Imagine knowing exactly what the police in your area were doing at this very moment. For people in Sarasota, that’s a reality. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office sent out its DUI unit to spend a day in March live on social media, providing real-time updates about the risks of drinking and driving.
According to the March 31 news report, the agency used Twitter to provide a kind of “virtual ride-along” with video. Their goal was to show what it looked like when the police were patrolling and responding to emergencies. The police admitted on their Twitter that those who didn’t want the internet to see them get arrested should avoid drinking and driving. Some may believe that’s unfair. People are, according to law, innocent until proven guilty. One mistake could mean that someone’s subjected to the scrutiny of others who do not have all the information. One wrong move could ruin a person’s reputation.
While it’s perfectly legal to record a traffic stop, it’s difficult for those who may have their names and images spread across the internet. With this kind of enforcement becoming more common and the internet seeing more traffic stop coverage, it’s something to keep in mind.
Your reputation is one of the most important things you have in your life. It helps you get a foot in the door when looking for jobs, and it helps you meet new people in your career. You need to protect your reputation. If you believe you’re being unfairly portrayed in the media in a situation like this, your attorney can help you fight to take down the negative video.
Source: Bradenton Herald, “Why wait for ‘Cops’ on TV? Sarasota DUI deputies use Twitter for real-time ride-along,” Tom Alberts, March 31, 2018
