The security guard threatened a photographer who was taking pictures of the photogenic US Courthouse in Madison, Wisconsin with the words: “I’ll get a hold of Madison PD, they’ll come talk to you.”
According to the photographer who posts his story here, he was finished taking pictures of the State Capitol, and had moved on to the nearby Robert W. Kastenmeier United States Courthouse. He did not have any difficulty at the Capitol even when taking pictures of the INTERIOR, but the guard at the courthouse took offense to the fact that the photographer was taking pictures of the EXTERIOR of that building.
Guard: Don’t take one of the building.
Photographer: Why not?
Guard: Because…..security procedures.
Photographer: What security procedures? There’s no law that says I can’t take pictures.
Guard: I’ll get ahold of Madison PD they’ll come and talk to you.
The photographer in turn filed a complaint and received a response from Judge Barbara B Crabb in which she states:
“Photographing the building is perfectly acceptable, but you or anyone else who takes pictures of the building can expect to be asked politely by a court security officer about what you are doing. This is an unfortunate result of greater security concerns since 9/11, concerns that have only intensified since the recent discovery of two plots to blow up federal courthouses.
I understand that you were displeased about being questioning [sic] when you were merely taking pictures of an architecturally interesting building. I feel somewhat the same way when I have to submit to the increased security at the airport…
Here we go again: The magic words “9/11″ have been spoken and we are all supposed to lay down and surrender our rights and freedoms. I would be afraid to have this judge rule on a case involving the rights of photographers since she obviously has no respect for the law or the constitution. Photography is NOT A CRIME! Then she fails to address the fact that the photographer was not merely questioned politely, he was THREATENED and ordered to stop taking pictures. This runs contrary to her statement that “photography of the building is perfectly acceptable”.
In spite of the fact that DART rules do not prohibit photography a security guard working for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit decided to chase after a photographer, while ignoring people who were violating the law by trespassing on the tracks. According to the photographer:
If you click on Full Size you will see there are two men walking on the tracks that I assume do not belong there. However, instead of the security guard harassing them about it, go after the guy with the camera.
You see, taking photos of the platform is not allowed. Since my main target was not the platform, when he followed me on to my bus I told him I had not shot the platform. He insisted that he had seen me do so and that was my warning and I better not do it again. So of course, more pics coming when I get a chance.
The security guard not only is a LIAR, he wasted time chasing after someone who was not in any way violating any rule or law, while at the same time deliberately ignoring a real violation taking place in front of his eyes.
There are words for this and hutzpah is the nicest one I can think of. A woman who was taking pictures while trespassing on a railroad track is now suing the railroad for failing to post warning signs.
JACKSON, Miss. — Helen Gable was taking pictures on the railroad tracks in Tupelo in 2006 when a train nearly cut off her leg as she tried to get out of the way.
Gable and her husband are suing the railroad company for nearly $6 million.
Gable says the company should have posted trespassing signs to keep people away.
As the BNSF spokesperson says – she was trespassing. I can only hope that the jury comes to their senses and awards her absolutely NOTHING!
When this site first started operating we also included a forum. Unfortunately the database crashed and there was not enough support to try to bring it back at the time. Since then we have more readers and perhaps we can entice some of you to post on our NEW FORUM Feel free to post on any photography related or photo rights related issue whether or not I specifically mention it in the main site. Sound off and enjoy!
Ok – I know what you are going to say… this isn’t about photography, but it is about an area that I am also very concerned about and that is censorship and the increasingly restrictive rules, laws and regulations that are tightening the noose around what is supposed to be a free country. I find this story both hilarious and troubling.
It is hilarious in that school officials are so hell-bent on censoring free speech that they even forwarded an email satirizing their action to the police. People in this country have a right to complain about the actions their government officials are taking and school officials represent the government. Their action with respect to that email is outrageous. According to the attorney who sent the email:
Perhaps by now you’ve read some of the articles (and associated entertaining comments, such as those at Fark) about how Principal Murray has tried to ban his students from saying meep.
It’s been a long time since I was in high school, but I still remember what it was like to be young, and chafing under what seemed like arbitrary and capricious rules set down by school authorities.
