I got pulled over for driving across the bay bridge with a video camera mounted to the passenger seat frame of my 1966 Austin Healey Sprite Mark 3.
Its not illegal and even though they pulled me over harased me and reviewed the tape. They couldnt make an arrest.
Hell they couldnt even legally write a repair order for my car's tailight. Sorry it has Historic tags, warning please thank you and bye.
The camera was on and it was documenting the cars last trip. A few antics of course but mostly just the drive home.
I read your "version" of events. I'm impressed by your total recall of what said between you and the cop.
I guess my first question is, if you weren't doing anything wrong, nothing to hide, why not show your ID and be done with it.
Like The Photographers Rights says in how to handle confrontations, "BE COURTEOUS and respectful. "Above all, use good judgement and don't allow an event to escalate into violence."
And if he got your panties in such a wad, file a complaint. Don't just write in some blog, do something REAL about it.
Posting this in some blog does nothing. If you didn't report this incident, nothing will ever happen to improve this officer's treatment of photographers.
I read your "version" of events. I'm impressed by your total recall of what said between you and the cop.
I guess my first question is, if you weren't doing anything wrong, nothing to hide, why not show your ID and be done with it.
And if he got your panties in such a wad, file a complaint. Don't just write in some blog, do something REAL about it.
Unbelievable...
Kind of harsh. Did you actually read everything? Here:
Originally posted by Some Blog:
...despite several weeks passing since the incident, my notes were taken that evening. So, I believe the below to be a very accurate and fair encapsulation...
I initially declined to show my ID, but he clearly told me I would be arrested if I did not present it. You and I know this is not legal...
I considered an IA complaint, but have no confidence it would make a whit of difference. I do believe public light/heat, as I'm aiming for here, has much more potential impact.
His blog is pretty popular and very long-lived. It would be foolish to discount it as "some blog" that nobody will ever take notice of.
I read your "version" of events. I'm impressed by your total recall of what said between you and the cop.
I guess my first question is, if you weren't doing anything wrong, nothing to hide, why not show your ID and be done with it.
Like The Photographers Rights says in how to handle confrontations, "BE COURTEOUS and respectful. "Above all, use good judgement and don't allow an event to escalate into violence."
And if he got your panties in such a wad, file a complaint. Don't just write in some blog, do something REAL about it.
Unbelievable...
It's been a few hours since I first read this, so forgive me if I'm off, but
1. He recorded this (in a journal or something) immediately after the incident. He only recently blogged it.
2. He didn't immediately surrender his ID because the cop was plainclothes and it probably isn't in your best interest to turn it over without knowing where it is going. when he saw the guy's ID, he gave it to him.
I guess my first question is, if you weren't doing anything wrong, nothing to hide, why not show your ID and be done with it.
So, you'd just hand your ID to anyone on the street who asked for it? That's smart.
He did show his ID, after realizing that he was speaking to an officer of the law even though it's not required to carry ID in public or to show it.
Perhaps you'd have individual ID numbers tattooed on everyone? Or maybe we should all be required to have an RFD tag implanted under our skin so the police could track our every move?
what if, one day, you recognized a potential terrorist or bad person taking photos of your house and telephotos of your family members in the front lawn... you called the local police, but they said they cant do anything because it is the rights of that person to stand in a public area to take photos of something visible in public? how would you feel?
what if, one day, you recognized a potential terrorist or bad person taking photos of your house and telephotos of your family members in the front lawn... you called the local police, but they said they cant do anything because it is the rights of that person to stand in a public area to take photos of something visible in public? how would you feel?
I'd feel like I lived in a sane country where being in public view isn't construed as equivalent to being in a private home out of view.
I can't say that I am ticked... I tend to reserve my judgement until such time as I have had the opportunity to consider both sides of the equation... I will however stay tuned.
what if, one day, you recognized a potential terrorist or bad person taking photos of your house and telephotos of your family members in the front lawn... you called the local police, but they said they cant do anything because it is the rights of that person to stand in a public area to take photos of something visible in public? how would you feel?
Isn't every stranger a "potential terrorist" or "bad person"? Why not a "potential hero" or "really good person"?
How do you pick "potential terrorists" and "bad people" out from the crowd? Do they dress a certain way? Wear their hair in a certain style? I'm pretty sure most terrorists and bad people don't wear a giant neon sign proclaiming them as such.
How would it make you feel to know that to that person, you are the "potential terrorist" or "bad person"?
1. i've tried the "every stranger is potential hero or really good person approach, but trust me, it doesnt pay! so i'm taking the other route now.
2. they usually dress like tourists or harmless photographers instead of wearing neon signs.
