Re: Photography and the Law

On Fri, 09 May 2008 15:39:44 -0400, krishnananda <k@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

<some big snips>

>Port Authority bridges and tunnels only cross the Hudson. The East River 
>bridges and tunnels and the Henry Hudson bridge are all owned and 
>operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. 

True, I spoke somewhat losely there.

>If you have ever been to 
>Sunnyside yards in Queens and tried to photograph the mouth of the 
>Queens-Midtown tunnel, you would have had to ignore the very prominent 
>"No Cameras" signs.

Which apply (as the rules you posted pointed out) to "Every motorist and
pedestrian using any facility under the jurisdiction and control of the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority"

I reiterate that it's perfectly legal to photograph any bridges or tunnels
provided you do so from land that is NOT owned by the authority. If you're
not
on their land, or 'using their facility' they have no power over you.

>In fact I was arrested for one shot of the exterior of the building with 
>a digital p/s, requested to delete the photo, and released with no 
>charges. The OCME has an extensive outdoors facility, in a tent and 
>quite a few trailers, where the DNA testing of 9/11 remains is going on. 

Where is this facility? Is it the place on 1st Ave., next to NYU?

>This is a very sensitive area. I swapped the cards in my camera when it 
>became obvious I was going to be nabbed, and didn't delete the pic. Not 
>that it was particularly a keeper but for the principle.

Good for you. Or another approach... shame that few cops seem to have
heard of
'undelete'... :-)

>Then there is the phenomenon of police officers making up the law as 
>they go along. 

That can happen. Or keeping the law the same, but making up the facts; I
know a
railway photographer - a railway employee too, complete with ID card - who
was
hassled by MTA police for taking photographs of trains from a public path.
When
confronted with this fact, the path suddenly became private property, as
far as
the cop was concerned.

>Things are hard for photographers here and in other cities. Trying to 
>navigate the waters of legitimate law, "provisional" law, made-up law, 
>and lust plain orneriness is a full-time job. 

This helps: http://pictureny.org/

>It may or may not be 
>illegal to photograph power stations, but it certainly is not a good 
>idea without either a press pass or permission from the operator.

Hah! Bad example to use with me: http://www.corestore.org/hydro.htm

Mike
--
http://www.corestore.org
'As I walk along these shores
I am the history within'