Re: Photography and the Law

"Mike Ross" <mike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:3pr9241dqqr7ia6ftpet70eifaerrg7vh0@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 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
> --


Mike,

Which jurisdictional laws are you writing about?


-- 
Peter