One of the most straightforward ways to document violations of rights is through the lens of a video camera. Without a camera it often becomes the word of one party against another. And when that other party happens to be a police officer or other government employee it can be an uphill battle as some folks have a predisposition to automatically trust them (whether rightly or wrongly). So threatened by cameras are police that some jurisdictions, such as the UK, have passed legislation banning private individuals from taping them and others (here in the States) have suggested such steps.

A few weeks ago, after posting a video entitled “Cops, Cameras & Accountability: Arlington, Virginia” my friend and fellow Crasher ThisIsMsCourt contacted Bureaucrash to find out how she could help us have an even greater impact, including possibly making a donation. I told her that I’d been looking at buying a small video camera that I could carry on my person at all times to further document incidents as they happened. Being the awesome person that she is, she agreed.

In the pics below you can see the how small the camera really is. It uses a micro SD card that has a 2gig capacity and claims a recording capacity of up to 3hrs (which I’ll soon test). The video can then be uploaded via the included USB cable (pictured) or by placing the micro SD card in an micro SD adaptor (included). The second pic shows the size difference between my new camera and my older camera I’d always carried with me in a pocket on the strap of my messenger bag. I’ll likely affix my new camera to a dog-tag-type chain and carry it with me around my neck, making it much more accessible with fewer movements (which both I and the police I sometimes confront will appreciate).

The video below is the inaugural use of the camera done so I could gauge its video and audio quality before I hit the streets. I thought it’d be a good opportunity to show off Bureaucrash’s newish digs as well.

Find more videos like this on Bureaucrash Social

Again, huge props to Crasher ThisIsMsCourt and to the rest of you that have already started to fight back against the excesses of the State through documenting, sharing, and following-up such incidents (such as Crasher Jesse). For other examples of cameras allowing freedom fighters to go on the offensive check out the Shootback: Holding Bureaucrats and Elected Officials Accountable thread and The Ridley Report Rocks! group over at Bureaucrash Social and the awesome work by the good folks at Kop Busters.