Got harassed while taking pictures today

M

mbdiesel

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Feb 15, 2012
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I loaded my rolleiflex and decided to go walk around in my local town in NJ. I got to NJ Transit train station and decided to take some pictures from the platform. I walked around a bit and decided to goto the end of the platform and take some more pictures. Before I shoot some more, this guy approaches me and says "hey you taking pictures?". I said yes and he says do you know that you are not supposed to take pictures of public places. I politely told him that I am just a guy taking photos and I live in this town. He did not want to listen to anything I say and went on to say that in post-911 era you are not allowed to take pictures of public places and that he had already called the cops on me.

I am certain that the guy thought that I may be a terrorist (I am a an Asian Indian). Pissed me off. I just moved along, got in my car and continued on.
 
Besides his idiotic statement, "you are not allowed to take pictures of public places", he did have a point from a NJ Transit stance.. I dont think they allow photos in their property, along with the PATH system...
 
A terrorist making a plan with a rolleiflex, how fancy is that? Or may he though you were an underbudget terrorist, using and old equipment.
 
finguanzo said:
Besides his idiotic statement, "you are not allowed to take pictures of public places", he did have a point from a NJ Transit stance.. I dont think they allow photos in their property, along with the PATH system...
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I tried looking up their policies regarding taking photos. Thanx for pointing this out. I will not be going to the train station with the intention of taking photos again....photography is just a hobby for me....I do not make a dime from this hobby...I don't need any BS.
 
Standing on the platform at any train station but especially Amtrak, expect to be questioned by security.
 
gustavo peña said:
A terrorist making a plan with a rolleiflex, how fancy is that? Or may he though you were an underbudget terrorist, using and old equipment.
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Well I am not the type that judges people but the guy hassling me did not seem very bright the way he was talking to me. I did find him intimidating and I just decided not to push the issue and move on.
 
gb hill said:
Standing on the platform at any train station but especially Amtrak, expect to be questioned by security.
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I've been to the Amtrak station many times taking photos and have never been questioned..
 
semilog said:
I always carry a couple of printed copies of this PDF in my bag. One for reference and one to hand to imbeciles.
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I am quite familiar with Bert Krages tomes on legal rights. I have spoken with him a few times. Nice guy but he gives no support in the form of legal cites for his opinions. His words are considered "more junk available on the internet" by anyone in a position of authority.
 
Bob Michaels said:
I am quite familiar with Bert Krages tomes on legal rights. I have spoken with him a few times. Nice guy but he gives no support in the form of legal cites for his opinions. His words are considered "more junk available on the internet" by anyone in a position of authority.
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It's a quick reference, not an academic paper. If it gets to that point you need to be on the phone to a flesh-and-blood lawyer anyway. In any case the best policy is generally to threaten to call the police yourself, and if needed, to actually call them.
 
mbdiesel said:
I am certain that the guy thought that I may be a terrorist (I am a an Asian Indian)
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Racial profiling is common in this country, especially in the context you cite.

Idiots like this guy don't take kindly to being handed piece of paper to read, whether or not he might learn something from reading it (if he can read).

I know many, many photographers, and those who are non-white report incidents like this with far greater frequency than their white counterparts.

So, since you were taking pictures for a hobby, you probably made the right decision not to engage. By the way, when I get people like this guy telling me I can't take photos, I often tell them that I will call the police myself if they don't leave me alone. Not that the cops always know the law either. (And they themselves are not always innocent of racial profiling...)
 
mbdiesel said:
I loaded my rolleiflex and decided to go walk around in my local town in NJ. I got to NJ Transit train station and decided to take some pictures from the platform. I walked around a bit and decided to goto the end of the platform and take some more pictures. Before I shoot some more, this guy approaches me and says "hey you taking pictures?". I said yes and he says do you know that you are not supposed to take pictures of public places. I politely told him that I am just a guy taking photos and I live in this town. He did not want to listen to anything I say and went on to say that in post-911 era you are not allowed to take pictures of public places and that he had already called the cops on me.

I am certain that the guy thought that I may be a terrorist (I am a an Asian Indian). Pissed me off. I just moved along, got in my car and continued on.
Click to expand...
Interesting story... now who do you work for and who sent you here?

:)
 
semilog said:
It's a quick reference, not an academic paper. If it gets to that point you need to be on the phone to a flesh-and-blood lawyer anyway. In any case the best policy is generally to threaten to call the police yourself, and if needed, to actually call them.
Click to expand...

Well said.

The only problems I have had were with rent-a-cops. Once I called the police the problem would go away..
 
Before long we'll all be required to wear sacks over our heads before venturing out to public spaces.

The post 9/11 era has spawned legions of what used to be called brown shirts.
 
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