Security guards in courthoues in the Baltimore, Md. area are confiscating camera phones from just about anyone who enters the buildings, according to an article in The Baltimore Sun. Recording devices aren't allowed in the courts except under special circumstances.
Camera phones are confiscated and returned when the visitors leave the building. More than 500,000 people enter Baltimore County courts and most of them have cellular phones, says the Sheriff. All of the phones have to be examined to see if they contain a camera.
People who refuse to surrender their caera phones have to leave the building, although most don't put up any fuss.
Storage space
The chief of security at the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office estimated that about six camera phones are checked every day. The security guards can handle the load, but as more people purchase camera phones, there might be a problem finding space to store the handsets.
The security supervisor for the Baltimore County courts building says she's seeing increasing numbers of camera phones. From June 21 - 27, deputies checked 181 camera phones, the article reports.
Deputies also examine other devices that could contain cameras, such as PDAs and watches.
Exceptions
It's possible to bring a camera phone into a courthouse if the request is approved by an administrative law judge. Exceptions could include people who are getting married and want photos from their camera phone.
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