Facing pressure from politicians and protesters, the police in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday released body and dashboard camera video footage of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

Had they waited a week, a bill that was signed into law in July would have made it much more difficult for the footage to become public.

House bill 972 established that recordings made by law enforcement officials — including those from body and dashboard cameras — would no longer be a matter of public record. It was ratified on June 30 and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory on July 11.

Image Keith Lamont Scott in an undated family photograph. Credit... Reuters

The relevant sections of the bill go into effect on Oct. 1.

After that, footage captured by the police will be disclosed only to a person or representative of the person “whose image or voice” is included in the recording, according to the law. Anyone else interested in obtaining the recording will be required to make a formal, written request.