Cops Sneak Onto Man’s Property, Confiscate Surveillance Camera Without a Warrant (NOV 2023)

[Slowhand]

Cops Sneak Onto Man’s Property, Confiscate Surveillance Camera Without a Warrant

Game wardens "put on full camouflage outfits" to sneak onto a Virginia hunter's property and confiscated his camera. Now, he's challenging a legal framework called the "Open Fields Doctrine" that let them do it.

www.404media.co

 

[gamer_jim]

Outstanding thread title!

 

[Inigoes]

The wildlife police being there isn't the problem.

Seizing (stealing) and searching the camera without evidence of a crime, is the issue.

 

[mpollan1]

That's pretty egregious behavior by the warden(s). As @Inigoes wrote, taking the camera/contents crosses the line. Makes me think they received a tip, but even so, that is way out of bounds.

 

[dblas]

So...What would happen, if a property owner saw someone in camo and guille sneaking around their property, and in fear for their life and their family's safety, shot these guys?

 

[Bob A]

The concept of "private" property left the venue a looong time ago.

 

[Inigoes]

So...What would happen, if a property owner saw someone in camo and guille sneaking around their property, and in fear for their life and their family's safety, shot these guys?

If those guys were not a danger to the family, then thats a bad shoot.

Shouting "get off my property, you are trespassing" is appropriate

 

[rbird7282]

I hope he wins and eventually the legality of the law gets changed.
They should not be allowed to just roam on private property


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[[Kev308]]

Cops Sneak Onto Man’s Property, Confiscate Surveillance Camera Without a Warrant

Game wardens "put on full camouflage outfits" to sneak onto a Virginia hunter's property and confiscated his camera. Now, he's challenging a legal framework called the "Open Fields Doctrine" that let them do it.

www.404media.co

I like the "Highwayman" tag line. Just found that song a couple weeks ago and have been listening to it a lot since.

 

[shootin the breeze]

If those guys were not a danger to the family, then thats a bad shoot.

Shouting "get off my property, you are trespassing" is appropriate

Except, according to the current ROE for these DNR cops (anything goes), if you yell, “Get off my property, you are trespassing”, they can ignore you, flip you the bird, etc. They are cops so they’ll likely be armed. How are you to know they aren’t a danger? So, if you shot them, even if you legitimately (to you) thought they were a threat, since they are cops with the rules they have (anything goes for them), I think you’d be charged with murder and spend the rest of your days getting your backside enlarged till you could park a truck in It.

 

[Doco Overboard]

So...What would happen, if a property owner saw someone in camo and guille sneaking around their property, and in fear for their life and their family's safety, shot these guys?

What if it was a little different and some ordinary guys were on someones property armed, and they were trespassing and then once confronted shot actual the landowner?
And the persons who did the shooting were mistaken for where they were at?

 

[JohnnyE]

If those guys were not a danger to the family, then thats a bad shoot.

Shouting "get off my property, you are trespassing" is appropriate

I was just letting my pit bulls out to pee and poop.

 

[Sirex]

So...What would happen, if a property owner saw someone in camo and guille sneaking around their property, and in fear for their life and their family's safety, shot these guys?

It's a good way to get shot.

The DWR doesn't put any constraints on officers to enter private property and seize property??? That sounds, illegal, and tyrnical.

 

[rondon600]

All that crap they give us about trespassing while hunting and having written permission yet it means nothing to them

 

[jc1240]

I am from the government and I’m here to help.

 

[4g64loser]

Deep holes, forgotten souls.

 

[boothdoc]

The real problem is that politicians can make up laws like this and get away with it for 10years until the supreme courts decide it violates folks constitutional rights.

 

[Biggfoot44]

The wildlife police being there isn't the problem.

Seizing (stealing) and searching the camera without evidence of a crime, is the issue.

Or at least not the primary issue . Open Fields is a thing in common law , albeit with additional restrictions in Va State Constitution .

But that doesn't extend to seizing non contraband or accessing private data without warrant .

 

[slsc98]

Outstanding thread title!

Haha, I came to post the exact same thing!

 

[Doco Overboard]

It would be interesting to understand if there is additional information that becomes available that is published by the writer in regards to what has already been provided.
It looks like a judge threw the complaint right out. Being the landowner was a licensed hunter, could have something to do with it?
I'm thinking theirs more to the story.
In MD, the DNR/Forestry is helping to seize actual property itself. And involved in back door bid process awarding tax payer state lands to special interest hunting groups.
And yes, I'm not sure they sneak onto private property. That must be a Virginia thing. Here, they'll walk right on.