I have had three incidents in my life where police investigated me for "suspicious behavior" because I was using a camera. The first one was in Milwaukee in 1975 - Where a Harley Davidson security guard asked me why I was taking pictures of truck license plates near a loading area at a plant. I told him the truth - That I was hired by a trucking company who had been contracted by his firm to pickup golf carts for delivery and I was taking pictures of vehicles loading carts that did not belong to that firm. He walked away and I never heard another thing about it.
The second two incidents have happened this year. Parked on the side of a dead end frontage road I was taking a picture of a bill board, an officer drove up and informed me I was in a restricted area, and no photos were allowed because of a "strategic" gas line that was near by. Of course I could not see the gas line because it was underground and also there was snow on the ground. He pointed out a low outcropping of pipes and valves about 50 yards away, and explained that the gas line travels from Canada and that it was his job to investigate anywone who was near it. He checked my id, and warned me not to take pictures of the pipes.
The other incident this year occured at a VA hospital, in Tomah, WI - a site with a beautiful park, monuments, golf course and manicured gardens. I had been there several times in the past, for medical treatment. On this occasion I was in the area and stopped to walk the grounds, camera in hand. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. An officer stopped me, checked my id, and told me that it was illegal to take pictures on Federal property. I informed him that the hospital is not a restricted military installation and that I had every right to be where I was, with my camera or not. The officer did not push the issue, and conceded that I could take pictures, but he warned me not to take pictures of any patients.
These were curious events, awkward and uncomfortable - in all situations the only thing accomplished was the creation of contempt and suspicion on both sides of the equation. |
