By Carlos Miller
While the National Press Photographers Association is proudly proclaiming how it had a hand in revising Amtrak’s policy towards photographers, Amtrak police are continuing to harass photographers.
The latest incident comes to us from War on Photography and involves a photographer/videographer from Boston who goes by the Flickr username Scleroplex. He was standing on the platform filming the train as it came in and an Amtrak cop walked up to him.
In the video, you can hear the cop’s walkie talkie as he approaches Scleroplex. Then you can hear the exchange:
“Sir may I ask you a question?”
“Yes sir.”
“What are you doing?”
What does it look like he’s doing, asshole?
One of the most annoying questions you can ask a photographer when he is obviously taking photos is “what are you doing?”. That question is even more annoying when you are shooting video because it interrupts the video.
So obviously this cop wasn’t informed of Amtrak’s new policy. In fact, this cop didn’t seem to be aware of Amtrak’s previous policy, which went into effect in 2007 and doesn’t look much different from the revised policy, which went into effect this month.
The NPPA states the following in touting the new policy:
“The newly revised ‘policy’ is written in bold print and states that ‘It is the policy of Amtrak that the taking of photographs and/or videos is permitted within public access areas on Amtrak property.‘”
However, the previous policy stated the following, which was also written in bold:
“It is the policy of Amtrak that the taking of photographs and/or videos is permitted within public access areas on Amtrak property.‘”
While the previous policy stated that photojournalists were allowed to take photos in the station area but not in the platform area, the new policy states they are allowed to take photographs where ever the general public is allowed to take photographs, which includes platforms.
The NPPA goes on to say:
Included in the new policies are orders to Amtrak police to not delete, destroy, or alter photographs and video, along with the directive that they shall not request others to delete, destroy, or alter photos or video either.
While it doesn’t say that in the previous policy, it doesn’t encourage cops to do so either. That would be the destruction of personal property, which should not be allowed by any police department. And the fact that it had to be spelled out for Amtrak officers makes you wonder where these cops are getting certified?
Both policies are posted below so maybe you can help me spot more “revisions.” Click to enlarge. You might have to click twice.
Amtrak’s photo policy that went into effect in March 2009.
Amtrak’s photo policy that went into effect on Sept. 11, 2007.
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Related posts:
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- Congresswoman seeks clarity in photo policy at DC’s Union Station
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- Seattle Police Department issues new policy regarding photographers
- Amtrak to develop new guidelines regarding photography in train stations
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Fernandez, as I mentioned in a 
The second most annoying queston to be asked when you are taking news worthy questions is, “who are you with?” You answer, “I’m with myself” and they can’t except that as a plausable answer. Then they say “well this is suspicious activity, let me see your ID.” At the time you’re being “suspicious” you’re standing in a public street near a newsworthy event and obviously taking a photo of subject of the event.
This happened to me last night (3/16/2009) at the site of a NJ Transit Train waiting to be towed away which tore down the electric lines for the Northeast Corridor Line. I was approached by Officer Garcia, badge 0318 of the New Jersey Transit Police. To her credit this did not get out of control. Perhaps my mentioning the name of NJT’s executive director has something to do with that.
One of the most annoying questions you can ask a photographer when he is obviously taking photos is “what are you doing?”. That question is even more annoying when you are shooting video because it interrupts the video.
There is no law against asking somebody what they are doing. A photographer has no expectation of privacy when he is taking pictures or video taping. If you don’t want people interrupting your video go somewhere else. You can’t have it both ways.
Jones, we are well aware of that. We even tolerate it. Wasn’t there a comedy show about a cop that was always asking the obvious question?
In this case the guy is obviusly taking a photo of a trin that only comes once a day. He bought his tickets so he can be there. Then deputy obvious comes along and bothers him with a question that’s not even worth answering.
Photography is not a suspicious activity.
What these “Security Theater” stooges don’t seem to understand is that anyone devious enough to plan some kind of terrorist activity would probably be devious enough to go somewhere with an accomplice and have them “pose” for a picture… voila, nothing suspicious about that.
Last time some one asked me that stupid question I told them I was shining my shoes. They then said,” No your not, your taking a picture!” “Well duh!” Conversation went down hill from there.
Reading the policy it seems that you are in the wrong if you think that holding a ticket makes it ok to stand out on the platform and wait for trains to come into the station, it clearly states that ticketed passengers can only film when boarding or or de-boarding a train
Wait until you start taking pictures of commercial airliners! I’m an avid aviation photographer, with many published photo’s, and in the area of the Atlanta Hartsfield airport, I have been approached, stopped, investigated by the following agencies:
ATL Operations
ATL Security
ATL Airport Police
Atlanta Police
AirTran Security
College Park Police
Forest Park Police
US Air Marshal
FBI
The FBI actually came out to my place of work and conducted an interview with me. IMHO, the two agents must have either been rookies or been bad and had to talk to me. I called them Dumber and Dumberer! These guys had no clue and I turned the table on them and started asking them questions about their guns, radio equipment, etc. The quickly concluded the investigation and left!
The US Air Marshal was the coolist of them all! He wanted to make sure I wasn’t a “fan belt and pizza hut table cloth dude”! Probably the most friendliest person I ever met. He even gave me a couple of locations on where I could get the best photo’s from!
Now, I don’t get harrassed by them anymore as I ended up contacting the ATL Operations folks and they have given me a renewable 6 month pass to shoot photo’s from airport property.