The gestapo would never risk life and limb arresting actual terrorists, they need to arrest hapless rail fans to show the world what a great job they do.
This ludicrous harrassment of transit fans and photographers has to come to an end. The time, money, and resources being wasted harassing us could be far better used and spent elsewhere.
The idea of forbidding transit photography is as absurd as banning a tourist from taking a picture of a theater marqee in NYC. If I stop standing on street corners taking pictures of trolleys, who will the locals have to ask when the #35 car is coming?
Stop harrassing decent, law-abiding hobbyists who contribute to our country's economy. Don't turn our great country into another Taliban, where photography was prohibited! American soldiers have shed their blood to protect the freedom of people throughout the world, while we're losing our own freedom here at home.
I understand that there are legit security concerns on the NYC subway, and on transit systems nationwide. However banning photography is not the way to solve these security concerns. First off, many pictures already exist...if authorities wanted no photographs to exist, they would have had to ban photography from the day the subway opened. Obviously many photographs exist and are accessible to the public. Secondly, this will be impossible to enforce. Traditional cameras are easily hidden, and newer cameras are small enough to be undetected by law enforcement officials, such as on cell phones, etc. Lastly, what does this accomplish? About the only thing I can think of is hassling ordinary citizens who happen to want to take pictures of something that they see everyday anyway. This won't solve security problems...the way to solve security problems is by fixing weaknesses in the system. Preventing people from photographing is not a weakness, in fact its totally unrelated to subway operations. It is my belief that transit fans can assist in keeping transit systems secure. We are much more likely to notice if something is out of the ordinary then other passangers. In fact, we can and do report truely suspicious people and activities to authorities...afterall, what transit fan would want to see his/her favorite transit system destroyed? Banning transit photography will only aleanate transit fans and everyday citizens who are hassled for taking pictures of their friends/family in subway stations. And in the event a serious security problem arrises, if a law abiding citizen has a camera but cannot use it, then evidence critical to convicting the criminals might be lost. Many people these days reach for cameras when they see a crime being committed...a picture of the criminal, his lincense plate number, etc. would go a long way towards enhancing security in these situations. That is only if we are allowed to take pictures. Its time that people stand up a
There should be nothing illegal about taking a picture of Public Property from Public Property. In Communist Russia it was legal to, but not in the "free" United States?
I find the proposed ban overly broad and somewhat panicky in nature. Photographers have taken pictures of American railroads and transit lines for more than 100 years without harm or disruption. Many are as patriotic an American as you will ever hope to find. What can be gained from taking photos of transit vehicles and trains that have already been photographed, in still, film and video form, countless times over?
As a public transit employee, I can see both sides of the issue, however this is NOT a police state. Photography from PUBLIC locations, should be limited.
The trains pass through public property, any pics I want to take while they pass by MY yard I will take. If they want to pay the local towns to use their porperty then, and only then can they stop me from taking pics.
What's next? No photos of tree in parks because they could be cut down and used to block roads? Or beaches or shorelines, because submarines might use the area for landing? Or photos of politicians because people might make dart boards? This is shameful. The Founders of this country would turn over in their graves if they saw what is being done to our freedoms.
This is the land of the brave and the free? It won't be after the Amerinazi wimps finish their takeover and MANY of our rights are taken away- not just transport photography but women's right to choose what to do with their bodies and all of the rights in the Constitution!
SUBWAY PHOTOGRAPHERS UNITE! This is the dumbest thing I ever heard. Something must be done. I suggest that we (Subtalkers) gather in the subway and go on a photo taking bonanza and take 500+ photos and post them online. That is what NEEDs to be done! THANK you!
If we are going to give up all of our rights, why don't we just let the terrorists take over the country? As we give up our freedoms we allow them to claim victory against us.
Railfans who are photographing trains can act as an a para-security force. I know that I and my fellow railfans would report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
I am appalled at the idea of banning photography of rail systems. As a railfan, this gives me great pleasure and satisfaction. I am employed at a regular job for 40 hours a week and I yearn to do the things I love when the weekends and vacations come. I will not give in on my railfan hobby which has been a tremendous part of my life.Railroading has kept me going in a straight line and this hobby has helped me get through many tough times. Indeed,my marriage has lasted almost 9 years and I know railfanning has been a big part in keeping us going as it prevents me from corrupting my mind with nonsense.I will never, never, never give in on my hobby and to do so is a victory for terrorists.I am not going to let a bunch of lowlifes ruin MY life and happiness. This supposed photo ban would do it, and the wrong people are going to suffer from it. Common sense and instinct are all that is needed to determine a railfan from a terrorist. This is America, the land of freedom, a land which promotes life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To suggest a photoban is almost like siding with the terrorists themselves.
Photography is an essential part of a hobby that many people around the nation enjoy. I understand that with the times we live in, security is a big issue, but such bans will not deter terrorism. Railfans can actually be just as good as the best security measure, if not even more so.
Photographing railroads and transit systems have existed since the invention of both. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of photos have been taken documenting the history and progress of these great institutions. Most railfans are also photographers and clearly want to see an expansion of these systems and their preservation. Many railroad museums now exist dedicated to the preservation of the history and their reliance on their existence in no small way can be attributed to rail photography. Thousands of books, periodicals, magazines, paintings, and internet websites chronicle our rail systems. There is utterly no defense to limit rail photography as a means of limiting terrorist action. As a matter of fact, imposing photographic limitations of railroads is more of a terrorist act than then any possibility of the photographs themselves. As the Mayor of New York City says about rail photography chastizing the MTA's actions, "get real."
