By Carlos Miller
The ignorant statement came not just from the New Jersey Transit security guard, but from his supervisor. That the parking lot of the Liberty State Park Light Rail Station- which they acknowledged was owned by the state – was private property.
And that is why we were not allowed to take photos.
It was last Friday and I had been in town less than 24 hours.
I took the photos anyway.
All they could do was try to scare me by threatening to call Transit Police.
I was hungry, cold and wanting to get into Manhattan, so I left it at that.
But I did record an audio clip of the incident.
It all started because my friend Peter whom I was visiting and lives in the building right next to the parking lot, used my iPhone to take the following picture of me in the snow.
Being from Miami, snow is a novelty for me, so we thought it would be funny to get a picture of me standing in it. He is a writer, not a photographer, which is why his finger came out in the photo.
Once the guard started barking at us, I took the iPhone from Peter and started recording audio.
The guard told me I couldn’t take pictures, then called his supervisor, who offered to call the cops.
I told them we needed to go into town to grab a slice, so we could deal with that later. We walked off with the supervisor following behind us in his SUV. I took more photos.
Below are the photos where the supervisor pulls up, then follows us as we walked out.
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Fernandez, as I mentioned in a 
39 responses so far ↓
1 Shawn // Mar 8, 2010 at 9:03 AM
State property is private property? Um, no. Not in this country.
2 The Straw Buyer // Mar 8, 2010 at 10:00 AM
“State property is private property? Um, no. Not in this country.”
Ha!
The Straw Buyer´s last blog ..MDPD top cop, Glenn Theobald in trouble? Was the leader of the "Fraud Squad" forced to retire??
3 Nuitnoel // Mar 8, 2010 at 10:12 AM
This is the most ludicrous statement ever. Scares the hell out of you wondering how inept these workers are.
4 Duane Kerzic // Mar 8, 2010 at 10:47 AM
There is some State Property that can be private. Most state offices are private property.
To prevent confusion and harassment like Carlos experienced the NJ Legislature State Legislature has specifically declared that the areas of parking lots open to the public owned by any parking authority in NJ are public property. Additionally any of NJ Transit’s property that’s open to the public is public property.
Those ‘security’ guards need a new job.
Carlos you come to visit and you don’t call. Well I’m in PA now but only about an hour from Jersey City.
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5 Jim Poulos // Mar 8, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Also New Jersey Transit policy specifically permits photography in all “publicly accessible areas”. Their parking lots are certainly covered under that definition. This security guard and his supervisor should be reported to NJT customer service.
6 Michaelk42 // Mar 8, 2010 at 11:53 AM
“He is a writer, not a photographer, which is why his finger came out in the photo.”
Looks kind of like you managed to get of shot of yourself capturing images of the elusive Jersey Blurry Giantcock.
The cocks in NJ transit uniforms don’t appear to be as elusive, however.
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7 Jody // Mar 8, 2010 at 12:16 PM
That’s what public education gets us. I’d fill out a complaint. Give someone a high visibility vest and a walkie talkie – the attitude skyrockets. Should he not have been fixing shit or de-icing a sidewalk somewhere, like seriously, and the supervisor, bloody hell, like trains in NJ never break down. Jobsworth wankers that lot.
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8 Shawn // Mar 8, 2010 at 12:22 PM
That’s what I meant with my initial comment. I should have clarified that I was thinking along the lines of outdoor areas, such as parks.
9 NoelArmourson // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:05 PM
It sounds as if the transit guards are soon to attend a remedial training course…
10 stretch // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:12 PM
Carlos, I think the audio link is bad. At least, I couldn’t hear it…
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11 Carlos Miller // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:16 PM
Does anyone else have problems listening to the audio link?
I can hear it fine from my computer.
12 Nate K. // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Works fine for me, too. Thanks!
13 MacK // Mar 8, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Worked fine for me!
Check all dem codecs stretch.
14 Todd J // Mar 8, 2010 at 4:10 PM
I agree that it’s a bit silly… but maybe I’m missing the point? Why were you in the transit authority parking lot, and why were you taking pictures of security guards? Unless you want to just appear looking like a loon, you should probably say “why” you were there. Maybe I haven’t read enough of these blog posts, but I’m curious if the only point of being there was just to see if you could get in trouble and elicit some sort of reaction from them?
I’m interested to know what you think about Sean Penn’s take on the First Amendment:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/03/08/sean-penn-wants-reporters-jailed-calling-chavez-dictator/
15 Carlos Miller // Mar 8, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Todd,
My friend lives in the building next to the parking lot. We were walking through the parking lot to get to the light rail station.
My friend suggested I jump on the snow so he could take a picture.
As soon as he took the photo, the guard started yelling at us.
That is when I started recording and taking photos of them.
Otherwise, I would have no interest in photographing them.
16 Jody // Mar 8, 2010 at 4:25 PM
I think reporters should be jailed for calling Sean Penn an actor. Fucking people from Hollywood, reminds me of Tim Hawkins (2:45 in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_pzd_w1sS4
Jody´s last blog ..Old Folks Set Up Medical Marijuana Club In Retirement Community
17 Chen // Mar 8, 2010 at 4:39 PM
I see much too Communism here on CAPITALISTIC soil. Who even recognizes state property as private property when us Americans should have the freedom do whatever we pleased.
