This is ridiculous! MTA Officers Detain Man For Taking Pictures in Baltimore

[Maluco]

just listen to these fools! What are they doing and saying!!!

I'm the airport/airplane version of this guy. I get to the airport early in order to tour via the inter-terminal people movers and take pictures. I'm thankful that nobody has ever approached me cause I absolutely do it for my love of aviation. The one exception would be as I was walking down my terminal into the plane and taking a picture of the Jewish Airlines El Al at Barcelona airport - probably was a bit inconsiderate all things considered. Even then, they simply told me to stop! Didn't ask questions, didn't detain me. And for those of you who have seen me in the mugshot thread, I don't look like the nerd in the train videos below.

Regardless, I really hope people continue to fight for their rights and that we are successful. Sometimes it's the smallest of liberties such as taking pictures that if lost, hurt the most. Are hobbies and passions etc.



Part II

[Dozyproductions]

agreed. Lets prosecute a man on laws we don't fully understand.

[parkerbink]

Total BS.

http://www.thecrimereport.org/share-post/2011-06-train-photos

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 07:50

ACLU To Sue Over Maryland Rules Against Taking Photos of Trains

Is it illegal to take photographs of trains in Maryland? Christopher Fussell of Oregon tells the Baltimore Sun it wasn't until he came to Baltimore that he was detained for committing photography. The American Civil Liberties Union will sue over the conduct of transit police in ordering Fussell and another photographer to stop taking pictures. "Photography is expressive activity that is protected by the First Amendment," said ACLU attorney David Rocah. "If you are legally present, you have a right to take photographs."

Disputes over the right of photographers to take pictures in public places have become more frequent — and more contentious — since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which prompted police to challenge individuals who take photos or video of public infrastructure as potential security risks. Civil libertarians say police have been given no new powers to curb photography since 9/11. In many cases, they say, police are making up laws and rules on the spot and issuing orders they have no right to give. Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association, said it's an issue he deals with all the time. "I call it the Patriot Act gone wild," he said. "For some reason, police see someone with a camera and they don't want them to take pictures or want to assert their authority."

[Maluco]

Total BS.

http://www.thecrimereport.org/share-post/2011-06-train-photos

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 07:50

ACLU To Sue Over Maryland Rules Against Taking Photos of Trains

Is it illegal to take photographs of trains in Maryland? Christopher Fussell of Oregon tells the Baltimore Sun it wasn't until he came to Baltimore that he was detained for committing photography. The American Civil Liberties Union will sue over the conduct of transit police in ordering Fussell and another photographer to stop taking pictures. "Photography is expressive activity that is protected by the First Amendment," said ACLU attorney David Rocah. "If you are legally present, you have a right to take photographs."

Disputes over the right of photographers to take pictures in public places have become more frequent — and more contentious — since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which prompted police to challenge individuals who take photos or video of public infrastructure as potential security risks. Civil libertarians say police have been given no new powers to curb photography since 9/11. In many cases, they say, police are making up laws and rules on the spot and issuing orders they have no right to give. Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association, said it's an issue he deals with all the time. "I call it the Patriot Act gone wild," he said. "For some reason, police see someone with a camera and they don't want them to take pictures or want to assert their authority."

awesome! I'm pleased that this whole thing happened now, as I'm sure Mr. Fussell is as well. He did an awesome job too.

Interesting, there's almost something to be said about this situation. Turns out, those officers were more deaf than the deaf Mr. Fussell himself. Sure, it's also like Osterreicher said though, they want to assert their authority. It's so damn pathetic. It reminds me of the security rent-a-cops in the previous corporate buildings I've worked in.

[parkerbink]

I especially liked that the cop followed him tried to get the Amtrak police to arrest him and they let him go and told him he had the right to take pictures!

[e30e]

I especially liked that the cop followed him tried to get the Amtrak police to arrest him and they let him go and told him he had the right to take pictures!

Agreed, amtrack had the right to fine him for getting too close to the tracks; with the last rail road thread that we had the issue was being on private property and being to close to the tracks; this guy wasn't charged with any of those by amtrak which has the right to do that. The Baltimore PD are looking for bad PR I guess.

[Dozyproductions]

Agreed, amtrack had the right to fine him for getting too close to the tracks; with the last rail road thread that we had the issue was being on private property and being to close to the tracks; this guy wasn't charged with any of those by amtrak which has the right to do that. The Baltimore PD are looking for bad PR I guess.

