal when you change back over and then try not to get behind the other car quite so close, okay? Two or three car lengths is a little too close, all right? >> I >> And you kind of passed backed off a little bit after you got over there. >> I swear I used my turn signal every time I >> That's insurance. >> Yeah, it's insurance. Um actually, I don't think that in Nevada >> and use both hands, that'd be great. >> Um yeah, I don't I don't think that they gave me registration thing in >> I'm pretty sure it comes with it. The sticker. >> Yeah, they uh they gave me just the tabs >> The what? >> They just gave me the tabs. >> The tags? >> The yeah, the tags. >> Yeah, the registration not with it. >> Yeah, I don't >> with the sticker, right? On a piece of paper. They don't just give you a little piece of sticker, right? >> Yeah, it was a sticker that I put on my >> Yeah, but they don't just send you that in a piece of paper in an envelope, right? >> Well, that's >> Uh I went to the DMV and that's all they gave me was just the um Yeah, this is my first time registering in Nevada. >> We're we're Michigan residents and we just registered in Nevada this year. >> Yeah. >> And we're on our way to uh Thanksgiving in Michigan right now. >> All right. So, you're living in Henderson then? >> Yes. >> Yeah, in Nevada. >> Good enough. >> Yeah, they're they're a little bit different there with their DMV policy. >> I'll check on the computer and see if I can figure that out, all right? >> All right. >> Yeah, no ticket, just a warning, okay? >> Thank you. >> You got the same address on your Is it your owner? >> Yeah, yeah, I'm I'm the car owner. >> What's that? >> He owns the car. >> It's in my name. >> I'm his wife. >> You got the same address for her? How long you going to get to stay? >> Um we're staying about a week. >> Just the weekends? >> Yeah, we're going to stay through the weekend, probably leave sometime next week. >> Well, let me go check it all out real quick, okay? All right, I'll be right back. >> I swear I use my turn signal every time. That was >> Yeah, they they pull you over for no reason. >> They did they I think he's just saying that cuz it's something you can pull me over for. He saw a Nevada license plate. >> Yeah, it's like let's see what these people are doing. >> Yep. >> Hey, uh Yeah, you should be able to find that registration somewhere, okay? Cuz they don't just send you a a sticker out in the mail. >> All right. saying. went to the DMV and the everything that they gave me I put in my wallet. >> Mhm. >> And there was no registration in here. I thought that was weird, too. >> Yeah. >> Usually the sticker comes on the backside of the registration card. >> Um then I'm it may be in my apartment then I I may forgot to put it in my car cuz I didn't >> but Well, the thing is that >> Especially when you're out of state is all okay? >> Mhm. >> We'll make sure we have it next time. Thank you so much. >> I always record my interactions with government officials just for your safety and I >> a lot of times? >> No, I >> My safety? How's that going to help me? >> It It helps for liability. It's government transparency. Government transparency helps out everybody. And I you're a public official so I always record. >> that. >> Well, you know >> There's tons of YouTube videos on it. >> Yeah, we we we live in you know we live in in in a big city. I come from a big city. >> Colorado? >> Yeah. >> Is that a big city? >> It's right in Las Vegas. >> Oh, yeah. >> It's >> Where is it? >> Yeah, it's Las Vegas. So I just always record >> He always drives with his GoPro and makes sure he records like >> What's that? I can't hear. >> Yeah, I I just I always record interactions with public officials. It's part of government transparency. >> Public officials? >> Yeah. Yeah, you're you're public >> go and when you go get your uh registration you record that? >> Just Yeah, just any any government workers but yeah, I always record. >> Seriously? >> Mhm. It's for government transparency. >> DMV and you put the camera in front of your face? >> I I set it up and I just make sure to record everything just in case I get wrong information. >> Something like a mistake or something? >> Yeah, the mistakes. Uh if if they they try to lie to me about something. >> We have to verify it. >> You know, it's >> Seriously? >> Yeah, it's it's government transparency. It's it's Yeah, it's a first amendment uh protected activity. It's It's our It's our freedom of press. >> It makes us feel safe. >> I understand but isn't it their freedom not to be filmed? >> No, you have no expect >> As a police officer it is not your >> No, I'm not saying a police officer. I'm talking about >> any any anybody anybody in public. >> If it's publicly funded by taxpayers, yes. >> You You have no expectation of privacy in public. You're being filmed every time that you go into a >> you to pinpoint. >> Have you been sleeping? >> Yeah, I've I I've been sleeping. >> eyes are like >> Yeah, I Well, I mean, the sun is also right behind you. >> Yeah. >> All right, man. You guys are all set. Just uh remember to use your turn signal and then try not to get up so close behind the other one. All right? >> Yeah, I always tell her that myself. Have a happy Thanksgiving. >> I get people doing that, shoving it in your face. I'm like, well, could you at least lower it? You know what I mean? At least you guys are very cooperative, but yeah. But I also don't appreciate when somebody records you and then throws it on YouTube. You know what I mean? There's nothing wrong with what you did. >> Yeah, it's just, you know, it's only it's only just for, you know, for for our own, you know, so I can know, you know, what was said to me, you know, what was done. It's all just for just for that. >> registration? Try to find it. All right, if you can't, maybe then give me a >> Yeah, I'll I'll contact him about it if I can't find it at home. >> Yeah. >> If I can't find it once we get home, I'll contact him. >> Did you guys buy it out in Nevada or did you buy it in Michigan? >> it in Michigan. Yep. Yep, drove it to Nevada. >> are all set. Have a safe trip, all right? >> Okay, take care. >> This stop ultimately ended with only a warning, but it became memorable because of the discussion about recording police. The First Amendment generally protects the right to record government officials performing their duties in public, including police officers, so long as the recording doesn't interfere with their work. Public employees, including law enforcement officers, generally do not have the same expectation of privacy while performing their official duties in public places. Although the trooper acknowledged that recording wasn't illegal, he made it clear he disliked the idea of videos being uploaded to YouTube. Personal dislike, however, doesn't change constitutional protections. The couple remained respectful throughout the encounter, calmly explained why they recorded public officials and exercised a right that courts have repeatedly recognized as an important part of government accountability. The stop serves as a reminder that citizens don't need an officer's approval to lawfully record public interactions, even if the officer finds it uncomfortable.