The NYPD can take photos of you -- but you can't turn your lens on them

Politechbot
Apr. 15, 2006

What thuggish behavior. Kudos to the Village Voice for publicizing this.

I've been accosted (though not arrested) for taking photos on public sidewalks/streets in Washington, DC. The two times that come to mind were before 9/11. Photos of the Feds in question:
http://www.mccullagh.org/image/d30-5/capitol-police.html
http://www.mccullagh.org/image/d30-5/pennsylvania-ave-setup-cop.html

-Declan

-- ------ Original Message --------
Subject: Politech Submission: The NYPD wants to take your picture—but beware of turning your lens on the cops
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:43:35 -0400
From: John Albino
To: [email protected]

From the Village Voice of April 10:

"Watching the Detectives
"The NYPD wants to take your picture but beware of turning your lens on the cops"

"But police evidently aren't so keen on surveillance when the cameras are turned on
them particularly when those cameras show them abusing free-street-parking privileges.

"On March 27, two volunteers from the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives were detained for taking pictures of police officers' private cars, which were parked on the sidewalk outside the Fifth Precinct in Chinatown. The volunteers say they were held and questioned at the precinct for about 20 minutes and instructed to erase the pictures.

""It was intimidating. I was afraid they were going to arrest me," says Brian Hoberman, 37, who works as a researcher for the city's Rent Guidelines Board."
--
John Albino
mailto:jalbino(AT)jwalbino.com