"Public photography is not a crime" - PEN Article

[tirediron]

An interesting read, particularily for the Canadian contingent...

Public photography is not a crime

 

[Josh66]

What I find more interesting is that people are routinely arrested for things that are not actually crimes. I take it that was the reason the author wrote that article. It wouldn't even be an issue if people didn't get arrested for it, despite it being perfectly legal.

Habeas Corpus, what's that? It doesn't exist anymore in the United States. Not sure about Canada...

 

[skieur]

It would seem that Canadians have lost control of their police, the judicial system and their politicians when it comes to protecting their basic Charter rights

 

[SCraig]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is PEN and do they have any authority to do anything other than assert their impression of the laws? If they have no legal authority then all they are doing is expressing their opinion, which carries no more nor no less weight than anyone else expressing an opinion.

 

[tirediron]

They're group that advocates for freedom of expression. You're right, they have no legal standing, but they do have deep enough pockets to really annoy police forces and other groups that conveniently mis-interpret certain aspects of law.

 

[480sparky]

Judging by the photo at the top of the article, that photographer could be arrested for interfering with a peace officer's official duty.

 

[SCraig]

They're group that advocates for freedom of expression. You're right, they have no legal standing, but they do have deep enough pockets to really annoy police forces and other groups that conveniently mis-interpret certain aspects of law.

OK, I understand now. It's amazing how non-political groups sometimes tend to carry a lot of weight in political circles. Much like the NRA in the United States. They don't make or interpret laws, but they frequently have the ability to sway them in one direction or the other.

 

[Josh66]

They're group that advocates for freedom of expression. You're right, they have no legal standing, but they do have deep enough pockets to really annoy police forces and other groups that conveniently mis-interpret certain aspects of law.

OK, I understand now. It's amazing how non-political groups sometimes tend to carry a lot of weight in political circles. Much like the NRA in the United States. They don't make or interpret laws, but they frequently have the ability to sway them in one direction or the other.

Bribery in action.

Do you think that politicians would give a **** what these groups said if they weren't being paid?

 

[SCraig]

Bribery in action.

Do you think that politicians would give a **** what these groups said if they weren't being paid?

I don't think it's pure, out-and-out bribery. At least not in the case of the NRA. Over the decades they have made far too many political enemies to think they could get away with it. There are way too many people that would give anything in the world to tie the NRA into a political bribery case, and if it were true someone would have caught them by now. I suspect it's much the same way with other large political activist organizations.

 

[Josh66]

Call it a "donation" then. Same thing. They all know what the money is for.

And this is coming from a long time NRA member, lol.

You don't vote the way we want, the donations stop. It's that simple.

edit
Of course, I'm talking about all organizations that "donate" to political groups, not just the NRA...

 

[tirediron]

Call it a "donation" then. Same thing. They all know what the money is for.

And this is coming from a long time NRA member, lol.

You don't vote the way we want, the donations stop. It's that simple.

The odd lawsuit doesn't hurt either...

 

[Josh66]

I'm not trying to "call you out" or anything like that, but I am curious as to exactly what you mean by that.

I guess I'm out of the loop, because I honestly don't know which lawsuits you are referring to.

edit
Post a link and I will read it with an open mind.

 

[SCraig]

Call it a "donation" then. Same thing. They all know what the money is for.

And this is coming from a long time NRA member, lol.

You don't vote the way we want, the donations stop. It's that simple.

edit
Of course, I'm talking about all organizations that "donate" to political groups, not just the NRA...

Yeah, I agree. It's nothing more "Legal Bribery" but they all toe that narrow line.

Also coming from a very long-time NRA member. It doesn't mean I agree with everything they do though.

 

[ShooterJ]

It's a slippery slope. I'm a police officer full time .. photographer/student part time.

I have never confiscated a camera or harrased a photographer/member of the press .. but, I HAVE approached and questioned them. I don't assume anything is being done that's wrong... but it's the nature of my job to ask.

As for taking photos of me on the job... hey, click away. I don't mind it.

Some police officers take issue with it, but generally it's those who are on a power trip (and there are an unfortunate number of them.)

If you're standing on a highway snapping pictures, I might check it out.. if you're photographing near odd places, I might check it out... but I always allow a photographer the chance to tell me what he/she is doing ... and I've never taken any kind of action against one. I ask my questions, politely thank them and tell them to have a nice day.

I wish more of my brothers and sisters in blue conducted themselves in this way.

 

[pixmedic]

I dont know who the photographer in the photo is...but he is WAY encroaching on what I would call "personal space".
too bad if he doesn't have a long enough lens to get in close without having to get RIGHT in someones face. get the right equipment,shoot wide and crop, or don't get the shot. seriously. that guy was too close. Personally, in all seriousness, if that were being done to ME...(not being in law enforcement of course) I would absolutely "trip" and bump right into the front of that guys camera. hard....right into his face. totally on accident.

the article mentioned trespassing. I don't know aboot Canadian law, but here in the US trespassing IS actually a crime, although very minor, and the punishment is typically just an escort off the property. ive not heard of anyone actually arrested for it though. (unless you refuse to comply) its a shame the article does not go into more detail on exactly what transpired.