This proposed ban seems like yet another attack on our rights and liberties. The Bush administration has spent a lot of effort in creating a climate of fear and it appears that the NY subway system officials are buying into it. I agree with those who have written that this ban will be difficult to enforce and will not stop terrorists. The police can certainly spend their time in more beneficial ways than arresting honest citizens and tourists who want to take a picture either as a souvenir or as part of a hobby. I will certainly alert my friends to this proposed ban and hope that others will also spread the word.
everyone has hobbie, then you should just stop photos of anything if you ban this, this is what pleases up in our spare time and i think photo taking wont hurt unless you act like a retard tring to get them, just act cool
While it's become sadly cliche in the post 9-11 world, I think this quote from Thomas Jefferson applies quite aptly to the situation - "Those who desire to give up Freedom in order to gain Security, will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."
terrorists will take the picture even if there is a ban. htere is always a way to take a photo without others seeing. this will only be inconvinient for normal people and give excessive rights to the cops.
Message to NYC transit authorities: thank you for creating the factitious fear among us. I think you should ban all backpackers in your next step - who knows if they're carrying a dirty bomb. When you succeed in doing that, please ban all the passengers as well. Then you'll have an absolutely SAFE subway system. Man, you guys are the best!!!
I have been taking subway portraits over the past 2 years on NYC’s subway.
All the portraits are taken with flash through the train doors before they open as the train
arrives at the station. I have tried to get exhibits in conjunction with the MTA’s
centennial celebrations. This has been unsuccessful since instead of the MTA embracing
my art I have been asked to hand over the art and been ticketed for taking pictures.
I think it's hypocritical of them to ban photoswhen they routinely photograph the citizens of NYC and then require that you subpoena them to obtain that information from them. They also refuse to use the info obtain in their cameras to help solve traffic accidents but will use them to ticket toll evaders
erosion never happens quick...I hate watching the erosion of my rights as an american (an just a person for that matter). what is our problem?? This stuff has to stop, but I am afraid it will only get worse...
Hey. Im from Denmark. My name is Tommy. Although im not living in Denmark, i completely understand your meening to go against MTA. I also think its bullshit (sorry the language) that they want to ban photography in the subway and buses. Im very interested in the New york Subway System. It's the most amazing system in the world, and i like watching the pictures the straphangers take of the subway. So then i will be sad, if no one is allowed to take pictures in the subway, so us from outside US can't see new photos from the system. I don't think that just by looking at pictures of the system, people will start to plan attacks on the subway. So please still allow straphangers to take pictures in the subway. Im truly against the ban. Greetings from Tommy in Denmark.
Taking photographs of transit vehicles is a hobby; akin to collecting stamps, I fail to see the security risk. Perhaps it is the position of the law enforcment community that in the past terrorists have used video cameras in their surveillance of future attack sites, granted, however restricting such activities in no way prevents a determined terrorist from gaining intel on a future site by covert means. Therefore, by way of this petition; I demand that law abiding citizens be continued to be permitted to engage in their hobby of choice.
I am an artist using a camera and I love New York City. The subways, buses, trains are wonderful to photograph and I feel it is my right as an American citizen and as a citizen of New York City to be able to photograph and exhibit my images of New York which includes the vast and impressive subway/bus system.
sent to MTA
Dear Sir:
I am the executive director of the Asian American Arts Centre in Lower Manhattan, a 30 year old not for profit community arts organization serving New York City with cultural activities. I cannot support your ban on photography and video in NYC's subway and train system. The life and character of riding mass trasit is so much a part of what NY is about that I should not be made off limits to ordinary people and working artists particularly now when technology enables anyone to casually investigate their own curiosity and look more closely as the rhythm and pace of our daily lives. Security should be recognized as enhanced by those who could unexpectedly document an incident of robbery , violence or accident that might go quickly without a witness. Particularly in ethnic communities where language is a obsticle visual and audio documents can at times assist. The recent past is filled with occurrences where such has reach the news and been useful in resolving problems. Terrorism is a weak excuse for this ruling since such people will find a way whatever rules you make the general population follow.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Cordially,
Robert Lee
ExecDir
Asian American Arts Centre
www.artspiral.org
The idea that banning photograph taking will somehow deter terrorism is complete nonsense. And there is no other good reason to even consider such a ban. Therefore the ban should NOT have even been proposed. Is there anyone with common sense at the MTA?
As a railfan, I feel this new law is bull shit. How far will the government go? This is getting rediculous, what happened to our freedom? As a railfan, I for one will NOT STOP photographing my hobby UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!
This appears to be just an inexpensive way for the MTA to be 'seen to be doing something', yet another small bite taken out of civil liberties in the mistaken belief that it improves security. 20 years ago you could be imprisoned for photographing the Berlin Wall. Are we in the land of the free slowly inching towards a state that has even been abandoned by our former enemies behind the Iron Curtain ? I sincerely hope not.
A ban on photography alienates railfans who are very supportive of the railway industry and thus act as extra pairs of "ears and eyes" for anything truly suspicious. Thus such a move is not only an over-reaction it is counter productive
Riding the subway or bus is a great necessity for most New Yorkers and its visitors. They are the vehicles of american freedom. they enable us to move freely in our society. Restricting the use of photographic equipment infriges with this freedom. Please don't punish good americans for the acts of evil terrorists. I want my old America back!