18 Todd J // Mar 8, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Well… I guess that is pretty lame then…
19 TIGERPILOT // Mar 8, 2010 at 4:58 PM
No sense being stupid unless you can prove it. And the guard and his stupidvisor clearly proved it. NJT has got to get their act together one of these days and hire competent people, or at least insist that their contractors hire competent workers. Another service of NJT brought to you by low bidders.
20 MJB // Mar 8, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Those are actually private security guards. In fact, next time you see them, tell them they are in violation of NJSA 39:4-36 that requires all commercial vehicles in NJ to have the name of the company and town they are registered in, affixed to both sides of the vehicle in 3″ high letters. Clearly they have NO lettering at all. The commercial plate and their arm patches are clearly visible.
21 Frank // Mar 8, 2010 at 6:35 PM
I know these are brain-dead security as opposed to brain-dead law enforcement, but seriously. I thought that special-ed graduates couldn’t be security guards. Guess this showed me, huh?
22 Tom // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:29 PM
Question: Do you send links of your blog posts to the feedback sites of the organizations involved? For example, the feedback link at: http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=ContactUsTo
23 Tom // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Typo 2nd paragraph now -> not
24 Carlos Miller // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:33 PM
Tom,
I’ve been in touch with Courtney Carroll, a media spokeswoman for NJ Transit.
I spoke to her on the phone this afternoon, sent her this link and hopefully she will get back to me with an official statement.
25 genewitch // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:46 PM
The funny thing is, “state property” implies socialism – AND COMMUNIST(the people own everything), if it is “public” and not “private.”
It’s that good old home brewed American IRONY that makes me smile from cockles to forehead.
26 Rob // Mar 8, 2010 at 7:55 PM
That’s great that you have the audio. They really didn’t seem to know what they were saying. I think they just wanted you to leave so they starting saying official sounding things to get you to move along.
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27 pod // Mar 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM
What is it with rent-a-cops? Tin badge and a can of pepper spray or (at most) a Third World handgun and all of the sudden their ego goes through the roof? I don’t know, but if I got paid the shit wages they do, I wouldn’t want to do anything more than necessary. And bothering some guys goofing around in a snow bank seems “more than necessary”.
Whatever happened to the old lazy security guards? You know, the ones that didn’t do squat unless it was an inch in front of their face? Back in school, a friend of mine did rent-a-cop work for the peace and quiet. He told me “I get paid $10/hr to sit on my ass and watch TV”. He managed to write a screenplay over the course of a few months too. The most they asked of him was to sign people in to the building and do a walkthrough of the joint every few hours.
As long as people aren’t damaging the property or stealing the streetlamps, I’d be content to just let them do their thing within reason. “Haha tourist in a snowbank, betcha he’s from down south…hey Frank, look at these two fanooks!”
Instead you get wanna-be Robocops.
Carlos, you should have called the local police when this guy followed you off of his post.
pod´s last blog ..WMC 2009
28 Jon Quimbly // Mar 8, 2010 at 10:30 PM
NJ is a single party notification state, so no worries there, Carlos.
You was in my town, hope ya had fun. I was up nawth, shooting in Albany…
Hey, there’s one building I know of in Manhattan where the security guards are totally cool with photographers … NYT.
29 akagoldfish // Mar 9, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Well, it is if it’s closed to the public, like say, an airport runway.
This looks like a commuter parking lot, which is about as open to the public as you can get.
30 akagoldfish // Mar 9, 2010 at 12:17 AM
Hey, he was good in Mystic River, even if he was basically just playing himself
31 Carlos Miller // Mar 9, 2010 at 2:59 AM
I would have called if you were still in Jersey. I’m not sure how far you are now.
I did hang out with PINAC reader HLW on Saturday night, which was cool because it enabled me to place a face to the comments.
32 Workingindust // Mar 9, 2010 at 6:28 AM
You were probably the highlight of his most boring day. People like him need more stimulation in life
33 Rob Molecule // Mar 9, 2010 at 8:16 AM
How can they be both private property and state property? It’s kind of one or the other. Now it could be off limits to the public, but property owned by the state means it is not privately owned.
34 mr k // Mar 9, 2010 at 8:10 PM
these rent a cops are mostly a bunch of jerks, and this is a perfect example of not knowing the laws, this so called supervisor should be reprimanded
for not knowing the law.
35 Valerion // Mar 9, 2010 at 11:23 PM
“Private public property?” Does this guy not know what a contradictory statement that is??? (dripping sarcasm)
36 Duane Kerzic // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:56 AM
I’m like 10 miles from the NJ/PA state line. About 1hr 15min drive to Newark AP. I agree would have been nice to put a face on the posts.
Congrats on your legal victory.
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37 Guy Freeman // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:09 AM
Keep your government hands off my medicare!
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38 Arleen Marrero // Mar 13, 2010 at 11:19 AM
I gotta agree with Todd. I really don’t get the point of why you were there to begin with. Whether your “friend” lives in the area or not, I think you were there to merely start trouble. You say that the guard started yelling at you but I don’t hear that in the audio at all. I hear the officer and his voice sounds quite calm, relaxed and professional. He was doing his job following orders so I really don’t know where you get off criticizing what he said or did. As for following you, he has better things to do. His job is to circle the parking lot with his vehicle. He is quite qualified and within his means.
39 Rusty Carr // Mar 16, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Lets face it, the state of NJ just DOES NOT hire the best and the brightest!
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