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Security guards at DOT
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Just saw this over at We Love DC:
Now, the supervisor was a nice guy. He seemed a bit confused as well, but I patiently explained that I didn’t need a permit to photograph. His counter? “Well, you know, terrorists walk around, taking pictures, plotting stuff. You could be one. So we can’t let you do that.”
Posted at 7:22AM, 17 July 2008 PST
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It is so frustrating to hear that line about terrorist "surveillance" over and over as an excuse to hassle photographers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in none of the following cases did the terrorists use photo surveillance, or plan their attack using photographs: Timothy McVeigh, the Unabomber, the Sept. 11th hijackers, the London and Madrid bombers, the anthrax guy, etc.
I maintain that having an open policy and encouraging photographs of Federal buildings, bridges, infrastructure, etc, it would make things SAFER, not less safe. Weren't the London underground bombers identified on cellphone camera images? If photographs of the Pentagon were allowed, maybe there would be some images of the plane crashing into it on 9/11, which would put all those conspiracy theories to rest about it being a missile or something. Maybe a structural flaw would have come to light in that bridge that collapsed, if photographers weren't shooed away from photographing it from below.
Originally posted 5 months ago.
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Mr. T in DC edited this topic 5 months ago.
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This maddening account (we're getting quite used to reading of these, unfortunately) includes the classic request for ID, from a security guard no less, who may or may not be a member of DOT's uniformed services. If it's a private security firm asking for ID, well, they often simply have no right. If they push or coerce, that coercion. Call a real police officer--if you're on public property in the District, it's DCMPD who has jurisdiction over the situation, not Misinformed Security Inc. Even if it was DOT uniformed services, this is another reminder to not readily hand over your information. And if you feel compelled to do so, get *their* info also: name and contact information for any person who approached you, where you can follow up by letter, name of the security company, etc.
Originally posted 5 months ago.
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lightboxdc (a group admin) edited this topic 5 months ago.
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(disclosure: I'm the photographer / blogger who wrote that piece)
It was DOT's uniformed services. They didn't demand to see my ID, the supervisor asked politely and said it was to "put into his nightly report" - this was after we'd discussed my rights to photograph and he 'got it.' I cooperated with the request as well as requested - and received - his info as well. And the original guard's info. I did that just to be a completist.
I admit, when it originally went down (I was across the street at the light) I knew what was going to happen and prepared myself for it, fully intending to not be a sheep. Which is probably why I attracted a small crowd behind me.
As I said in my article, at least someone got an education that night, even if I didn't get the shot I wanted. Just means I'll be going back - and see if it happens all over again. :)
Posted 5 months ago.
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It sucks (PERIOD)
Posted 5 months ago.
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