"Public photography is not a crime" - PEN Article

[tirediron]

Okay lets leave the anti/pro gun and NRA good/bad discussions for another forum please!

 

[Steve5D]

I remember back when "The Photographer's Rights" were making the rounds. "Keep this in your bag" everyone said.

I also remember someone pulling it out when he felt it was his place to educate a law enforcement officer of "what I can and cannot do, regardless of what you say". Yep, verbatim. So, the cop sat there and listened to this idiot read the slip of paper he pulled from his bag. The cop then arrested the guy, telling him to make sure he retrieved that piece of paper from "Personal Effects" before going before the judge.

I don't know who was actually in the right, but I can tell you that idiot photographer spent a rather pleasant, sunny weekend in jail. And I don't recall ever hearing about any lawsuit being filed against the county, city, the cop or anyone else. I think the judge probably ripped the guy a new one for, if nothing else, being stupid.

The best advice anyone has ever given me with respect to photography and dealing with law enforcement is "Don't be a dick".

Heeding that advice has served me well...

 

[tirediron]

...The best advice anyone has ever given me with respect to photography and dealing with law enforcement is "Don't be a dick".

Heeding that advice has served me well...

Wise words; a pity that the other way 'round isn't considered just as important.

 

[cgipson1]

One problem is that there are enough jerks out there that trespass, ignore "No Photography" signs, get into people's faces and personal space, don't bother getting easily obtainable permits, and refuse to stop shooting when asked to stop shooting... that more and more privileges to shoot in public are getting taken away. All for that "Awesome" shot... which usually is marginal anyway.

We have all seen it.. and it is getting worse! Want to change it? Then be the "Change"... and let those Jerks know it is not a good idea, however you have to do it.

 

[rexbobcat]

There was one guy at last year's county fair that got arrested for using his phone to video other men (and boys) urinating in the public restroom on the fair grounds.

Not like this has anything to do with anything. It just popped I to my head when I read the thread title. Lol

 

[cgipson1]

There was one guy at last years's county fair that got arrested for using his phone to video other men urinating in the public restroom on the fair grounds.

Sounds like a perv! "Off with his head!"

 

[ShooterJ]

I agree that there are cops who push things too far... and I also agree that there are photographers who don't know when to walk the other way. Neither one helps with the situation. I'm in the odd position of being both a cop and a photography lover. LOL

That being said, as much as I love and respect the art, if a photographer gets in my way, violates no trespassing signs, fails to respect privacy when asked to or otherwise doesn't use common sense when taking his/her photographs.. then the cop in me says "get rid of the douche".. Now if it's harmless, then ok. I have no issues with it whatsoever.... having been at both ends of this spectrum, when I'M out taking photos, I show due respect where I need to... I don't infringe upon peoples privacy, I don't get in their personal space, I don't trespass for a photo and I don't get in the way of police officers doing their jobs.

This seems an easy enough practice to follow.

EDIT: I will add, from the perspective of a cop.. that the law is complex. In regards to the slip of paper about photographers rights, that's all well and good. But those are guidelines, and any photographer should be aware that in some cases, you might actually be interfering or breaking a law. So my advice is to actually KNOW your local laws and what the city/state/county says you can and cannot do, rather than relying on a piece of paper with general guidelines (which is not a legal document and will not help you in court against a judge or attorney who DOES know which way the law bends)

 

[cgipson1]

I agree that there are cops who push things too far... and I also agree that there are photographers who don't know when to walk the other way. Neither one helps with the situation. I'm in the odd position of being both a cop and a photography lover. LOL

That being said, as much as I love and respect the art, if a photographer gets in my way, violates no trespassing signs, fails to respect privacy when asked to or otherwise doesn't use common sense when taking his/her photographs.. then the cop in me says "get rid of the douche".. Now if it's harmless, then ok. I have no issues with it whatsoever.... having been at both ends of this spectrum, when I'M out taking photos, I show due respect where I need to... I don't infringe upon peoples privacy, I don't get in their personal space, I don't trespass for a photo and I don't get in the way of police officers doing their jobs.

This seems an easy enough practice to follow.

Well said!

 

[Red1SebR]

it all comes down to common decency

 

[amolitor]

Cops really get a bad rap.

They're people, it turns out. And there's a lot of them. Some of them are boobs and idiots, a lot like, well, people. I've had a lot of, um, uncomfortable conversations with cops. Lots of people seem to think that police aren't allowed to have a conversation without probable cause or something, which is a little weird. It turns out that if you're polite and reasonable and act like a human being, pretty much all of the time the officer will too.

Trouble is, the media likes to blow it all up when a cop, or a group of cops, lose their **** and do something dumb. So, we get the idea that "lots" of cops are like that.

 

[Steve5D]

...The best advice anyone has ever given me with respect to photography and dealing with law enforcement is "Don't be a dick".

Heeding that advice has served me well...

Wise words; a pity that the other way 'round isn't considered just as important.

I give cops a good deal of leeway. I wouldn't want the job they willingly do when the need arises.

Unfortunately, when cops go into "dick mode", it's because they have to. Sure, there are some who get off on it, but I think the majority of them just want to get things taken care of as easily as possible. Having someone giving them grief for it only exacerbates the issue.

I left Portland, Oregon about a month ago, and you wouldn't believe the high level of mistrust and disdain that's held for the police department there. Case in point: Several months back, some deranged douche was running through a parking garage with a shotgun. While waiting for a K-9 unit, the deranged guy started to approach the cops, and leveled his shotgun at them. Rightfully, they opened fire, killing him.

One of the local rags (The Mercury) demanded to know why the cops were in the parking garage. They wanted to know why the cops weren't "out on the street where they belong". They wanted to know why the cops felt the need to shoot and kill "a poor homeless man who was obviously in need of treatment".

They said nary a word about the danger posed by a deranged guy with a shotgun in the parking garage of the Lloyd Center shopping mall...

 

[ShooterJ]

...The best advice anyone has ever given me with respect to photography and dealing with law enforcement is "Don't be a dick".

Heeding that advice has served me well...

Wise words; a pity that the other way 'round isn't considered just as important.

I give cops a good deal of leeway. I wouldn't want the job they willingly do when the need arises...

You have no idea how much that's appreciated. I understand a lot of what's been said about cops going too far and agree that it happens a lot, but there are good officers working the streets and support like this means a lot.

 

[ShooterJ]

Cops really get a bad rap.

They're people, it turns out. And there's a lot of them. Some of them are boobs and idiots, a lot like, well, people. I've had a lot of, um, uncomfortable conversations with cops. Lots of people seem to think that police aren't allowed to have a conversation without probable cause or something, which is a little weird. It turns out that if you're polite and reasonable and act like a human being, pretty much all of the time the officer will too.

Trouble is, the media likes to blow it all up when a cop, or a group of cops, lose their **** and do something dumb. So, we get the idea that "lots" of cops are like that.

Man I hate it when the media gives cops a bad name.. for that matter I hate it when cops give cops a bad name.

Some of us really do care and we try to provide the service we promised to provide. It's awesome to get good support when we're under fire because of a few bad eggs.

 

[Steve5D]

Wise words; a pity that the other way 'round isn't considered just as important.

I give cops a good deal of leeway. I wouldn't want the job they willingly do when the need arises...

You have no idea how much that's appreciated. I understand a lot of what's been said about cops going too far and agree that it happens a lot, but there are good officers working the streets and support like this means a lot.

I was a cop (military), my Dad was a cop (NY State Trooper) and my Grandfather was a cop (NYPD). I have no problem cutting cops a break...

 

[ShooterJ]

Very cool. Thank you for your service Steve.