I just thought I would comment on this, until I saw the words' 'cooperative PD'. They reminded me of something.....red light cameras'. Also, The ability of motorists' to call the police and be taken seriously. Whereas, The excuse of the local police departments within my county is, they had to see it. Which is next to impossible. I can't wait to finally be able to get a GoPro, happen to catch a non-vehicular crime in progress, report it to the police, hear them say they had to be there to see it, I post it on YouTube, then there is a big shakeup at the police department for not taking a cyclist seriously.

Until then, I will just have to dream.

How often are you seeing non-vehicular crime in progress while cycling, besides in your dreams?

If you actually came across a crime in progress do you intend to do anything about it other than being a spectator and film it? Ya know, like maybe help the victim?

but a real photo journalist is simply there and does not influence events as they happen!

Yeah, just let 'em sit on the tracks and get that shot. Don't want to interfere and mess up the drama.

BTW, didn't know that the cycling video vigilantes were calling themselves "photojournalists."

I don't think I'd waste my LEO's time with camera footage unless it was really egregious. I'm not saving, or posting, every guy who makes a traffic error. I'm after two things:

1. If someone hurts me, there is a a significant confrontation, etc.
2. In the event of an incident, I want video footage.

While I wouldn't waste the time of law enforcement with something minor, or accidental, I would call a cab company with a cab's license if they behaved poorly (or a truck, bus, etc.).

FTR - I don't think driving while texting or talking on a cellphone is something minor. It is a serious offense that isn't punished or enforced strictly enough. The results of distracted driving, which includes using cellphones, can cause some serious consequences to the driver and/or other road users:

Source: Distraction.gov

FTR, a large segment of the population probably disagrees with your assessment of the seriousness of the offense of talking on a cell phone while driving. Especially if the "offense" is considered in context of the traffic conditions. Similar to the offense of "speeding," the seriousness of the "offense" and increased risk is very much context related.

+1...unless you actually fall down, or someone else does...or unless the behavior was irregular (like honking for 10 minutes), it probably isn't that relevant.

How will you identify the driver that you film to issue the ticket to? Seems like you would have to either follow them and try to get them to accept a citation, because I cannot see a court issuing a citation based on the registration, too many drivers other than the registrant to have it be reasonable to haul some sap into court and debate if the person on the video is or is not the driver who committed the offense.

You have to be able to identify the driver in a photo lineup. With HighRes video footage this will be easier to do.

Maybe a large segment of the population disagrees with me on the level of severity. But it is a serious offense considering the risks involved, and one that has tragic consequences.

I lost a loved one who was bicycling a few years ago from a driver who was texting. I don't mess around, I f**** hate drivers on cellphones.

Sure anything and everything is possible but that doesn't mean anything and everything cell phone related is the same when considering risk and danger to cyclists or anybody else.
I think you make a mistake by considering talking on a phone interchangeable with texting on a phone when discussing serious offenses and risk of tragic consequences.

Who is going to arrange this lineup for the citizen vigilante?

I don't know yet.

Even though I agree that cell phone use and/or texting is a huge danger, you have too much skin in this game to be anywhere near rational.

First off, randomly running around with your GoPro looking to catch people in the act of whatever, hardly makes you a photojournalist.

Secondly, nothing pi$$e$ me off more than videos showing someone in need of help and the putz behind the camera won't put it down for a second to help because he might miss the shot. Somewhere on the internet there is a video of a cyclist pinned under a car still alive. Some arse started recording and even moved in closer and to a better angle for the shot, no call to 911, no attempt to assist, he even stood by taking video while a dozen or so bystanders, including the driver of the car, lifted the car off the fallen rider and gently pulled him out, probably saving his life because you can hear someone who is kneeling and reaching under the car yelling "he can't breathe". Our "videographer" didn't do jack, but he got a great post on YouTube.

This has gone on long enough and I've played along. But now I suggest everyone Google, or Wikipedia, or whatever "pombero".