Police Camera Footage
G.S. 132-1.4A — not public records; viewing on written request, and a copy only by court order
Not public records. In North Carolina, recordings made by a law enforcement agency's body worn cameras, dashboard cameras and other recording devices while carrying out law enforcement duties are not public records, and are not personnel records.
To view one, a person makes a written request to the head of the agency that has it, stating the date and approximate time of the activity recorded or otherwise identifying it with reasonable particularity. The agency may show it only to a person whose image or voice is in it, or to a personal representative: of an adult who consents, of a minor, or of a person who has died.
If the agency denies the request, or has not shown the recording more than three business days after it, the person may apply to the superior court in a county where the recording was made. The court may order it shown only if the agency abused its discretion. A person shown a recording may not record or copy it.
A copy is released only by court order. A person entitled to view a recording may petition the superior court for its release on a court form, with no filing fee. A recording that shows a death or serious bodily injury is shown only under a separate court procedure.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 132-1.4A — Law enforcement agency recordings
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.