3. indifferent
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
1. Isn't every stranger a "potential terrorist" or "bad person"? Why not a "potential hero" or "really good person"?
2. How do you pick "potential terrorists" and "bad people" out from the crowd? Do they dress a certain way? Wear their hair in a certain style? I'm pretty sure most terrorists and bad people don't wear a giant neon sign proclaiming them as such.
3. How would it make you feel to know that to that person, you are the "potential terrorist" or "bad person"?
1. I'm sorry for you, xenophobia is a real burden.
2. Does that make Disneyland a "Terrorist Training Camp?"
3. Good answer. Tell me again why should I care that some person is taking pictures in front of my house?
Originally posted by crayon:
1. i've tried the "every stranger is potential hero or really good person approach, but trust me, it doesnt pay! so i'm taking the other route now.
2. they usually dress like tourists or harmless photographers instead of wearing neon signs.
3. indifferent
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
1. Isn't every stranger a "potential terrorist" or "bad person"? Why not a "potential hero" or "really good person"?
2. How do you pick "potential terrorists" and "bad people" out from the crowd? Do they dress a certain way? Wear their hair in a certain style? I'm pretty sure most terrorists and bad people don't wear a giant neon sign proclaiming them as such.
3. How would it make you feel to know that to that person, you are the "potential terrorist" or "bad person"?
The thing is, your front yard is more or less a public place. You wouldn't normally do anything there that you didn't want other people to see, and photography isn't much different than just seeing.
As far as I know, the law allows anyone to photograph other people as long as they are in a place where they don't have a reasonable expectation of privacy. An example of a place where they *would* have that expectation would be inside their own home, or in a bathroom or changing room (the growing trend of 'security' cameras in such places disgusts me, but that's another discussion). Once you go out in public, including a place where you're visible to everyone in your neighborhood, you have to expect people to be able to see you, and if they want to photograph you as well, it's between you and them if you want to make it an issue.
Basically if it's in a public place (your own property is a gray area, but if they're standing on their own property or the public street it could be called public since that's what their perspective is) you can ask them to stop, and if they refuse, they have just as much of a right to be taking pictures as you do to be there. If it is a public place, you can leave.
What was the warning for, specifically? What was your "crime"?
Okay, Here's the "skinny!" On a piece of paper roughly the size of a 3X5 card, the title reads, "Statesboro Police Department Courtesy Warning/Field Interview." The FI part has been circled,...so evidently it wasn't a warning, simply a "Field Interview."
("Good morning, sir! As a representative of the local PD, I have found it necessary to bid you a good day & urge you not to take photographs in the direction of other people's yards or they may consider you to be drunk as they did today @ 9AM. Not actually wording, Just summary of content.)
O & I was appropriately contrite for two reasons: 1. I know how Southerners think...er...more or less. 2. I was the "Good little kid" in high school who was always on my best behavior because I didn't want to go to the principal's office. (I had to sit down during the "interview" because I was visibly shaken...to the point that it's embarassing to admit it to you. However, this is consistent with the way I drive. Most guys like speed, but I still often drive like a grandma because the lady who trained me to drive is a grandma!)
3. If the person taking pictures is on public property, why not? What is so evil about having a picture taken of your family? Do you believe that it's stealing a part of your soul? Are you Amish?
Originally posted by crayon:
1. yes it is, if you are that extreme
2. sorry but arent we talking about non-tourist locations?
3. "of your family members"
ah nevermind. maybe everyone should allow everybody to take photos of anything they wish. that is good, right?
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
1. I'm sorry for you, xenophobia is a real burden.
2. Does that make Disneyland a "Terrorist Training Camp?"
3. Good answer. Tell me again why should I care that some person is taking pictures in front of my house?
i notice you're just trying to make things appear ridiculous so you can appear smart. well you're 39, one would think someone your age would be mature enough to know what i was trying to get across. oh well, you're smart :)
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
1. Maybe you're closer than you think
2. What's the difference?
3. If the person taking pictures is on public property, why not? What is so evil about having a picture taken of your family? Do you believe that it's stealing a part of your soul? Are you Amish?
Now there's the pot calling the kettle black. I know exactly what you're trying to say, I also think it's just as ridiculous and outlandish as what I'm saying. I would think that you would be mature enough to know better.
Originally posted by crayon:
i notice you're just trying to make things appear ridiculous so you can appear smart. well you're 39, one would think someone your age would be mature enough to know what i was trying to get across. oh well, you're smart :)
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
1. Maybe you're closer than you think
2. What's the difference?
3. If the person taking pictures is on public property, why not? What is so evil about having a picture taken of your family? Do you believe that it's stealing a part of your soul? Are you Amish?
