Louisiana enacts 25-foot buffer zone law limiting filming of police
Louisiana enacted a law creating a 25-foot buffer zone that anyone, including journalists, must keep from active law-enforcement activity, which press advocates said would limit filming of police conduct.1
- Country
- United States
- Where
- Louisiana, United States
- Level of government
- State or province
- Outcome
- Unknown
- Era
- The 2020s
What happened
On May 28, 2024, Louisiana enacted a law creating a 25-foot no-approach zone around working law-enforcement officers after they issue a verbal warning, making it a crime to remain within that distance. Press-freedom advocates and outlets including Nieman Lab said the law, while framed as officer-safety legislation, would as a practical matter limit journalists' and bystanders' ability to film police activity, including incidents of alleged police misconduct, from a meaningful distance, since 25 feet exceeds the distance from which most cellphone and body-worn video of police encounters is typically recorded. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press added Louisiana-specific guidance to its state recording-law guide in response, and the law was quickly challenged in federal court by journalists and civil-rights observers.1234
A federal judge blocked enforcement of the law on First Amendment grounds in January 2025 (see linked incident); the law's status was under appeal as of mid-2026.4
What reason was given
Supporters described the law as protecting law-enforcement officers' safety while they perform their duties.2
What changed for reporting
Journalists and members of the public documenting police activity in Louisiana must remain at least 25 feet away once warned, narrowing the vantage point available for documenting police conduct.3
Timeline
2024
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Legislature | legislated | State legislature |
Sources
- A new Louisiana law limits the right of journalists to film police
- Reporters Recording Guide: Louisiana
- Louisiana law creates 25-foot buffer zone around working law enforcement officers
- Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police
- Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police
Claims cited
- Louisiana's 25-foot police buffer zone law took effect.
The bill to create such buffer zones around LEOs was signed into law Tuesday (May 28) by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.
Louisiana law creates 25-foot buffer zone around working law enforcement officers, WVUE Fox 8 (New Orleans), 2024-05-29. Claim 48, checked 2026-09-22. - The law was framed as protecting officers performing their duties.
that person can't spit in my face when I'm making an arrest.
A new Louisiana law limits the right of journalists to film police, Nieman Lab, 2024-08-01. Claim 49, checked 2026-09-22. - People, including journalists, who remain within 25 feet of a working law-enforcement officer after being told to back up can face jail time under the law.
People can now face jail time in Louisiana for being within 25 feet of a working law enforcement officer who has asked or ordered them to back up.
Louisiana law creates 25-foot buffer zone around working law enforcement officers, WVUE Fox 8 (New Orleans), 2024-05-29. Claim 50, checked 2026-09-22. - A federal judge later blocked enforcement of the law.
The preliminary injunction will be effective while the case is pending.
Judge blocks enforcement of Louisiana's 25-foot buffer zone for police, Yahoo News / AP, 2025-01-31. Claim 51, checked 2026-09-22.