So in solidarity with the students of Danvers High, and on my own initiative, I took about five seconds and sent an email to Principal Thomas Murray ( murray@danvers.org ), Assistant Principal Mark Strout ( strout@danvers.org ), Assistant Principal Cornelia Varoudakis ( cvaroudakis@danvers.org ), and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lisa Dana ( dana@danvers.org ). All of these addresses are publicly available on the Danvers High School website.
My subject line said (in full), “meep.” The body said (in full), “Meep.”
Yesterday I received a reply email from Assistant Principal Mark Strout, which said (in full) “Your E-mail has been forwarded to the Danvers Police Department.”
LOLwut? That simultaneously annoyed and amused me enough to write this article. (Plus, my train was late.)
I guess that Principal Thomas Murray ( murray@danvers.org ), Assistant Principal Mark Strout ( strout@danvers.org ), Assistant Principal Cornelia Varoudakis ( cvaroudakis@danvers.org ), and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lisa Dana ( dana@danvers.org ) do not believe in the Constitution of the United States of America. Here is our response to those unAmerican school officials:
Spewing the government lie that photographers are potential terrorists, CNN’s Rick Sanchez had this comment to make about the recent harassment of a photographer on the LA Metro system:
This — this is hard to watch. This guys, a guy who calls himself a photographers rights activist goes on to have a conversation, tells the officer that he’s out shooting the L.A. subway because he wants to, like he’s never heard of the London rail attacks, the Madrid train bombings, or the recent alleged plot against the subway system in New York City?
What does any of that have to do with photography? Is there any proof that photography played a role of any kind in those plots?
The 9/11 terrorists didn’t photograph anything. Nor did the London transport bombers, the Madrid bombers, or the liquid bombers arrested in 2006. Timothy McVeigh didn’t photograph the Oklahoma City Federal Building. The Unabomber didn’t photograph anything; neither did shoe-bomber Richard Reid. Photographs aren’t being found amongst the papers of Palestinian suicide bombers. The IRA wasn’t known for its photography.
Rick Sanchez fails to address the issue that Deputy Gylfie LIED about the Metro photography policy. Photography is legal and all attempts to suppress it in any way should be challenged and exposed. We admire people like Discarted who are in the front lines of the battle to stop the harassment of photographers. So-called reporters like Rick Sanchez only act as enablers, allowing the government to continue its de-facto criminalization of photography.
in violation of his first and fourth amendment rights. According to the photographer who took this picture of an accident scene:
the Nevada Highway Patrol officer was yelling at me (hence the look on the paramedic’s faces). She was asking me who I was and why I was taking pictures, then told me “This is my accident scene, not a tourist scene! You’ll have to leave this area and delete all of the pictures you’ve taken here!”
Taking pictures of accident scenes from public property is perfectly legal and police offers have NO RIGHT to order anyone to delete pictures without a court order.
For taking LEGAL pictures of the Metro. Watch this disgusting video where the LA Sheriff’s deputy practically accuses the photographer of being a terrorist:
Photography on the LA Metro is perfectly legal – the detention and line of questioning, as well as the threats to put the photographer on terrorist watch lists are inexcusable.
To voice your concern contact:
Michael J. Gennaco, Chief Attorney
The Office of Indepedent Review
4900 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 204
Commerce, CA 90040
Phone: (323) 890-5360
Email: mjgennac@laoir.com
Karyn Mannis, Captain
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Internal Affairs Bureau
http://www.lasd.org/divisions/leaders…
(323) 890-5300
Eric Garcetti, City Council President
5500 Hollywood Blvd., 4th Floor
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323-957-4500
Email: councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org
Tom Labonge, Councilmember, District 4
Hollywood Field Office
6501 Fountain Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: (323) 957-6415
Email: councilmember.labonge@lacity.org
An employee of the Boston Subway system operated by the MBTA threatened a photographer at the Central Square Station in Cambridge by saying “No Pictures or Else”.
I was accosted by an MBTA employee when I took this shot waiting for an Outbound train at Central Square Station in Cambridge—a smaller stop on the Red Line between MIT and Harvard—and was told in no uncertain terms that photography is strictly forbidden on the T. This assertion was, of course patently incorrect and misinformed.
In fact after a long battle with the ACLU, the MBTA rewrote its photography rules. Photography IS PERMITTED without a permit anywhere in the Boston Subway system. Authorities have the right to ask for identification but DO NOT have the right to threaten photographers or to lie to them by saying photography is illegal.
