Carlos Miller
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority police are on the lookout for men who are taking pictures of trains.
And one idiot journalist is giving these cops the credibility they don’t deserve.
It’s not surprising that these cops would be on the lookout for men who were seen photographing trains because we know they equate photographers with terrorism.
But it’s appalling that a so-called journalist would write the story without at least pointing out that these men in question were not breaking the law.
Here is how Walt Hunter of CBS3 writes it:
Twice in the past two days, SEPTA officials have alerted police to men taking pictures on the Broad Street subway line in South Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, a SEPTA cashier told officers about a man taking pictures at the Lombard-South station, but the man, after being questioned by the cashier about his activities, left before officers arrived.
“We are attempting to identify that male to determine what the nature or the reason for taking the photographs was,” Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan said.
On Tuesday, officers received a report of a male taking pictures in the track area at the Snyder Avenue station.
So far, neither male has been identified, although Philadelphia Police officials say the two separate incidents have no link to any terrorist activities.
While police have video of the man who they are hoping to interview from the Snyder Avenue Station incident, there is no video of the second man because cameras at the Lombard-South station, and at three of six SEPTA subway stations in South Philadelphia, are covered and not yet working.
SEPTA officials say the security system, which the transit authority describes as “state of the art,” is still being installed and they don’t yet know exactly when the cameras will be uncovered and begin working.
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Fernandez, as I mentioned in a 
I for one wrote the author a little reminder about facts such as ‘not a crime’ and constitution. His email is hunter@cbs3.com
“Incidents?” What the hell.
I would hesitate to classify Walt as a legitimate “journalist” based on this. Idiot media hack for the police, maybe, but not a journalist.
I wrote him an email asking him what law they broke.
My Email:
REALLY ! Two people taking pictures in a train station is a news story. What kind of rifle was the camera mounted on ? Who did they assault while in the train station ? How many people were injured or killed ? You left out all the details.
The story should be about why SEPTA officials are notifying police about something that is perfectly legal and that millions of people do every day.
Blatant propaganda. Journalists can inform or manipulate. The Terror Threat Level Show wasn’t just beneficial for the Bush administration, it kept eyeballs on TV screens.
I immediately thought of you when I saw this story, Carlos. Glad you noticed it too.
God knows, if taking pictures inside train stations, airports, etc., is terrorism, then I’m Osama bin Laden.
Gotta love SEPTIC’s er…. SEPTA’s website though:
http://www.septa.com/inside/customer_service/photo_policy.html
SEPTA welcomes photographers and artists. In return, we simply request they use common sense and courtesy to others in pursuit of their pictures.
I guess they want to locate the photographers to give them a proper WELCOME…..
NYCPhotorights don’t forget this paragraph
SECURITY
Worldwide terrorist attacks against public transportation facilities in recent years has required a tightening of security procedures at all SEPTA facilities. Security experts consider photographing and sketching public transportation facilities as possible pre-indicators of terrorist activity.
While this unfortunate reality has not resulted in a prohibition of photography, SEPTA Transit Police and other law enforcement are under orders to question anyone taking photographs or sketching transit facilities.
Obviously, these activities are almost always legitimate and that’s the end of the issue. However, anyone conducting these activities in unauthorized areas of SEPTA property may be charged and detained for further investigation.
That paragraph is a bunch of BS! Railfans are sick and tired of being questioned and otherwise harassed each and every time they engage in the lawful pursuit of their hobby.
No terrorist has ever used a camera as a weapon!
I agree completely. There is no bases for this policy. As it has been pointed out many time around here, a person can go online and find plenty of pictures of these sites. The police have plenty of other things they to do.
Sure there is a basis for this policy MrMe11…. getting people more acclimated to a police state.
After reading articles on Blacklistednews.com, I think more and more of the urban environment in the TV show Dark Angel and how we are getting to that point rather quickly.
We used to severely criticize the Soviet Union for prohibiting public photography yet we are slowly becoming more and more like they used to be.
I too emailed Walt with my disappointment in his article.
Never got a response. Did anyone?
Interesting, the reference to the security cameras that were covered and not yet working.
So it’s OK for SEPTA and the cops to take pictures of citizens on the platform but it’s not OK for citizens to take pictures of trains?