Just another way we keep the population scared so our rights can be eroded. If terrorists can fly planes into buildings without raising our suspicions, they will take pictures anywhere they want. This law will only effect the honest person who does not hide his camera.
Most of the things those who endorse the ban are trying to protect have already been photographed many times over and the photos are readily available.
I have a road map from the WWII era that says, "Places of military importance have been removed from this map." Like the first thing the Germans would do after landing here is visit a service station for a map!
Politicians giving people a placebo in times of stress is quite common. However, when that placebo harms others it is more than absurd, it is outrageous.
As an environmentalist, I depend on artists to create what "can be" by showing us "what is", but through new eyes. We all need more and better transit and photography is probably the most powerful medium to help show us the way toward new attitudes and possibilities.
the NY transit system supplies much inspiration for artist. Artistic documantation of life in NY would not be complete without pictures of people and scenes on the subway. The priveledge of this freedom to document life on and along the tracks should not be limited to select official groups but free to all.
To Whom it May Concern at the MTA,
I am a working photographer and have taken dozens upon dozens of beautiful/interesting photographs while on the subway platform and actual trains. Some of these have been displayed in my shows. In no way could any of them have been remotely used in assisting in any form of terrorism. What they did do was capture all of our city, and a daily important part of our city, in an artist format. Some of these pictures have inspired people from other states upon seeing them to visit NYC, saying that if I had found beauty in this city, it was worth seeing. I would be devasted if my freedom to capture these city moments was taken from me. I do not believe that by removing our freedoms it will prevent possible terrorism. The amount of energy and time that will be wasted enforcing this possible "rule of conduct" on photographers like myself and tourists having traveled far to support our city, could be better used fighting actual crime in our city.
Sincerely,
Ona Rynearson
Not in favor of banning photography of the transportation systems of the NYC metro area. My genre involves the creation of illusions from elements and scenes I find on trips taken on the LIRR, MetroNorth and NYSubways. What I'm not doing is looking for a good time to do something bad. And the real bad guys have much better toys.
There's nothing a terrorist can gain from photos of RR's that isn't already available. The presence of railfans is probably the greatest asset the agencies could hope for in detecting suspicious activity.
Yes, turn law-abiding citizens into criminals, depriving us all of our Constitutionally-guarante ed, God-given inalienable rights, all in the name of security. Those who trade their rights for security end up having neither.
I think it is important to keep the subways secure, but I do not believe that a moratorium on photography and videography in transit vehicles will serve that end. Photography and film can serve to document the conditions and experiences of riding New York transit. Capturing these images allows us to rejoice and celebrate the diversity that makes New York rich and wonderful
Since many cell phones are equipped with cameras nowadays, I suppose the next step after this camera ban will be to ban the use of cell phones in public transit. Since a potential 'terrorist' can also sketch the layout of a train station, perhaps one should ban notepads and pencils in the subway too, while we're at it.
Rather than worrying about banning photography, why not worry about balancing the MTA's debt and keeping a fare increase at bay? Stop wasting time and money changing the policies and just focus on getting reparations and increased service completed. People are still going to take photos, sleep with their feet on the seats, and sell batteries. Why not ban urinating in the stations? There's something to fix!
If there's a ban on photography in trains, buses, etc., then there will be a ban on cell phones as well, since lots of phones have cameras in them. And if this explodes into anything remotely like public school, not only cell phones will be banned, but anything that can be considered or misused as a weapon will be banned, including craft needles, scissors, nail clippers, paper clips, keys, etc., things that people use and need with them EVERY DAY. Before long, we can expect to turn out our pockets (or worse, go through some sort of metal detector!) before boarding a bus or passing through a turnstile just to make sure it's just us and our clothes riding the rails. That's beyond ridiculous. On top of that, I fail to see what harm passing through cars holds. If an emergency arises while the train is in motion, passengers should be allowed to move to another car. It's happened to me once where I was stuck on an express train with doors that didn't open and some EDP decided to go nuts. It's very scary, and you're helpless because you can't go anywhere. Also, passing through cars is an easy way to get where you need to be in the train, in preparation for when you deboard. If passengers got off the train and down the stairs (or up) faster because they were properly lined up with the staircase and not someplace else, then there would be less congestion and a safer environment for everyone. Some people are still heated about the fare hike and don't need the further aggravation. Treating subway and bus passengers like children is not a way to gain friends OR ridership.
I strongly oppose the ban. The security argument that the MTA has put forth is a weak one that has no merit in my view.
Shawn Ewald
29 Avenue B.
Apt. 2E
New York, NY
10009
What's next? No picture taking in Times Square? It's all a part of our Government( as it is) to ban more and more Freedoms from us headed by some power hungry Jackass!
In this country we are known for "freedom", and banning us from taking pictures in a public place is a bit ridiculous, considering the fact that if people wanted they could just draw something in the subway too so whats next? Are we gonna be banned from drawing too.
