county seats

[Bicyclist]

It is not my purpose to introduce politics to the forum. Here is something to consider when taking pictures while touring. This message was posted to a bicycle touring forum I participate in.


>Hey pholks,
>
>Speaking of digital cameras -- if you are taking pictures on your tours in
America, be advised that your civil liberties are under attack (again). People
taking photographs of public buildings and other public facilities are being
illegally stopped, harrassed, and lied to about their rights. Here are a couple
of examples:
>
>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=68&u=/ap/2004071
6/ap_on_re_us/photographer_questioned
>
>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=8&u=/nm/20040719
/ts_nm/security_refineries_photographer_dc
>
>

Notice that it's a single man that most raises suspicion. A group of
people taking photos doesn't seem to bother anyone. (Whoops! Guess I
just gave Al Qaeda a tip!) Since I normally tour alone, I do try to keep
a low profile when taking pictures. I haven't been hassled yet. Maybe
the bicycle helps. Or maybe it's just because I don't look like one of
"them." Still, I have to admit that yesterday when I took my new Nikon
D70 out to try some landscape photography I thought about places to set
up that wouldn't cause problems of that sort for me.

But what bothers me even more is that HSD is wasting its time doing
stuff like bothering people photographing public facilities rather than
taking effective protective action (see the latest Time magazine for a
report on some of the things HSD isn't doing):
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 92,00.html

I repeat, my purpose is not political, just offering a heads up.

George

[JimVonBaden]

I haven't seen any of that, even parked illegally in front of courthouses and sherrif's offices.

Rick has almost 100 so far, and he hasn't been harrassed that I know of.

Anyone else?

Jim

[phelps2ride]

I have been taking pictures at close to 50 courthouses and have never gotten any reaction from anyone. Many times it is illegally sitting in a no parking area in front of the main entrance (do not recommend this though). When I was recording info at the courthouses for a seperate Courthouse ride I would set the GPS coordinates also so most times I would be there for 10 minutes, and never a problem. Though I wouldn't be surprised if someone would ask you what you are up to.

I did get questioned one time right after 9-11 when I was tahing a picture of a elementary school school sign (it had the town's name on it). It was at morning start time and the trooper said parents dropping off the kids called them reporting the suspicious activity I was engaging in. I kicked myself for such bad timing. The concern was legitimate though.

Ed Phelps