Those who surreptitiously videotape other people?s private areas in public using cell phone cameras and other portable devices could face jail time and more than $2,000 in fines under legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly.
“It?s a common-sense law,” said Del. Neil Quinter, D-Howard, who sponsored the bill.
“Right now, it?s perfectlylegal to take a picture up a woman?s skirt or down a woman?s blouse, and women deserve this privacy.”
The Senate passed the bill Monday. The House approved it last month.
If Gov. Robert Ehrlich signs the legislation into law, it would take effect Oct. 1.
Shareese DeLeaver, the governor?s press secretary, said Ehrlich hadn?t taken a position on the bill. His next bill signing is at 10 a.m. April 25.
Existing law prohibits videotaping people when they are in locations where they would expect a reasonable amount of privacy, such as in their homes, bathrooms and dressing rooms. The new legislation would extend that privacy to public areas, including malls and restaurants.
During legislative hearings, women and prosecutors testified about perpetrators of upskirting and downblousing.
Anne Colt Leitess, of Anne Arundel County, prosecuted a case against Ralph Glenn Bernier, who was arrested in August 2003 after allegedly upskirting at Westfield Shoppingtown Annapolis. He was convicted of disorderly conduct, as there was no specific law against upskirting in public at the time.
Andrew Malone Gipson, of Laurel, was arrested March 31 after allegedly using his cell phone camera to take a picture of an 8-year-old boy using a restroom at Arundel Mills Mall.
