Photography contributes to history, and it makes possible virtual visits to places that many folks haven't seen in person or couldn't afford to see in person. Sure, there might be terrorists, but banning pix wouldn't stop 'em. They could always write a thousand words instead. Besides, taking pictures can help catch a crook or a terrorist in the act...
I/we are tired of being harrassed in the pursuit of our hobby. I am an undecided voter, but if this continues I will make my vote heard this fall. Where has common sense gone?
My grandfather worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad(now Norfolk Southern).My collection of photographs is merely intended to show the kids and grandkids what their ancestors did, and that railroading is not dead in America. Railroads continue to operate with more trains now than were running during WWII.
Historical documentation of America's great engineering feats is a matter of patriotic spirit.It is most important to remember that historic documentation belongs to future generations, not to you or I.
This is a load of bull funkie. If I had my wqay id shut downt hese people for a bit and that should teach them not to mess around with railfans
railfan1 out
It's just crazy to think that they can add a new law to control our hobby. All this does is give them more power to push us around and it has nothing to do with getting the real criminals.
This whole anti-photography thing is un-American! Is the USA becoming a police state all in "the name of safety"? If they really want to keep people from taking pictures of trains, they stop trains from running AT ALL! Seeing that that's not going to happen, transit agencies should let people take pictures of whatever they want. Transit photography is a way of life. This anti-photography thing is DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RAILFANS!!!
Banning photography serves no useful purpose. If someone desperately needs a photography, there are many ways to accomplish it with telephoto lens, camera cell phone, etc.
Our daily lives and many of our hobbies require us to engage in knowledge and information collecting of transit and transportation systems. We must understand them to use them yes, but we must also remember them through photography to our family and future as well as use such photograpy/plan drawing in the hobbies that we, as americans, have the right to do.
To ban us from taking photograps, video imagry or making sketches and drawings of such subjects would only be justifiable if it were a 100% unilateral ban on ALL public imagry, including security cameras, news media, police helicopter cameras, satellite photography. Welcome to america... this is how it is.
There is no discernable difference between my taking a picture of a locomotive or aircraft and a federal officer taking a picture of a man walking down the street.
As a transit bus driver and busfan/railfan, I encourage more peoples to take pictures of the bus and rail equipement; what is standard today is the history of tomorrow.
Jacques Matte
busfanplace.com
prevostcitadin.com
I not American...but I love the country. However...this photography ban on transit systems is useless!! If a terrorist wanted to see a transit system...they can just go there and use mobile phones with built in cameras. The ban WONT stop them...it will do nothing!! The only terror here is having us railfans not enjoy our favorite hobby!
Thanks!
I don't think there's any proper reason for banning our personal interest, which is not harmful and means nothing in terms of security.
One point for sure, we are taking picture for ourselves or our friends all around the world, but we are not intend to sell any photos to the press.
There's no valid reason why bus fans, particularly those who work or have worked in the industry, should not be able to take photos of the vehicles that allow us to make a living.
I see nothing wrong with taking certain snapshot pictures of trains, but everyone must realize that we are under terrorism allert and video photo in my opinion should be restricted with and by special permission granted only by the NYCT...respect the wishes of our fine city as they wish only the best for all.
Photographers and FANS of all public transportation modes actually INCREASE security and may even thwart terrorist acts by providing a cost free extra set of eyes at or near over passes...and near airports... rail and bus stations.
Photography is not and should not be a crime. Most transit photographers also look out for suspicious activity as well as equipment/mechanical problems - this should be utilized rather than discouraged. Remember, no photography was needed for men with bombs in their backpacks to walk onto trains in Madrid.
Terrosrists do not need photographs to board trains Odenton MD or Fredricksburg VA. The security would be better used to inspect those laptop computer cases and the office satchels getting on board every weekday morning. Terrorists don't care if the new V31 locomotive is hauling VRE bi-levels. Terrorist don't care if Amtrak 939 has the newest paint job. Railfans are there to cover the current history-in-the-making of transit and freight systems. Any harm to rail systems in the U.S.A. would have been planned to happen on Sept 11 2001, when that whole plan was carried out. I will keep photographing until law enforcement produces the actual written statute passed by State Legislature. Remember folks, this law must have a Article and Section number.
