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07/28/2005 08:35:09 PM · #1 |
I was stopped and questioned by the NYS police today for the highly suspicious activity of taking a picture of the trees at a rest stop on the new york thruway.
We were on a 3 hour drive to Newark airport picking up our daughter. On the way back, we stopped at a rest stop and my wife and daughter decided to look in the shops. I preferred to get some fresh air so I decided to stand outside and see if there were any interesting pics I could get of the trees and hills and clouds nearby.
So I was walking around the top floor (outdoor floor) of the parking garage (this rest stop has a parking garage), when a state trooper pulled up, asked me to come to the car, and tell him what I was doing. I made the comment that the world is a very different place now that you can't even stand and kill some time taking pictures. He was very nice, didn't ask to see what I was taking but he asked me for my ID (license) and wrote something down from my license (I presume the license number and/or my name.) This bothers me a bit. Why should my name now be in some police files/report for taking pictures in a public place. Suppose when they enter my name, someone makes a mistake and I am put on some criminal list? Or suppose now I make it to some "supicious" list, can't get on flights, or am hassled when I fly out of the country?
What is this country coming to? What are my rights? Could I have refused to give him my name? Or asked him not to write it down? I was stupid because I didn't get any information about him. I want to make sure I am not on some government list now.
Isn't this like what you see in the movies, "your pappers please..."
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07/28/2005 08:47:52 PM · #2 |
Based on what I read the other day, you are probably on a list. If you get stopped again shooting in an area like a bridge, they will probably investigate you and you'll never even notice it.
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, but the CIA will probably be bugging your phone and following you around. You probably won't be able to get on a plane ever again and covert ops may kidnap you and question you while sticking toothpicks under your finger nails. :)
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07/28/2005 09:04:49 PM · #3 |
Screw that...I'm fed up with the police messing with honest, law-abiding citizens. Next time I'm stopped, I'm going to pull out an attitude, so I'm detained...then I'm goign to sue every person I possibly can.
What rights do you have when stopped by the police? Can you refuse to show identification? What about if you forget your ID in your vehicle when you leave it -- then you don't have to show them anything...claim you don't know your SSN number or your driver's license.
This stuff gets me all fired up because seriously, sometimes, police have a job to do, but most of the time, I think they just like being nosey.
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07/28/2005 09:15:18 PM · #4 |
Well I know for a fact that you have to show your ID to an officer if he asks for it. A couple of my friends were arrested at beach week for not having there ID's on them. This was in 1998. No lie, it was crazy. They were detained for about 20 hours. I was also issued a drinking citation and I had not even been drinking, (that night). I think it is up to the individual officer if he will harras you or not. But it really pisses me off. Some people say we have to give up a few rights to be safe. I say, screw that. I am much more likley to be killed in a car accident then a terriost attack. I honestly don't know what to do about it. We could have a protest, but what would that acomplish? "Nothing". I dont know what to do. DO YOU?
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07/28/2005 09:16:33 PM · #5 |
You can thank the freegin mujahedin so called "freedom fighters" turned into suicide bombers and holy jihadists for that. I don't blame the police for that... it could very well be a terrorist on a recon mission documenting and planning his next target, especially around NYC.
For most occasions, I prefer to shoot my D70, but if it was one of them, I'd rather use a nice accurate riffle and break the rule of thirds by putting their forehead right in the middle of the viewfinder frame. For now I'm glad my D70 doesn't have that kind of recoil. |
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07/28/2005 09:19:16 PM · #6 |
Lets start planning big outings at popular bridges and have everyone wear a t-shirt that reads "not a terrorist"
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07/28/2005 09:21:57 PM · #7 |
What I dont get is why then hell terriost would need pictures of bridges and buildings when the can go to the local courthouse and get all the structural plans and blueprints. That stuff is all public record.
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07/28/2005 09:25:09 PM · #8 |
| They're just doing their job, guys. |
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07/28/2005 09:29:50 PM · #9 |
Per dictionary.com; Fascism:
A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
Were getting closer.. |
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07/28/2005 09:31:47 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Travis99:
What I dont get is why then hell terriost would need pictures of bridges and buildings when the can go to the local courthouse and get all the structural plans and blueprints. That stuff is all public record. |
Yes, this is what I find ironic and irritating. First of all, I don't think terrorists are going to plan to attack NYS Thruway rest stops. If they did, they might do some property damage, and hurt 1 or 2 people. Not very efficient. Second, if I had a cell phone camera, he wouldn't have stopped me, yet the pictures would have been just as useful. And in a country where you can get satellite pictures of just about everywhere from Google (and GoogleEarth), and floor plans for Nuclear power plants on the internet, why waste time taking pictures of rest stop.
Since he was relatively nice, I don't mind him stopping to ask me a few questions, but there was no need to see my ID and write down my name.
Now I'm wanted for taking pictures in three states. ;)
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07/28/2005 09:40:19 PM · #11 |
They were doing their job, ppl, let it rest.
