I’ve been having major issues lately with what appears to be my ISP because I am unable to access or update my site from my home computer without it timing out. It is the only site I am having problem with which makes me think that perhaps somebody is trying to sabotage me. I know that sounds paranoid, but why is my blog the only site affected?
I ended up switching ISP companies, going from a no-name cable company to a big-name DSL company. I get the router on Friday, so maybe by then I can sort this out. I am currently at a Panera on my laptop.
By Carlos Miller
After reading the report of a tourist who got harassed at the Miami Metrorail for taking photos, Miami blogger and photojournalist Random Pixels wrote an email to some bigwig at Miami-Dade Transit asking for them to clarify their policy on people taking photos of trains.
He got a response:
MDT regrets any inconvenience or embarrassment this incident may have caused you. MDT is not aware of any federal, state, or local law which would prohibit personal photography at our facilities. The incident that you experienced appears to have been the result of the misinterpretation of local county law, specifically Miami-Dade County Code 30(B), which requires permits for commercial photography. MDT also requires permitting for photography when it involves equipment other than a hand-held camera (i.e. tripods, cables/wires, screens, etc.), which could pose a potential safety hazard to other patrons. Although not prohibited, security personnel and/or any MDT employee are encouraged to inquire as to what objects/images a patron is photographing. This is done not with the intent of harassing patrons or station occupants, but rather as a means of ensuring the security of our infrastructure and the general public and ensuring that commercial activity is not being performed.
Click here to read the rest of the response.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Related posts:
- It’s time for a photo protest against the Miami Metrorail
- Miami Herald threatens to sue local blogger
- Herald says it’s the articles, not photos that will force them to sue local blogger
- Lets cut right to the chase and point out the hypocrisy of a local blogger
- Tourist is harassed for taking photos at Miami Metrorail station
Support Photography is Not a Crime by buying your electronics through this ad.
Fernandez, as I mentioned in a 
“… Although not prohibited, security personnel and/or any MDT employee are encouraged to inquire as to what objects/images a patron is photographing. This is done not with the intent of harassing patrons or station occupants, but rather as a means of ensuring the security of our infrastructure and the general public…”
So how exactly does inquiring into an act which they themselves admit is legal, help ensure security exactly? Maybe they don’t even read what they write…
I have a vision … of showing this letter to an MDT employee, watching the employee laugh at it, and then tear it up right in front of the photog’s face.
“The incident that you experienced appears to have been the result of the misinterpretation of local county law, specifically Miami-Dade County Code 30(B), which requires permits for commercial photography.”
Well you just can’t expect law enforcement to actually know the law. Oh wait, THE LAW is simply whatever readily available excuse a pig needs to harass people.