Phil Ting: Latest News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A California assemblyman introduced a new bill to set parameters for how and when law enforcement officers can use facial recognition technology in body cameras."Rather than have every agency come up with their own set of standards, every jurisdiction do their own thing, we’re really proud to do something statewide," said Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).Currently, there are no statewide restrictions on facial recognition technology, because Ting’s previous bill sunset in January of this year. Signed in 2019, the bill placed a three-year-ban on the technology.The ban faced stiff opposition from law enforcement groups."Across the country, real world examples of law enforcement using facial recognition technology to solve major crimes showcases just how important this technology can be towards protecting our communities," said San Leandro police Chief Abdul Pridgen.Pridgen is also a member of the California Police Chiefs Association. Ting and state Sen.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Starting in January, it wiill no longer be illegal to jaywalk in California, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill decriminalizing it.The new law, the Freedom to Walk Act, says you can cross the street anywhere outside of an intersection, but only if it's safe to do so.Police will still be able to stop or ticket you if crossing the street puts you in danger of being hit.The author of the bill, Assemblyman Phil Ting, (D-San Francisco,) argued jaywalking bills are arbitrarily enforced, and unequally impact poor people and people of color."It should not be a criminal offense to safely cross the street.