Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed a bill that would have made it a crime to be within 25 feet of law enforcement officers engaged in official duties when ordered to stand back.
Critics said it would make it harder for citizens to video evidence of police misconduct, and the governor agreed.
"The effect of this bill were it to become law would be to chill exercise of First Amendment rights and prevent bystanders from observing and recording police action," the governor wrote in his veto letter to Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder. "Each of us has a constitutional right to freely observe public servants as they function in public and within the course and scope of their officials duties."
The governor also said the bill was redundant, since other laws deal with prohibiting interference with law enforcement.
"House Bill 85 is unnecessary since La. R.S. 14:329, which provides for the crime of interfering with a law enforcement investigation. Enacted in August 2010, it carries a penalty of 6 months in jail, a $500 fine, or both."