Technically NJT rules permit handheld photography by a single photographer. You had a crew and actors which may fall under their “commercial photography” rules. Good luck.

Then, as I was on the platform, with my two other “editing buddies”, setting up the camera to record the actors on the other side, a police officer approaches us saying, “No more, guys. I received two phone calls about the video taping, and also harassment.”

I am more than positive that NONE of my crew harassed anyone at the station. So, because of this incident, the officer asked for ID, a phone number, and asked us to stop filming. We obeyed the officer and moved on to the studio where a short film cannot be edited due to the missing shots.

I’m desperate to go back to the station but do not want to get arrested.. can I get a permit and finish the rest of the film without breaking the law? or should I not even worry about the permit and end the production with a couple more shots?

At Newark Penn Station an Amtrak conductor wanted to see my ID, because after 9/11 you can’t be too careful. Shortly after that two other Amtrak employees came up in a golf cart and asked for my ID. When I reached into my pocket they started laughing and said they saw what happened with the conductor and they were just having some fun and to feel free to take all the pictures I wanted. The NJ Transit Police officers here ignored me.

At Hoboken Terminal two NJ Transit Police officers came up to me and started talking to me. They wanted to make sure I had photographed the new equipment that was parked outside for employee training, and talked to me about the 100th anniversary of the terminal and the renovation work being done to the ferry slips. They were very proud of Hoboken Terminal and wanted to share it with others.

I guess some of them aren’t as bad as others.

So needless to say NJT finally figured out they couldn’t ban photography and decided to go back to the theory that it was a normal and customary activity. Most of the officers that I’ve met have been well trained on the new rules but there are still some that want to make up the rules as they go along,

http://photos.duanek.name/gallery/7182784_k3KaU/1/461178783_6o5ct the story is in the captions of the photos.

and

http://photos.duanek.name/gallery/7627173_yKZAa/1/493162502_9XqJ3

The story during the second group is while taking those photos and standing in the street right of way next to the railroad right of way I was approached by a NJ Transit Cop. I was asked who I was. I said I didn’t want to identify myself and didn’t want to talk to her at all. She said her supervisor wanted to know who I was with and who I was. I said I don’t give a hoot what your supervisor wants. So then she give me the suspicious activity escalation.

To this I responded I think it’s a newswothy event when a train takes down the catenary wires and brings the busiest rail line in the US to a standstill for over 4 hours. I’m standing in the public right of way. I can’t think of anyone, other than you, that would find my behaviour anything other than normal and customary in this situation. Am I being detained? Am I free to go?

So then I was told I was standing there of my own free will and to be careful, have a nice night.