PLEASE DO NOT BAN Taking pictures of Trains and Buses. I am 70 years of age, and have been photographing Buses, Trolleys and Trains for over 50 years, although not as often today.
I hardly fit the role of a terrorist or a spy. As avid transportation of photographers, we are and can be the extra eyes the Police and Homeland Security needs.
I belong to the Motor Bus Society, and several other Bus and Train groups. This is what we do for enjoyment, and I want to continue to do so as I feel it is my RIGHT as an American. DO NOT LET THE TERRORISTS WIN.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, Land of the FREE. Let's keep it that way.
Daniel Marra Sr.
Not being able to photograph transportation vehicles is just a way to try and have control over the inocent people who just want a photo to remember things by.
Yet another feel good law that makes no sense. It has nothing to do with stopping terrorism and everything to do with giving the uninformed a false sense of security.
I think the police and the agencies are way overboard in their thinking. I cant see how they can stop me from taking pictures either on their property with a ticket or fare paid or on the street. Is this Moscow or the USA?
I work 40+ Hrs a week, and pay taxes. Remember the line ' Home of the free...' WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT. This is just madness. All of us here love taking rail pictures and the powers to be are attempting to put and end to it. Im a railfan and proud of it. Let us do what we enjoy.
This proposed photo ban serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever.
All it does is deprive taxpaying American citizens of a hobby they lve & enjoy. And as many on this petition have stated you deprive yourself of extra eyes to watch out for suspiious activities.
Guys come on....as the mayor said get real!!
Most importantly.....it comes off, as a surrender to the terrorists, it really does.
Gues the next move is to past over the Americn flag decals on the trains with white tape to finalize your complete surrender to Osama & his lot.
I am in favor of this petition. I have been a photographing railroads for almost 10 years. I am very offended that I will no longer be able to take photographs if nothing is done about it.
If nothing is done about it now then we won't be able to do much of anything in the future. If we allow them to take one thing away then they will keep taking.
When taking pictures is illegal, then only criminals will be photographers. Next thing you know, they will issue surplus hoods returned from Iraq to all passengers to wear before entering the station.
Bans like the MTA's could destroy sites like nycsubway.org and end fantrips like Subdivision-C charity trips on the NYC Subway. While my examples are from New York City, the same applies everywhere. The MTA is being unreasonable in thinking that railfans are threats when they could actually help keep an eye out for real trouble.
Banning photography not only proves that the terrorists win, but also denies us from logging our transit history for future railfans to study, learn and gaze upon. Railfans are not just foamers and fanatics, but are also educators for those who love the hobby of railroading. Don't deny future railfans their education.
JLA
Having lost 2 coworkers in 9/11, I understand the need for security, but its a sad day in America when taking photos of trains in a public place are outlawed.
Ok, I understand the security is a big issues, but not everyone is a criminal.
So what do we do when this ban photograph of transit or rail vehicles and we got no image but seing a white paper instead??? And leaving our camera build up some mold and dust???
I would please lift this ban off and everyone wants to continue to do their hobby by shining our lens and photo the beautiful image of vehicles.
It's unfortunate that public and private agencies have used the 9/11 tragedy to foist a bunch of useless restrictions on the freedom of movement and call it a Herculean effort to insure our safety. It's simply the cheep way out.
we feel that this is a outrage. banning photography in the subway means that everything that our forefathers bled and died for is OVER. allowing photography to be banned in the subway or other public places, means that we are allowing the terrorists to win. we can stop the terrorists without banning photography. the only ones who take pictures are some TA employees like myself, railfans which also include myself, tourists and especially children.
What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? Casting as wide a net as possible does little more than grant victory to those who wish to destroy us and our way of life. Meanwhile, it infringes on the civil liberties of railfans and other law-abiding and innocent citizens. THAT is the REAL THREAT to our way of life, and it makes you wonder if that's a sign of the DARK AGES, PHASE III...
They got to oyu guys too huh? Us airplane photographers have been having to deal with the authorities when all we want to do is photograph airplanes. Hope everything goes well for you guys.
I'm just really dissapointed on how the railroads are treating this threat by restricting freedoms to all of us who love to watch them in action, I hope this doesn't come to pass on freight
As a locomotive engineer, and a railroad employee since 1990, photographers/railfans in my opinion are the transportation industries first line of security, as they can observe while they photograph the trains suspicious activity.
As long as we're on public property, who's to say what we can and cannot take photos of. This is a great country which is starting to get a little 'out of focus.'
I was detained and arrested for 7 hours, and charged with being a threat to Canada's national security for merely taking pictures of buses and metros in Montreal. The bigotry and narrow-mindedness must stop now.
My ancestors came to America more then 150 years ago. When called to duty, members of my family served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. I was wounded while serving in the Infantry in Vietnam. Is someone actually going to stand face to face with me and tell me that I can’t take a picture of a train from public property because I might be a terrorist? The rights of US citizens, for which my family fought, are being taken away from us.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Our Constitution gives me the right to pursue happiness. What gives others the right to take it away?
Edmond, Ok
Photographers and RAILFANS INCREASE security and may even wart off some terrorist acts by providing a cost free extra set of eyes at or near Public Accesses. But, this is not possible without communication to local officials and Transportation personnel.
But who do we think we are kidding here? Big brother will always be watching! So keep you nose clean and report those who don’t, so we can enjoy and document our Hobbies / Heritage / History.
RI
I seriously don't think this accomplishes anything. A camera cell phone can be used to take pictures without being obvious. Pictures aren't required to leave a bomb in a backpack. Didn't help in Madrid, Renfee doesn't allow photos...
I am an avid aviation photographer and the harassment we see from the law enforcement is totally wrong. I understand, we should be questioned, but, once questioned, we should not be told to move along. We should be seen as the good people, helping to look out for any foul play around the airport perimeters.
Taking pictures of trains, subways, airports & railway stations is not against the law. I am against any ban on taking such pictures and will continue to take all the pictures I want to.
I work for a transit agency, and even I have been hassled for taking pictures. Nowhere in the patriot act does it ban photography anywhere. Everyone should down load that photographers rights by taht Portland attorney!
Maybe the US government should ask themself WHY the US came into this situation.
By banning spotters and restrict public freedum you once more attack and violate the human rights in the free world. The discusting acts in Iraq of the US military should be enough from this administration!
By banning photography, our future generations will be unable to view photographs of the historic past. What is today will soon be a part of history in this ever changing world. Do not deny our future generations to see photographs of the past.
