First Amendment Auditors at the Post Office on Magnolia -- just ignore them
On Nextdoor, there was a posting this week about two men filming people at the Post Office on Magnolia. Evidently, these people were asked by post office patrons what they were doing and the men refused to answer. The men then followed the patrons out into the parking lot and took video of them, their car, the license plate and the car’s VIN number.
Who are they?
They are called “First Amendment Auditors” and it is best to just ignore them.
They do have a right to film in any public area — even Federal buildings — but not while on private property.
Why do they do this? Unknown—but most want to make people feel unsettled and uncomfortable and to film people’s reactions — especially an inappropriate reaction — and often times, sue them. Some of the First Amendment Auditors make a living out of this behavior.
The law is if you are in a public place, you have the right to record. That includes the sidewalk and the Post Office. However, The Post Office can decide that if this person is disrupting their business, and since they are a Federal business, the Post Office do more than LAPD can do. Therefore, with regard to filming in a post office, this is an issue that needs to be address with the US Postal Inspectors.
If someone is filming while standing on private property (such as a store) and is verbally asked by an owner or manager to leave — and they do not leave — then it is trespassing and you can call LAPD.
For more information, see link below — or Google First Amendment Auditors.