What was even funnier was while they were 'detaining' him, he pointed out to them and caught on video some one crossing the tracks and yet those cops did nothing about it.

I feel like some cops don't necessarily have too much of an authority problem as much as they think that everything they wouldn't consider doing themselves as having to be illegal.

[Fusion]

How would those dumbasses enforce that in NYC with all those groups of Japanese (and other) tourists taking thousands of pictures and videos of everything 365 days a year?

[devon.818]

on one hand i feel this guy was being a nuisance, he could have avoided the whole situation by simply complying.

BUT, he chose to have his rights observed and stand up to the police at his and their inconvinience. glad he did. this is a complete waste of police resources.
glad that the police are in trouble for this and double glad he kept the tape rolling! i think we should start writing badge numbers down before even talking with police, make them know that we know our rights.

[Maluco]

on one hand i feel this guy was being a nuisance, he could have avoided the whole situation by simply complying.

BUT, he chose to have his rights observed and stand up to the police at his and their inconvinience. glad he did. this is a complete waste of police resources.
glad that the police are in trouble for this and double glad he kept the tape rolling! i think we should start writing badge numbers down before even talking with police, make them know that we know our rights.

what do you mean by complying? Complying to what exactly? Some other human being's wishes that go against what you have chosen to do in order to enjoy your stay somewhere? Cause that's what that whole issue came down to.

Furthermore, if by complying you mean showing your ID; I ask: As the guy stated, he did not choose to show his ID because he was not doing anything wrong, why share your address with a stranger just because he asks you to. Or let's not even look at it as a stranger. Let's say even though they had no right to ask you for your ID you give it to them anyways, for "compliance" purposes", and now lo and behold you have a damn warrant from some traffic ticket you forgot to pay or a traffic ticket judgement you forgot to pay which becomes a capias warrant. Now, because you have chosen to "comply" with the will of some cops that don't know how to correctly carry out their job, you are being arrested.

Tell me those ego emotional cops would not have taken him in for such a warrant.

This is just the point, this is just one type of situation where you not standing for your rights and privacy cause you problems.

[frankenbeemer]

What really bugs me is the cop citing Maryland law incorrectly when he says it is illegal to record someones voice without permission.

On September 27th last year Hartford County Circuit Court judge Judge Emory A Pitt Jr. tossed all the charges filed against Anthony Graber, leaving only speeding and other traffic violations, and most likely sparing him a trial that had been scheduled for Oct. 12. The judge ruled that Maryland’s wire tap law allows recording of both voice and sound in areas where privacy cannot be expected. He ruled that a police officer on a traffic stop has no expectation of privacy.

“Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public,” the judge wrote. “When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation.”

When will they get it? Abuse of authority like this drives a wedge between the citizens and the police which lessens, not enhances their effectiveness.

[Maluco]

What really bugs me is the cop citing Maryland law incorrectly when he says it is illegal to record someones voice without permission.

On September 27th last year Hartford County Circuit Court judge Judge Emory A Pitt Jr. tossed all the charges filed against Anthony Graber, leaving only speeding and other traffic violations, and most likely sparing him a trial that had been scheduled for Oct. 12. The judge ruled that Maryland’s wire tap law allows recording of both voice and sound in areas where privacy cannot be expected. He ruled that a police officer on a traffic stop has no expectation of privacy.

“Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public,” the judge wrote. “When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation.”

When will they get it? Abuse of authority like this drives a wedge between the citizens and the police which lessens, not enhances their effectiveness.

great reference! That was the guy on the motorcycle right? And it was in Maryland. I was waiting for the guy in the video to cite this. That will forever set a precedence now.

[Sailor37]

I applaud the cops for doing what they're supposed to be doing.

I'm surprised they didn't drag his ass to jail for a few hours.

[Kershaw]

^ OH SHIT. A PERSON TAKING PHOTOS.

i know where that stop is. and its not too far from MICA. an art college. i dont know why any police in that area would be surprised of anyone taking photos of anything in that area. btw, its legal to cross the tracks. there is a crosswalk across the tracks at that station. (didnt watch the video so i dont know where that person crossed, but people do it all the time. i can tell the location from the still.)

that said, police have the right to stop you and ask for your ID for any reason in MD, afaik.

[reelizmpro]

Paging Edwin...(IronE)