Public Photography and the Police

[SDK]

Much heat is being generated in the photographer community by the detention of British ex-pat Ben Hider in White Plains New York for photographing an American flag in front of the state courthouse there. Seethis Photo.net discussion for details and a wide range of opinion. I wonder how common this has become recently.

I've been stopped twice for warrant checks while photographing objects in plain public view. In January 2002, I was stopped at Fort Independence by Boston Police while photographing a police helicopter escorting LNG tankers into the harbor with my Leica. They said a new city law prohibited photographing the operation. They took my ID, wrote my name down and ran a check on me. The police also stopped a nearby Canon SLR user and a fisherman with olive skin and a funny hat. I've not been able to find the statute they cited, which would seem to violate the First Amendment. Last year, I was questioned by a polite policeman for photographing the Boston Federal Reserve building a skyscraper, again my ID was taken and a check run on me.

Have you had anything like this happen to you?

 

[Socke]

After I recorded my poll, it came to my mind that I shouldn't have taken part in this poll. I haven't been to the USA since 1999.

 

[Trevor]

Oops. I am in the UK so I suppose I should not have voted either. Sorry

 

[Ken Ford]

Not RF related, but most of my photography involves railroad action shooting (see the PBase gallery link in my profile). Needless to say, taking pictures of railroad subjects can attract attention, but I've never had a problem once I explain what I'm doing.

I do have an unfair advantage, though - I'm a volunteer with my county's emergency management agency, so the cops usually treat me like one of their own after they talk to me. Actually, if I'm near my car, they just wave when they drive by (they see the antennas and lights).

 

[SDK]

Oh well there goes the scientific accuracy I was counting on! 🙂 Seriously, non-US participation does not matter that much. I think RFF and Photo.Net are mostly infotainment anyway.

 

[bmattock]

If you're trying to make a point here, SDK, I'm not getting it. Or is this yet another incarnation of you-know-who?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[kruskee]

I'm Canadian. I shot three pics (with my Leica M6) of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, just passing by. A security guard got quite upset, telling me it was illegal to do so. I told her I didn't think that was correct.

An hour later, I was walking by the National Gallery and noticed a guy pacing me and looking at me from the other side of the road. I crossed and walked along beside him to see what he was up to. He just pretended he was listening on his cellphone for about 5 minutes.

I moved ahead and stopped at a viewpoint for a shot of our parliament buildings. After doing that I turned around to find two cars full of RCMP (Federal police) and an officer approaching me. He asked a few questions about my actions, but had nothing on me. The (I assume) U.S. agent was standing behind him, never saying a word.

They all drove by later as I crossed the bridge. I waved. They didn't. The paranoia extant since 9/11 is really sick. Our governments are milking it for everything they can get.

 

[Nikon Bob]

kruskee

That is exactly the reaction I would have predicted that happened to you. I was in Ottawa last fall and commented to my wife that you would get that kind of reaction should you decide to take a photo of the US Embassy. Being a coward and not wanting a hassle in never bothered. Besides I alraedy had photos of it pre 911. The reaction of security types is usually very predictable considering the (paranoid) circumstances we live in.

Nikon Bob

 

[dmr]

I checked "Never been bugged at all" although I have been told or warned a few times, but never by somebody I think was a sworn officer.

1. I was told by a maintenance worker to stop taking photos in a Chicago subway station in 2004.

2. I was warned by another amateur photographer that he was told not to take photos of the Las Vegas Monorail system. This was minutes after a security guard posed for me when I pointed the camera his way. 🙂

3. I was told, asked, actually, very politely and apologetically, by a casino security guard to please not take any photos inside the casino.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I'm going to wager a guess- That law enforcement and security officers are less likely to question a woman.

I also checked "never been bugged" only because it has been over 30years since I have been. Once while filming super 8 of riot policefiring tear gas canisters directly at protesters outside the JusticeDept in DC and another time by Cathedral Police while shooting theNational Cathedral early one spring morning. The first event ended in afoot race, I won. Fully armored overweight Riot police can't run asfast as a 16 year old.

"Serpentine!"

 

[Memnon]

Never been in touch with the police for photograhy .... was kicked out of the US for being "liberal" though ... and until the day of today I am not able to return.

With "liberal" I mean liberal (open minded/humane/critical), no criminal offense, nothing even a European country would consider close to "not done"



Now let me ask you:

What does this make me (open goal, I realise)

And what does this make the US ?

 

[bmattock]

Never been in touch with the police for photograhy .... was kicked out of the US for being "liberal" though ... and until the day of today I am not able to return.

With "liberal" I mean liberal (open minded/humane/critical), no criminal offense, nothing even a European country would consider close to "not done"

Now let me ask you:

What does this make me (open goal, I realise)

And what does this make the US ?

And away we go.

 

[Memnon]

put your head in the sand if you like ..... I won't go any further, I will not judge or comment, just seems strange to me when people wind themselves up about a simple thing as photography when so much other injustice is done ..... even this being a photography forum

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I find hugely difficult to believe one would be kicked out for being"liberal." Otherwise we "liberals" would have been rounded up andinterned years ago. (just kidding)

Memnon I consider the question a kind of troll. Trolling seems tohave become a popular sport here at RFF. Sad don't you think.

Please refrain from US baiting and any subsequent bashing.

 

[bmattock]

put your head in the sand if you like ..... I won't go any further, I will not judge or comment, just seems strange to me when people wind themselves up about a simple thing as photography when so much other injustice is done ..... even this being a photography forum

Oh, I know. Horrible injustices like small children hanging around on discussion boards trying to ignite controversy by starting flame wars with the most innocent of comments like "was kicked out of the US for being "liberal" though" and "And what does this make the US?" No one will rise to that bait here, young man - we've all been through the wars.

This would be the part where you puff up and threaten to take your patronage elsewhere. So let's just cut to the chase and say "See ya."

You ask what this makes you - I would say it makes you a young man without a date on a Saturday night.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Memnon]

Bill, I'm 50 years old, been married for over 20 years, I am professor of Cultural sociology at a renowned european university, I have published 14 books.... and I know this is not the spot/place for starting a pro/contra US discussion not only because of the fact that this is a photogtaphy forum ..... but if you want to give it a spin thats ok with me, just don't belittle anybody with other thoughts, ideas and visions than your own ....

 

[bmattock]

Memno, like Fedzilla, I find it hugely difficult to believe anyone got kicked out of the USA for being "too liberal" and my BS detector is pegging right now. We've had a spate of trolls here who like to ask questions like that just to start fights, for whatever kind of sick kicks they get from that. And yours is right up that alley. So if you are NOT a troll, my apologies. But no, I have zero interest in discussing your ejection from the USA. Head in sand? Fair enough. Good night.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Memnon]

Good night Bill, sweet dreams .... 🙂

 

[dadsm3]

Are you sure it was your political beliefs that got you deported, and not, say, just being a dink?
Just a hunch.....

 

[SDK]

Purpose.

Purpose.

No fights were intended by me (Steven D. Keirstead, not Lord Voldemort). I just wanted to see how common police questioning or interfering with public photography is. This poll was an easy, if unscientific, way of doing so. I get the feeling from my own experiences and reading PhotoPermit.org that these events may be on the rise as blow-by from the war on terror, but of course there's no data to support my supposition.

Is this a big problem in the grand scheme of things? Maybe not. Should we be worried about or civil liberties here in the US? Why not? It can only help to be wary of potential misuse of government power. I'm very glad that so far most people here have not had trouble from cops.

Please keep participating in this survey, but remember security guards and photographing in private places are a different issue, not covered here.