Detained for Crime of Photography

[kevin_standlee]

Thanks to Charles Mohapel, I've read with dismay (but alas, not surprise) another story of a railfan photographer detained for the "crime" of photographing trains. I haven't watched the video yet; I've only read the article. Once again, we have the "security" people convinced that all you have to do is say "9/11" and "PATRIOT Act" to suspend any sort of civil right they please.

I wonder how many people really feel safer because some idiot security people hassled someone who likes taking pictures of trains? Unfortunately, I expect there are some people who do feel safer this way.

Comments

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

There are people who feel safer when certain people aren't allowed to drive the thru their neighborhood - doesn't make it right. Keep fighting this one.

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

I ride MTA Maryland every day and I won't take pictures on their system because it is an unwritten rule not to take pictures on their system. I am glad the ACLU is finally doing something about this. Now if someone would take note of DC Metro's no photography policy and fight it.

[johno.livejournal.com]

Amazing what some folks assume.

There is a video floating around regarding (IRRC) Penn Station's policy about photography. Where a Penn Station rep is talking on camera that photo and video *is* allowed when a security person comes up and tells them that it is *not* allowed and tells them to stop filming.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

That sounds like par for the course. There is a whole swath of people who have convinced themselves that All Photography Is Illegal Without Specific Government Sanction. But cell phone cameras aren't "photography" to most of these people — only "real" cameras.

I'm quite tempted to buy one of those little spy-cam things like the one that looks like a pen in my pocket and records video to wear the next time I'm in a place where some "security" type might come a-calling when I'm taking photos with a "real" camera, just so I could record the idiot and use it in the resulting lawsuit.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

If you find this on youtube, please post a link. This sounds like something which should get many hits and good ratings.

[rono-60103.livejournal.com]

Not quite apropos, years out of date, and likely apocryphal but...

My dad has related a tale I'm sure he heard during his childhood. During World War II planes flying into and out of Detroit had restrictions on passengers regarding taking pictures of the various war related plants near the airport. On one flight, someone believed to be Japanese was found to be taking a picture of one of these plants. In the end, while the film was (probably) confiscated, the person was not detained when it was determined that he was a Native American.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

Now on that I'll agree that the authorities had a reasonable position.

Does anyone really expect visually navigated Japanese bombers over train stations these days? Or a cunning German intelligence community sniffing out our top secret rail schedules?

[debgeisler.livejournal.com]

This is so much bullshit. I hope like hell the Maryland transit people continue to be obstinate, because I really, really want Court rulings on this issue.

(And, BTW, I am firmly in the camp that says "we are not the Cold War Soviet Union" - photos and video of public spaces and things happening in those public spaces are damned well protected by the Constitution.)

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on this. Lisa says that in some ways it is a pity that the Soviet Union collapsed, because we lost an active counter-example of civil rights oppression. People not too much younger than you and me don't realize just how bad this creeping civil rights erosion is because we can't point at the Soviets and say, "You really want to be like them?"

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

North Korea is keeping up its end too well. Their counter-examples are spectacular, but the nation is so isolated that hardly any tales leak out to the rest of the world.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Good point.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

This is not quite the thread for this, but I know you'll see it here: Due process in the judicial system, as explained by Andy Griffith. I suspect this is not required watching in TSA or DHS training.

[chocolatescifi.livejournal.com]

Of course not. the people in the TSA and/or the DHS don't want to admit that a small-town sheriff would know more about the law and the Constitution than they do. Come to think of it, this sheriff's deputy is probably more competent in that regard.

"Never Mind"

[(Anonymous)]

The MTA says "Whoops" http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-06-02/news/bs-ed-mta-photography-20110602_1_mta-property-maryland-transit-administration-police-mta-police-officers

The whole thing made the front page of the Baltimore Sun ... above the fold.

-- Michael Walsh

Re: "Never Mind"

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

That's good, but I, like the ACLU, am skeptical that it will stick until some transit cops start getting punished for this sort of behavior. The "photography = terrorism" meme is toxic and needs squashing.

Re: "Never Mind"

[(Anonymous)]

Indeed.

The MTA and their employees need to be made aware of what the law really is. This may - sadly - take time for all of this sink in.

-- Michael Walsh