georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

How about a card to fit in your wallet with Photographers Rights spelled out in an abbreviated form? Something to show on the spot...the legal documents I downloaded from a recent discussion were great, but I am wondering how useful and realistic it is to pull out a document with a whole page of text on it. I too have been harassed about taking photographs on repeated occasions by the public and law enforcement. I am a self employed artist. I am now afraid to take pictures just about anywhere, to tell you the truth. I was even stopped by a State Police officer from taking pictures from a bridge of Fall Foliage, he claimed it might be interpreted as a suspicious act, referring to Homeland Security and the Patriot Act provisions. As a photographer in this United States I feel fear about just taking pictures, to tell the truth. Especially when I get out my tripod, that really sets people off, they act like you are setting up a sniper rifle or something.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Some law enforcement is just badge happy and use any excuse in the book to harrass people for nothing. Carry the rights with you and also get to know some attorneys that deal with civil rights issues and the next time a cop tries to harass you just give them the name of the attorney and ask if they would like to go to court over it.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Define harass.... did they detain you? Did they ask you a few questions and then went about their business? Did they make you leave the public place?

I'm not trying to tick anyone off but law enforcement tends to be in a damned if they do and damned if they don't position. If they don't follow up with due diligence and someplace gets bombed then they get bashed for not doing their jobs. If they do follow up on "suspicious activity" they get bashed for harassment...

Be polite, talk openly to them with the respect they deserve and you shouldn't be harassed at all... but that depends on your definition of harassment...

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I have not had any problem like that, but I have been asked why I was doing, after explaining and some banter never had any problems. I had one man run me down about two miles down the road and wanted to know what I was doing. After explaining and offered to send him pictures of his yard landscaping he apologized and said that was his wife's doings. I have found a few compliments and maybe a little B.S. mixed in with a little honey can disarm a situation. An other time a lady came up to where I was set up to investigate, because there was a battered women shelter near by and I could under stand her concern

Just remember our rights end where an other person rights begin.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Nice. I printed the sheet out and will cut out and laminate the card to carry with me.

Sarge

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

If you thing that a police man is going to take the time in an emergency situation to read soomething, you're a dreamer...

Nikonfan70 Loc: Long Island

I was taking pictres in downtown Port Jefferson, NY. A local code enforcement type shouted "CAN I HELP YOU" I replied yes, get me a coffee, light an sweet thanks. He left.

Gidgette Loc: Boerne,Texas

LOL

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Exactly! Although the information on the card is probably correct, is that going to stop a cop or an angry citizen? Your only defense is not being in the wrong place while using, or even carrying, a camera. Did you read a previous post about one of our members who was stopped by someone in a car because he thought his picture was being taken?

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

" Although the information on the card is probably correct,"
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Ah ha !! Theres the magic word - Probably !

Legally speaking, I highly doubt that all of those "leagalize rules" would hold a cup of water... Just because someone put those "rights" on paper, that does not create any laws what so ever....

To make the "Photographers Right" legal, it would have to be either a "Fed" law , or the same wordage law passed by every state in the union.....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That would be easy to do, right?

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

i was takin videos at the occupy tulsa protest a cop came over to me an said he wanted me to turn that camera off. i told SIR i am on public property that my taxes dollars are paying for and outside at a public event. then he tilted his head down then raised his head back up started saying sir i said turn the camera off, i grinned at him an said SIR look over there an over here you have three cameras on us right now an this does have audio. an you have been recorded audio an video. boy he snapped his head back got a pissed off look on his face an an stared at me got red an started walkin away i told him there's alot of cell phones with cameras in peoples hands an have a nice day. 2 of the other camera people came over asked what was that all about told them this camera we looked over at the cop he was talkin to another then he jestered our way other cop looked over at us an we all decided we better keep eye on each other with cameras. they used a copy of one our videos on the news but they edited the shit out of it. thats what were all up against. they were pissed. would loved to had one these then an just handed it to him.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Officer, I am on public land and this little card about photographers rights is right beside my concealed weapon permit.

I doubt that would help though

Sarge

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

probly not. but most cops think people dont know there rights about nothing. those other cameras is what put hisi'm going to stomp on this guy short fuse out. he didn't one his buddys getting recorded doin sumthun stupid. tulsa has two cops in jail right now for coruption. wouldn't want be them in thier prison cell.