First experience being told 'not to photograph'

Get that printed off, that section of the code. Show it to the next person who tries to tell you to stop. Cop was a nice enough guy though, probably thought he was just doing his job.
Oh and even if they tell you to stop, just go back and do it again anyway. Why do you think they invented spy cameras?
 
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FS Vontz said:
Get that printed off, that section of the code. Show it to the next person who tries to tell you to stop. Cop was a nice enough guy though, probably thought he was just doing his job.
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Exactly what I've done. If it happens again, I think being able to produce the section in the MTA rules will put the question to bed.

And you're right, I think he thought he was just enforcing the rules. He said he wasn't MTA police (he was NYPD) but that he was there that night. Hat tip to that particular police, too, who knew when to let it go.
 
Well-handled. Normally I'm not inclined to argue w/the police based on the hassle factor, even when I know I'm correct.

4 years ago, right after I took this shot:

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the cop (not sure if he was regular NYPD or MTA, perhaps you can tell from the uniform), told me to stop shooting & I complied. I had already taken enough photos & was unsure about the law in NYC.

scottwallick said:
This might be a tired subject, but since I got my taste of it today, I thought I would share.

So today on my commute home today, in NYC, I was snapping here and there on a subway platform when I was approached by a NYPD officer (not MTA police).

The officer calmly told me, "I just want to let you know that photograph on the subway is not allowed. You can't photograph here."

I politely responded, "Sir, actually, yes I can. There is no law prohibiting me from photographing the subway."

There was a bit of no you can't, yes I can back and forth. He said that the subway rules prohibit photography and was pretty cordial.

Anyhow, he then told me, "I'm not going to do anything, but if one of the MTA police see you, they'll give you a ticket."

Now, after I had called him, he was raising me. "MTA police cannot issue a ticket for photography on the subway. I'm not just contradicting you, but that is incorrect."

He then just said, "I'm just saying. I could care less." And with that he walked off.

Just to confirm what I already knew, when I got home I checked the MTA Rules of Conduct and according to Section 1050.9(c):



For reference: http://www.mta.info/nyct/rules/rules.htm#restricted

So there. I was right, he was wrong. Actually, I felt a little embarrassed for the officer. He had been polite and noninvasive and I, on a platform during rush hour with 50 or more people listening, told him no, you're wrong, and sent him on his way.

+1 for the photographer
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Roger Hicks said:
Good on you, Scott! Polite but unyielding: the ideal combination.

Cheers,

R.
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+1 for that, Roger.

And I just thought of this: whenever I start to talk about rangefinders to somebody I mistake for an interested individual, their eyes wander into the distance, etc.

So what I'm going to do: I'm going to lull them coppers to sleep with talk about the light, the film I loaded, the benefits of the RF, and once they start to stare, I sneak off. :cool:
 
furcafe said:
the cop (not sure if he was regular NYPD or MTA, perhaps you can tell from the uniform), told me to stop shooting & I complied.
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The former Transit Police have been absorbed into NYPD and they are now the Transit Division of the NY Police Department. In any case, they are sworn LEOs and do have the authority to issue a summons or even make an arrest if warranted.
 
I realize that they were both full-fledged police forces, the distinction is only relevant here because generally you'd assume that Transit Police would be better versed on any peculiar laws & regs that apply to the subway.

dmr said:
The former Transit Police have been absorbed into NYPD and they are now the Transit Division of the NY Police Department. In any case, they are sworn LEOs and do have the authority to issue a summons or even make an arrest if warranted.
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FWIW Dept. - What's worked for me is a smile and friendly, "Hey man, I'm out here working in this XXX weather... just like you." (insert: hot, cold, wet, etc)

Maybe it helps that I'm old enough to be their grandfather.
 
FS Vontz said:
Get that printed off, that section of the code. Show it to the next person who tries to tell you to stop. Cop was a nice enough guy though, probably thought he was just doing his job.
Oh and even if they tell you to stop, just go back and do it again anyway. Why do you think they invented spy cameras?
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^^ good point. Glad I joined this forum already
 
sorry to bring back an old thread (oldie but a goodie), but I'll be in NYC for a few months at the end of the year shooting.

What are my rights? Basically, where can and can't I shoot?

Help?
 
akremer said:
sorry to bring back an old thread (oldie but a goodie), but I'll be in NYC for a few months at the end of the year shooting.

What are my rights? Basically, where can and can't I shoot?

Help?
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You can shoot anything you see while standing in a public space without prior authorization.

If you plan on using tripod and lighting equipment you need to get a permit from the city.
 
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(don't know why this won't rotate properly...)

As you can see, that cop doesn't look happy. Couple weeks ago I went to the city with a few friends. Got separated w/o my cell phone and didn't meet up with them until 2am. We were celebrating, so we crammed 5 hours of partying into 2 hours before closing time. Needless to say, we were all pretty drunk when my friend broke out the G11. I get some great street shots considering how intoxicated I was, but ran into trouble while waiting for the train at the WTC. I took a shot of the cop walking up, then this one as he came towards me with a nasty look on his face. I was getting on the train when he reached in and grabbed my arm, demanding I get off without my friends. I held up the door while people boo'd the cop. My friend saw what was coming and took the memory card out of the camera while I distracted the cop.

I told him "I know my rights, I can take pictures of anything I want on public property." He responded that the subway wasn't public property (I don't know if it is or not...). I acted shocked, and insisted that I was a simple country boy from upstate. I then went on to act like I'd never worked a camera before, and then admitted my mistake that I'd been shooting without a memory card all night and hadn't realized it!

I finally said something to convince him of my innocence and he walked off. He could have easily arrested me for public drunkenness, so getting away free and retaining all the photos was a double bonus.

(notice the guy in the back acting as if he's going to make off with the fire hose(?!)
 
Good for you. I probably would have said thank you and stopped, then started photographing when he was gone. Like others have said, it really depends on the cop/wanna be cop/security droid who is approaching you. They could be nice, or not, and it sort of goes from there.

I just have a rule that I always put into place: if someone has a gun or other weapon I automatically assume they're a stressed out homicidal maniac that hates me. I'm all smiley teeth and agreeable, then beat feet it right outta there at the earliest possible moment.

Then I go back to what I was doing.
 
A couple months ago I was shooting in Sunset Park in Brooklyn and got berated by the security guard at the Utz Potato Chip warehouse. The funny part is we weren't even taking photos of the Utz warehouse but across the street in a vacant lot. WTF? Obviously, the woman had some sort of chip on her shoulder.
 
andredossantos said:
A couple months ago I was shooting in Sunset Park in Brooklyn and got berated by the security guard at the Utz Potato Chip warehouse. The funny part is we weren't even taking photos of the Utz warehouse but across the street in a vacant lot. WTF? Obviously, the woman had some sort of chip on her shoulder.
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well played
 
I get asked to leave shopping malls all the time with the camera, but am always invited to come and speak to the head of security to obtain permits... not that I ever bother.
 
Neare said:
I get asked to leave shopping malls all the time with the camera, but am always invited to come and speak to the head of security to obtain permits... not that I ever bother.
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shopping malls are a different story - they are private property.
 
I wonder how many photographers are targeted just because they have a "serious-looking" camera. As a matter of fact everyone nowadays has a camera - in their mobile phones - and they use it constantly everywhere, malls, subway, private venues etc. without being targeted by cops or security guards.
And that's good overall, since it makes the prohibition of taking pictures practically pointless.
 
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