photography laws, police verbal burtality

[freybear3]

Is it legal to photograph an accident scene?


Let me explain what i mean:

The other day i came across another accident scene, so i thought it would make another good photography shoot. So i stopped the car, a ways away from the scene. I walked up to the accident scene, i was still a ways away. The cops and investigators were just standing around talking, it was a major accident. A dump truck versus a small car. So i took one photo, and the cops ( Around 10 of them) ran over to me and surrounded me and started yelling at me, when i say yelling i mean hardcore cursing and top of their lungs. They were mad because i took one photo of the accident. I thought i was about to get beat down by the cops, they took out the taser gun and had their hands on their real guns while yelling at me. I didn't say a word to them, i remained calm and didn't say a word. I figured if i spoke, then they probably would of gotten even more mad. Well then the cops realized that there were ALOT of witnesses and others taking photos (from their cars) of the scene the cops were doing to me. (Surrounded me and yelling at me) So then the cops calmed down and told me next time my camera and equipment will be confiscated and i will be under arrest. And they let me go. It was a traumatic event that happened to me. And i don't want to go through that again.

(They never asked if i was press)


All i did was get one photo of an accident scene, at a distance.


What are the laws on photography of an accident scene?

I want to know if any of you have encountered this as well?

[FoG]

Depends on the content of the images these days most accidents are shot from someone passing by but tehir reaction is way out of order and overboard from what you say. I would report them for that simply .. HOwever also think about the tastefulness of the taking pictures if someone was killed in that accident it would be in poor tatse to be oppotunistic for a shoot ( I know people do and I know why but professionals capturing news pictures is different to someone adding to a portfolio) .. I would be more concerned over tehir reaction to it.

Maybe next time ask an officer first

[OsmosisStudios]

Generally if there is a victim (casualty) the police would greatly prefer you NOT take pictures. Most official press photos are taken after any passengers have been removed from the scene.

As FoG said, next time ask. That kind of reaction was way overboard, though. Simply explaining that it wasnt permitted to take a photo would have been sufficient. The only explanation I can think of is that there was some kind of extenuating circumstance that you were unaware of surrounding the accident that they knew and were hoping to keep quiet or private.

I've taken pictures of a few accident scenes, but in all cases the passengers had been taken away already. I later found out that one had died of her injuries, but she wasnt there. The police pretty much gave me free-reign over the scene, interestingly.

[ericw]

Check this out it distinctly discusses your type of situation. You obviously weren't hindering anyones safety or impeding their "work" (standing around talking) as you said it was from a distance. It was clearly in public, so according to my understanding you had every right to photograph it. Typical cops trying to intimidate the public into doing what they think is appropriate. What they think is appropriate or inappropriate is not the law and they are law enforcement officers not opinion enforcement officers. We shouldn't have to ask a cop for permission every time we want to do something that's legal. That's my opinion, but my experiences have made me biased.

[freybear3]

I didn't want to interrupt their investigation on the accident, and their were several people taking photos from their cars, and i have photographed other accident scenes before without any problemsr. So that is why i didn't ask before i took the photo.

I thought you could photograph anything you wanted, as long as it was on public property.

Every law that i have read, states that as long as i am on public property, it is legal to photograph. Now if i decided to publish it, then that would be a whole different situation. All i was doing was photographing it from a distance on public property for personal use
(to better my photography skills for when i start my job at the local newspaper)


Was i in the wrong for photographing an accident, from public property?


I thought i read up on all the laws for photography, maybe i missed one.

[freybear3]

P.S. the news said their wasn't any fatalities and the victims were all gone when i took the photo.

But i can not personally confirm the victims injuries, i am just going by what the local news said.

But what i can confirm is there were no victims at the scene when i took the photo.

[zarquon]

When they went to walk away, you should have taken their photo

[Gobae]

Was anyone involved in the crash an off duty (or retired) cop perhaps?

Given their obvious overreaction I too would not be surprised if there was some other underlying issue at hand.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by freybear3

All i was doing was photographing it from a distance on public property for personal use
(to better my photography skills for when i start my job at the local newspaper)


Was i in the wrong for photographing an accident, from public property?


I thought i read up on all the laws for photography, maybe i missed one.

I'm not sure on the legalities of this as I'm not in the US but others seem to say it is legal. However just because it is legal doesn't mean you should do it without asking the police first out of courtesy.

They were obviously fairly on edge about the situation, maybe something close to home such as someone they knew being involved or a serious injury they were worried about. I'm not excusing their actions but it wouldn't hurt to just check first. I doubt they would have said no (as its not illegal) but may have asked you to wait or to shoot from a certain angle to avoid certain aspects of the details to protect peoples dignity. They may have even let you a bit closer to help you out.

If you are starting a job as a local news photographer it would pay to have a good relationship with the police rather than just sticking your big long lens in unanounced.

[Jim Bryant]

You probably pissed them off because you parked out car along the roadway, which is illegal in most states, unless you are talking on the cellphone or have car problems. Then, it's best to put on caution lights.

I always have my press card displayed with me to erase all questions. And I always park behind the nearest police cruiser, so that it draws their attention. I've only had one problem were while covering a one car accident were someone spun on wet pavement and down a hillside. A WSP trooper asked me to leave the scene, but the Fire Dept Lt. told her to leave me along as I wasn't in the way and knew what I was doing.

It's good to take a couple of tubs of ice cream to the fire station afterwards. And it's got to be the round top container variety, like Dryers ice cream. None of that bargin brands