Photography Banned At Accident Scenes

Good point .. I wonder how the PD feel about it.. maybe they roll their eyes and think not another PITA obligation placed on us by the suits.
 
Sometimes I refuse to try and figure out why our governments do what they do. They react to events in the most stupid ways and we have to live with it. I remember years ago when some guy parked himself under a legally parked tractor-trailer and lost his head. His family was friendly with the mayor who banned truck parking in town...

My wife and I plus a few people with common sense went to the public meeting to discuss the ban and asked if we would ban street lights if someone ran into one and died. We were told it was different but no one explained how it was different.


While I do understand such a ban might protect folks from exploitation at a time when they're most vulnerable, the thought of a law like this makes me very suspicious.

Wasn't it in Illinois that some young lady killed herself in a nasty accident and gruesome photos of the result (half of her head gone) ended up all over the web? I seem to remember that the photos had been emailed to the parents by some idiot. Unfortunately, I also seem to remember that it had been decided that the photos had to have been shot but emergency personnel...
 
I don't recall that particular incident but I think we should ban toll booths....

Several years ago there was a teen girls photo (I felt sick after seeing it) hanging out of a Porsche 911 turbo that had crashed into one. Her clearly visible head was literally smeared on the side of the vehicle with brain matter everywhere. Never mind the fact that she had a history of mental problems and went suicidal. The sick f** who took those photos is low scum... but does it mean we should ban toll booths? They are obstacles placed in the middle of a freakin highway...






besides...




I hate paying tolls to and from work.
 
I see this simply as further erosion of photographer's rights. I don't care if it's a crappy iPhone camera or a top end Canon DSLR... if you're in a public space, and there's no existing law for that area restricting photography... You are within your rights to take pictures. This is a slippery slope that could have unexpected consequences. I see nothing positive about this law.
 
Wasn't it in Illinois that some young lady killed herself in a nasty accident and gruesome photos of the result (half of her head gone) ended up all over the web? I seem to remember that the photos had been emailed to the parents by some idiot. Unfortunately, I also seem to remember that it had been decided that the photos had to have been shot but emergency personnel...
It was California. She took daddy's Porsche after they had an argument. It was a CHP officer that took the photos and put them on the Internet.

Ladera Ranch woman killed in 241 collision | honda, officials, porsche - Homepage - The Orange County Register (No photos of the crash)
 
The law is focused more towards cell phone users and there will be exceptions. On the bright side everyone on this forum knows real photographers don't uses cell phones as cameras
 
The guy is backing a bill that has been proposed. Can we have an appropriately titled thread, please? Nothing has been banned yet.
 
No. Lets stir the pot, and agitate for protecting our first amendment rights.

Besides, once posted, thread titles cannot be changed.
 
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Wasn't it in Illinois that some young lady killed herself in a nasty accident and gruesome photos of the result (half of her head gone) ended up all over the web? I seem to remember that the photos had been emailed to the parents by some idiot. Unfortunately, I also seem to remember that it had been decided that the photos had to have been shot but emergency personnel...
It was California. She took daddy's Porsche after they had an argument. It was a CHP officer that took the photos and put them on the Internet.

Ladera Ranch woman killed in 241 collision | honda, officials, porsche - Homepage - The Orange County Register (No photos of the crash)

I sure hope the CHP officer lost job and pension for that. Maybe its cynical me but there is little protecting the civilian from the occassional bad cop.... well maybe a record of such violations by a passerby who just happen to have a camera. If I were a bad cop, Id sure want a ban on cameras in as many areas and situations as possible.
 
Doesn't say anywhere that you cant be chillin super far away and just 600mm that stuff.
 
Wasn't it in Illinois that some young lady killed herself in a nasty accident and gruesome photos of the result (half of her head gone) ended up all over the web? I seem to remember that the photos had been emailed to the parents by some idiot. Unfortunately, I also seem to remember that it had been decided that the photos had to have been shot but emergency personnel...

That is the one that my wife said is the cause of this bill. She also said it was supposed to be just against emergency workers, first responders etc... from taking pics.

However it started, I am with those who cannot stand reactionary type lawmaking that ends up trying to legislate common sense while denying me my rights. Well meaning or otherwise, I'm getting real tired of all the BS rules and laws.
 
My guess, he's pandering to some political contributor.

Or maybe he has been, or knows someone who has been an accident victim and had to suffer as some idiotic "journalist" takes pictures of him or a friend/family member laying on a stretcher. I think that as long as this applies to everyone at the scene (ie no exceptions for so-called "professionals") it is an excellent initiative and long overdue.

Your right... this whole "freedom" thing is such an inconvenience sometimes. ;)
 
It has reached the point that banning photography or video is virtually impossible from a technical standpoint. Even sunglasses can record video with sound. I am considering picking up an HD/PVR coat hanger powered by a lithium battery. Great for a last resort layer of home security. Wireless video through a pen is also possible.

skieur
 
True.. Minox - pen/sunglasses/belt cameras commercially available these days.
 
Actually, being sneaky can actually worsen the publics opinion about photographers. Paparazzi and child pornographers have done wonders to all photpgraphers reputation.

You can be of 100% within legal right but you mannerism can lead those around you to believe you are commiting a crime. Take one coke bottle in a brown paper bag sipping from it in a street known for bars... I bet you will attract the police. Do the same without the bag, no problem.

Street photographers will also tell you that the difference between a successful photo and a failed one will often lie in how you carry and present yourself. Look like a pirv or sinister fellow sneaking around wont get you as far as someone enthusiastic, open, and charismatic attitude.



See..... one of my points was that these laws also distract from the real problems. People focusing on being sneaky with their photography is one such example/result.
 

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