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07/28/2005 09:40:30 PM · #12 |
When I'm out, I usually take a photo of the cops themselves. I like the idea though of wearing a shirt that says "not a terrorist" but then again, going into an airport and saying "I dont have a bomb" isn't a good idea...so I think I'll stay away from that one.
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07/28/2005 09:43:21 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by louddog:
Lets start planning big outings at popular bridges and have everyone wear a t-shirt that reads "not a terrorist" |
LOL, that's a very good one, Louddog :) but I dont wanna be seen doing it! its crazy and like Deapee said, I dont think its a good idea! ;) |
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07/28/2005 09:43:37 PM · #14 |
People are worried these days. They don't want a situation where they could have done something but didn't. " I should have asked that guy what he was doing".
It is a damn shame, but what else could people do? The problem is, that many people are just stupid. Like the ones that sometimes check the luggage at airports. One time I had someone pry my mom's earthlink device open with a screw driver and put it right back in the suitcase. Ah duh! It doesn't open that way!!!
I was taking pictures of a cement plant at dusk and people got really nervous and came to ask me many times what I was doing.
I didn't like it but understood. At least the trooper didn't keep giving you a hard time once he/she found out what you were doing. If they were stupid they would of kept harrasing you. |
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07/28/2005 09:46:51 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by Tom2898:
They're just doing their job, guys. |
Originally posted by shadow:
They were doing their job, ppl, let it rest. |
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07/28/2005 09:47:04 PM · #16 |
Don't use a bushhawk mount in the city :P
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07/28/2005 09:50:58 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by MadMordegon:
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Do you *always* have to make every thread you post to a rant on your own political leanings? please.
Message edited by author 2005-07-28 21:51:14.
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07/28/2005 09:53:23 PM · #18 |
MadMordegon, that was a funny picture, wherever you got it from :)
anyway, i would rather have law enforcement officers doing their job than not, if you people get what i'm trying to say here. being harrassed is different altogether, of course; but I would rather lose some convenience than having to worry that the law enforcers are not doing their job, or worse, overly corrupt. |
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07/28/2005 09:56:54 PM · #19 |
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07/28/2005 10:05:29 PM · #20 |
stray dog killed toddler who was playing in park.
public complaint that authorities did not do their job.
authorities step up effort and took action, catch strays and lock away.
one day, accident happen, an owned-dog got locked up due to collar not worn. owner made a fuss out of it, complaints. Authorities eases stray dog enforcement. another toddler got bitten by a stray dog in park many weeks later. public blames authorities (they wont blame themselves, its understood)
so... what is it that the people wants?
Message edited by author 2005-07-28 22:06:33. |
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07/28/2005 10:08:43 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by shadow:
stray dog killed toddler who was playing in park.
public complaint that authorities did not do their job.
authorities step up effort and took action, catch strays and lock away.
one day, accident happen, an owned-dog got locked up due to collar not worn. owner made a fuss out of it, complaints. Authorities eases stray dog enforcement. another toddler got bitten by a stray dog in park many weeks later. public blames authorities (they wont blame themselves, its understood)
so... what is it that the people wants? |
Yeah, because harassing photographers helps fight terrorism YEAH RIGHT.
Dude, you're defending the police -- they are not just doing their jobs. If I were a terrorist, I'm not sure what I would do...but I definately wouldn't be out in public taking photos of bridges with a huge DSLR and being all conspicuous about it. I'd have a sweet little pocket-cam, and go after them. The cops should just mess with the pocket-cam guys.
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07/28/2005 10:09:00 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by shadow:
stray dog killed toddler who was playing in park.
public complaint that authorities did not do their job.
authorities step up effort and took action, catch strays and lock away.
one day, accident happen, an owned-dog got locked up due to collar not worn. owner made a fuss out of it, complaints. Authorities eases stray dog enforcement. another toddler got bitten in park many weeks later.
so... what is it that the people wants? |
If the owner was responsible and didn't have his dog running loose, then it wouldn't have mattered..
but, people are .. people.. and for some reason they want both the governments they live under to run their lives for them, but at the same time let them do whatever the hell they want.
It doesn't work that way. It's called personal responsibility... but very few people seem to have it anymore.
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07/28/2005 10:10:25 PM · #23 |
Is there a law against taking pictures of landmarks.
Its like the government is saying we're going to spend millions of dollars on erecting bridges and building, but dont take pictures of them or look at them, were even playing with the idea of not leting people drive over them. As a matter of fact dont come out of your house, stay home and watch all our censored tv, and radio. But keep paying your taxes so we can live a nice life.
But what can we do nothing and they know it.
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07/28/2005 10:12:27 PM · #24 |
You know, guys and girls...if we just ALL STOPPED paying taxes, everything would be fine...they couldn't possibly lock us all up!!!!
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07/28/2005 10:18:56 PM · #25 |
| I think people here in the States are spoiled and need to learn some gratitude. I have never lived anywhere outside the United States and I am grateful that I live here. It is sad what is going on it the world today, but I would rather be here than anywhere else. This is a great country and I don't mind the police stopping me and making sure all is safe. |
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