Hi, I'm from Northern Ireland, and have lived with IRA Terrorist activities over the last 30 odd years. Many Bombs have blew up our trains, and many bomb scares have disrupted our railway service. But never once did it ever stop me taking photos of my beloved trains.
Is this America, the land of the free, or Nazi Germany? Banning photography will not thwart any real terrorist but only take away our freedom. There's more likelihood of a terrorist being caught by a transit fan's photography than there is by banning photography. Please respect our freedom and the rights we are supposed to have in this "free" country.
Good grief. What next? Classifying transit schedules 'for security reasons'? I probably shouldn't say that in jest; no doubt, that very concept has been considered... Feh.
Government officials should spend much less effort trying to take away the rights of citizens under the foolish pretense that it will make us safer, and much more effort on truly protecting us by keeping the dangerous foreigners outside of our borders.
I've been photographing subways, railroads & buses for a year and a half now. It's harmless! I honestly believe the cops have better things to do, like patching up all the lapses in security. How is it that vandals can sneak into a tunnel and vandalize a parked train, graffitti two stations, bums on the train begging for money, kids getting jumped in stations and fighting on the trains, and yet they have time to harass innocent tourists and hobbyists? They need to get their priorities straight.
Why is it that the MTA sees no security problem with closing token booths, thus removing the number of employees in the station, but does see a problem with allowing observant people to look out for suspicious activity?
I agree that the prohibiting us railfans from doing what we enjoy doing..and that is taking photos..is wrong.
We would be the best security force you caould have near the trains and their routes.We take notice to all things out of the ordinary and anything that has been changed.And to top it off this cost the railroads and transit authorities absolutely no money..where as the paid police cost quite a bit to keep around.Also the time the transit police spen harrasing us photographers could be spent watching for actual problems elsewhere.
Let us help you be the eyes and ears of your security and allow us to continue our favorite pastime as well
Transit fans and railroad fans actually help rather than hinder securtiy. If we see someone doing someting suspicious, we will either call 911 or tell someone in authority.
I heard a story about Japanese spies right before World War II. They were "casing" Pearl Harbor. The spies were trained to use their powers of memory and not arouse suspicion by taking pictures. So what the spies did was look at the stuff they wanted to bomb without even taking notes, let alone pictures. They returned to their hotel and wrote up their notes there from memory.
Today's terrorists could easily do the same thing.
Although I see the need for it, it will not stop a terrorist to plot and plan to destroy any public transit vehicle. These cowards have too many ways and are too determined to kill Americans, so they will use every effort they have to achieve this effort.
I have been a bus fan for almost 30 years since I was two, I have been taking pics for about two years and the fact that some T/As want to ban photography of buses and trains, is simply ludicrus. Us transitfans are the unofficial embassadors of T/As and to ban photography of buses and trains might discourage those who truly love it to leave it.
If we ban photography of buses and trains that is just saying that the terrorists control what we do and how we live, and DAMMIT I AM AN AMERICAN AND DON'T BOW DOWN OR CHANGE MY WAYS TO ANY TERRORISTS.
I consider all T/As to think before they attempt to ban photography of their equipment, they think they might stop terrorists, but the terrorists will still attempt to kill Americans.
Don't make me come down there, with hundreds of fellow photographers, each with 5 different cameras around our necks! Want the camera? Pry it from my cold dead hands.
Benjamin Franklin said it best when he wrote "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
He adopted that phrase as the motto of his Historical Review of Pennsylvania in 1759 and is recorded as having used the phrase at least as early as 1755, and its words ring true even today. Regrettably, our government has seen fit to forget Franklin's wisdom. Among the rights which they seek to abridge in the name of "homeland security" are those rights guaranteed to us by our Constitution and its amendments: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom from unreasonable and warrantless search and seizure, and freedom of religion. This proposed ban, and the ongoing harassment of photographers in public places, is another symptom of the malaise infecting our government, which has somehow become convinced that the only way to protect our rights as citizens of the greatest nation in the world is to remove them.
A photography ban on transportation systems is the dumbest idea i've ever heard in my life. We arent not terrorist, we are fans, doing somethnig we love. You cannot ban a baseball fan for collecting baseball cards,and taking pics, so dont ban us!
When are people who take photographs of trains going to be recognized as a valuable asset. We not only preserve history and put money back into our economy by doing what we do, but we also provide free security where ever we are taking our pictures. I myself have the the major railroads phone numbers programed into my cell phone. If I see something suspicous, a shifted load on a freight, a hot bearing on a wheel of a train, I will call it in. Just because you don't take pictures of trains and can't see the fun in it, don't take it away from those of us who do. After all, I can't see the fun in golf or hunting, but I'm not trying to ban those either.
Ever been to a 'Subway' restauranr? They have subway maps decorating the walls! A terrorisy could learn more by walking into a Subway and having dinner then spending an hour along the tracks taking photos! This is incredible. Railfans are an unrecognized asset, we catch accidents, report suspicious activity, and make sure the trains are safe.
I agree. Transit fans are of no harm to society. They help society. Our goal is to have fun at our hobby. I think NJ Transit's photography ban shows how dumb TAs can be when it comes to people like us. Bans of that kind will not stop us. We will find legal loopholes!
