It’s worrisome any time a law is passed that interferes with freedom of speech or imposes barriers on access to public records.
Last year, we were c required any request for a booking photograph to include a signed affidavit that swears the photo won’t be used in online publications that require a fee to remove or delete it.
Sure enough, that law passed and began presenting problems when law enforcement officials demanded members of the press sign an affidavit every time they asked for a mug shot.
We support a current revision, House Bill 1137, that cleans up the law’s language and requires an affidavit be signed once a year.
Even that still seems excessive, but it does help make a bad bill better.
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