The railfan/rail photography group has done more to support & assist the railroad industry than it has to hurt the industry. The industry should assist the hobby rather than try to kill it.
Enough is enough. I fully agree with the petition. I was harrassed by a NYCT cop on the Astoria Line on May 23, 2004 following a photo runby. My drivers license was confiscated and I was detained, despite our showing proof to the officer that we were legally permitted to photograph the train. I feared a citation and/or arrest when I knew I was in perfect right to photograph the historic train, sponsored by the NYTA
Me thinks they've won. More freedoms allowed to be flushed down the toilet of this country if such a ban were allowed to take effect, or signed into law.
I strongly support this petition on Transit fan's taking pictures of buses. I am a Toronto Ontario resident who enjoys the hobby and will NOT give it up. I have been stopped by T.T.C. Supervisors from taking pictures of buses. At one time a friend of mine and I had to give our name and etc to T.T.C. "Cops". For what doing something that we love to do? All they did was write our information down and that was it. Then we left to another location. I understand that security has to be beefed up in places cause of the Terrorist attacks and such but banning on taking pictures of buses and taking away our hobby is too far. I for one will still take photos and continue on with my hobby that I enjoy doing on my spare time and will NOT stoop low enough that I have to give up taking pictures of buses cause of the acts that happened recently. Thank you for your time
Angelo Bowers
Toronto Ontario Canada
This is how it all begins! First quitely ban transit photography in NYC, then move on to banning transit photography period. Before you know it, photographing any rail vehicle, bus, aircraft or water vessel will be outlawed nationwide.
This isn't a railfan issue, its an issue for any American with a camera who wants to take pictures of something besides little bobby's birthday. These politicians seriously underestimate railfans. Many of us travel for days to weeks at a time in extreme enviornmental conditions (snow, desert heat, freezing nights) to photograph our subjects. We spend tens of thousands of dollars anually and have extensive arrays of photograph equipment. You UN-AMERICAN jerks are going to have alot of stuffed jails full of photographers because no ban will stop us from achieving our harmless and VERY American photographic goals Wake up America! We can not let our so-called defense department take away the basic rights of American citizens. We have to stop this here and NOW!!!
Many of us who take pictures have on numerous times alerted company officials via cell phones or other employees of potential troubles; ie shifted loads, vandalism in progress, and open doors that should be sealed etc....Want to REALLY do something proactive? Have a database of "friendly" vehicles and persons that would be able for Law enforcement to access to verify our ID and true purpose....Certain Special Agents already do this.
Banning photography does absolutely nothing to keep us safe from terrorists, and punishes innocent people, tourists and railfans in particular. Only a paranoid person could think the ban will make the system safer.
This is just one of those War on Terror hypocrisies that I am sick and tired of. As a community, we know each other to fight terrorism and the government and other organizations are simply ignorant to realize this. I feel that even a special relationship with the transit authorities is attainable with the transit enthusiast's actions and responsibilities unrestricted. The ignorance is simply unbearable.
Putting into effect a ban on transportation photography in any way hinders historical documentation for future generations, not to mention that it is a violation of our constitutional rights as Americans. NJT is wrong for what they are trying to do.
The government and security angencies should be worried about much bigger things than railfans taking pictures of trains.We are supporting and promoting our countries heritage, the "railroad" and they want to take that away from us too!
Paranoia is something that has become mainstream in modern-day society, however, remaining paranoid sparks one thing - problems for the innocent photographers. Please lift the ban...
Don't let the terrorists win by restricting our rights, remember they want us to leave in fear and this is an indicator of weakness.
Allen Dicion
www.transithub.net
Toronto,Canada
I have been photographing railroads since my teens in the early 70's. It is now something I enjoy doing with my sons. What does it say to our younger generations if our government increasingly controls what we do for the sake of security?
Most of this petition was written by yours truly, just to let everybody know...Tristan was the one that posted the petition and got us off to a good start!
Everyone is urged to sign this petition and support our cause!
