Photographer Harrassment - the prosecuter can go to Hell !

[kirbinster]

So I was walking around Morristown NJ this morning taking some pictures. Minding my own business on the sidewalk when a women comes up to me and says she is an officer with the country prosecutors office and asks me what I am doing. Now I will admit I had an instant attitude. I said excuse me, what is it that you want. She asks me what I am doing, and I say taking pictures. She demands to know of what and asks to see them. I refuse to show her and tell her of the windows. She asks me if I am with the press and I say no. She wants to know why I am taking pictures. I tell her I am an artist. She asks me if I have any identification to which I say yes. She asks if she may see it, I politely tell her no. She does not know what to do next. Then she asks if I am a county resident to which I say yes. Then she goes into her post 9/11 speach that we need to be careful and gives me her name and asks again to see my ID. I tell her that as a private citizen on a public sidewalk I am free to take pictures of whatever I want and I don't have to present ID unless I am being charged with something. She is really frustrated now and says as a country resident she would think I would be more cooperative. She said we need to be careful just like security at the airport. Now she has me pissed and I tell her citizens should revolt over airport security and we should practice security like Israeli security does and start profiling people rather than harrassing them. At this point she again says are you sure you won't show me your ID, to which I say I am sure and wish her a good day and walk away. Boy was she pissed off.

Here is the photo she was sooooo concerned about of the county court house - I am sure everyone will agree that this photo warranted harrassment:

[NicoleScraps]

What the hell? Good for you though, standing up for yourself!

[IABoomer]

Obviously, you were scouting a location where you could use a Batman-style grappling hook, scale the wall, and stage a covert entry in order to steal private documents.

Did you direct her to the nearest grocery store so she could buy some more tinfoil for her hat so the aliens, terrorists, and government couldn't read her thoughts?

[Hill Country Hack]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Obviously, you were scouting a location where you could use a Batman-style grappling hook, scale the wall, and stage a covert entry in order to steal private documents.

Did you direct her to the nearest grocery store so she could buy some more tinfoil for her hat so the aliens, terrorists, and government couldn't read her thoughts?

Give this man a golden star sticker and the Keen Observer of the Week award! I feel so much safer knowing Bommer is on the job.

[dlambert]

I printed out one of those "photographer's rights" sheets a while back and tucked it into my photo backpack. Luckily, I haven't had to use it yet. Realistically, I don't expect it would carry too much weight w/ a dipsh*t like that, but it would be a great conversation-starter.

Nice job - sounds like you handled this about as well as could be expected.

[candidrachel]

Sounds like the lunatics are running the asylum as usual. Who the heck is (and I had to cut and paste this lol!) "an officer with the country prosecutors office" ?? was she the police or what??

Good for you for sticking up for yourself. Too bad there are too many ninnies living in a nanny state.

[autofocus]

Good for you Kirb in dealing with the "photo nazi"

[Izzy]

I just tell them to call the cops if they dont like it.

DUCK'EM

On your next visit you should wear a turban

[zona5101]

oooh to have an unleashed Huskie by your side and utter the words "Talk to the dog"...

thank you for reminding at least one person that we are citizens

[Krusty79]

Originally Posted by Izzy

On your next visit you should wear a turban

Yeah, you should organize a photo walk there and have everyone wear a turban or burka!