Press Pass Legal Issues? (fake?)

eravedesigns · Mar 12, 2007

So i was wondering what would happen if i made up my own press pass that represented my online graphic design business. Is there anyway i can get in trouble for this or would peopel just say no your still not permitted here? I am planning on getting into our highschools state game with my camera but the thing is our school only gets 1 press pass and we dont eve know if a person with a camera is gonna get it so if i say made a fake one could i get a ticket or anything?

craig · Mar 12, 2007

Go for it. I doubt you will get into any trouble. You are going to get some amazing results. Can not wait to see them.

Love and Bass.

Riggaberto · Mar 12, 2007

Press passes for a state game? Give me a break, how stupid is that. Go for it.

Hertz van Rental · Mar 13, 2007

Press passes are normally handed out by the organisers of an event. You get one if you can prove you are a bona fide member of the press.
You could certainly try it - people can be gullible - but be prepared for it to not work.

neea · Mar 13, 2007

I dont know how it is there but I know here if I walked into something with a press pass no one would argue.
Even if this event was something you had to buy tickets to.
No one here would even know that THEY normally issue them.

I say go for it. I dont see any laws against it and the worst that can happen is them say no.

sether08 · Mar 13, 2007

I am a student assistant for a local university, and we do not let anyone in without our specific credential. That is obtained by calling our office and getting on the pass list, which can be easy or difficult depending on the event.

I am also a student assistant for the high school regionals in my area. I know that for the tournament here you have to be on the designated pass list at the media gate to be admitted, the attendants won't let you in without being on the list.

I don't know about where you're at, but this is how it is for the state I am in (Ohio).

dewey · Mar 13, 2007

Do it... unless you claim to be some government official or change your name on this ID you're not breaking any laws.

eravedesigns · Mar 13, 2007

k well its made...i did contact the sports organization of my state and they said they could not issue more than 1 (how retarted i see like 4 or 5 photographers on the court and an NBA game) so i am gonna try my skills 007 style lol and see what i can do. I figure that if i have my flash and large telephoto one and my gear out with my "badge" on i prob could get some access

DeepSpring · Mar 13, 2007

If there are a few places to enter, look for the one guarded by some guy who doesn't care about what he's doing and your gear and pass you made should be enough.

Claff · Mar 13, 2007

I predict failure. I've been a writer or photographer at hundreds of sport events (NASCAR events as well as minor league and major league baseball games) and access always has to be arranged in advance. At the venue you check in at the one access point where media is signed in and they check their list with your ID, and you're given an event-specific pass. Maybe doing high school sports is different - I haven't done any - but it already sounds like they're going to be pretty tight on access to courtside spots and if you don't have the correct pass available for easy viewing you're going to get hassled and, if not asked to take a seat in the stands, get tossed out of there.

I'da tried to fluke my way in for a regular season game or another game that you don't really care if you succeed or not just to see how everything works before you wind up completely missing an important game you'd want to see from a spectator's standpoint if you couldn't pull off media credentials.

tr0gd0o0r · Mar 13, 2007

I dealt this type of stuff a lot this past football season. I was a photo intern at the local paper, and went out friday nights every week. I would also predict failure. The fact that they're even issuing press passes is a bad sign for your plan. When press passes are issued, it typically means that only those people will be getting in. We had a big fiasco at our paper about photogs not being let in to the first home saints game this season (we're in Louisiana) b/c they weren't going to issue a press pass. However, if you're determined to try it anyway (which might be worth it) I would suggest attempting to affiliate yourself with the high school in some way. I think someone saying that they're with the high school would be more likely to get in than someone w/ a pass from some random design firm.

fmw · Mar 14, 2007

I've never been a photo journalist. But I was a staff photographer for a pro baseball team some years ago. Everybody at the ball park knew me by site and many by name. I had photographed every one of them at one time or another. I could walk into the park anytime just by smiling and waving. The gate guards knew who I was.

But when they had important events there, they issued press passes and they issued one to me as well. In other words, I couldn't get in without one even though everyone knew I belonged there. That's the whole purpose of press passes. If they issue one, you had better have the one they issued.

As to the legal question, that depends on whether or not there is a gate admission fee. If there is, then sneaking in with a fake press pass would be illegal. I doubt it would produce prison time, of course, but it would be petty theft unless you paid like everyone else that is supposed to pay.

abraxas · Mar 14, 2007

Of course prison could be cool- I'd use my cell time to write a book,... on my socks.

Take your gear, go to the game, buy a ticket, wander around lost

have some fun.

rmh159 · Mar 15, 2007

abraxas said:
Of course prison could be cool- I'd use my cell time to write a book,... on my socks.

Take your gear, go to the game, buy a ticket, wander around lost have some fun.

Haha yeah we all know what goes on while in prison... :spank:

I think I'd take that strategy too... maybe go in and just try to weasle your way down to the lowest part of the seating area. I mean what's the difference between floor seats or 1st row? Any chance you could get your hands on an actual pass or at least the design? Just call and when they say they're going to issue passes, ask them to describe in great detail.

Please post how this turns out... the suspense is going to be brutal.

RacePhoto · Mar 16, 2007

One more for the, normally your wouldn't get past the first gate before someone would tell you, a press pass means nothing. You need event specific credentials.

Since it's a state school game, you might have success. I say, have fun, but be prepared with a ticket. :lol:

I've worked events where the organizer insisted on a wrist band AND the media credential that they issued. Without both, you got removed to the spectator areas. This prevented people from lending out passes to a friend.

I've also been to some where you not only had the credential, but it had to be in the holder as issued, on the proper colored event lanyard... and you still had to have a wrist band. This was an effort to weed out people who attempted to make replica media passes.

Usually I have to apply 30 days in advance of events, or risk being refused or having the media limit already reached. Application needs to come from an editor of the publication, on the company letterhead, signed by the editor. However they do accept faxed application. (hint!)

This doesn't mean you won't be able to BS your way in, but if someone who's paying attention sees you, you might get bounced.

Security isn't like it used to be. The days of Jimmy Olson flashing a press card and getting in to snap pictures, went out a long time ago. After 9-11 things got even tighter, even if there's no relationship to that event. It's just the way the world thinks now and tighter security has been the result.

Have fun, give it a try. Please report back. I doubt if you are breaking any laws by making your own press pass, since you are honestly coming to take pictures for editorial use.

Be polite when they escort you out.