Know your rights
Public buildings
Lobbies, counters, and exteriors versus restricted interiors, screening, and operational areas.
Educational information only. Laws vary by jurisdiction; this is not legal advice.
Exteriors and open lobbies
Filming a building from a public sidewalk is a different question from filming inside a secure suite, a jail intake, a courtroom, or behind a service counter.
Many agencies post visitor rules. Those rules should be read and followed. This project does not treat interior access control as a dare.
Can a public employee make me stop recording?
A public employee may ask you to stop, to move, or to leave a restricted area. Whether that request is lawful depends on the location, the activity, and local law. Do not treat a viral clip as a holding from your state’s highest court.
Practical safety: do not argue through a doorway, do not follow staff into non-public rooms, and do not film identity documents or other visitors’ paperwork.
Last reviewed 2026-08-29 · verify before relying on this page