I think that this is just plain silly. I myself, don't partake in photography, but I have several friends who do, and I feel that railway trains have always been one of the most facinating things they photograph. It's just plain sad.
I was not aware my first ammendment rights could be compromised as such. Banning railfan photography is nothing more than psychotic paranoia. If there is a terrorist, and he wants to hit transportation, he will find a way.
I am a Grandson and a son of retired railroaders who are a railfan themselves.
I have loved trains ever since I could remember, i was told my first word iout of my mouth was "train" not mama or papa.When I was old enough to go trackside with my father and or Grandfather we safely took pictures..they have collections of older times and bygone eras. We can and want to help you by being your eyes and ears. We can see, and identify those things that are not up to snuff...by golly we KNOW!!! Yes, there have been times when the authorities have been notified!
SO . . .Why ban rail photography and lose all of that free security?Just think what it would cost you in revenue $$$$ to have some people knowlegable as the railfan is to obseve and quietly photograph in all places as we do??Hmmm??
Patriotic Americans and Definite Rail Enthusiast
With today's Internet and web, anyone can be a publisher. The Constitution provides freedom to the Press. Therefore, your proposed policies are in violation of the Constitution.
Over my dead body will the damn government EVER take away a freedom that rail enthusiasts have enjoyed for years - railroad photography (incl. videotaping)!
I agree that policies prohibiting legitimate photography of transit or rail facilities or equipment is a myth as far as preventing any acts of terrorism, for anywhere there are bans against guns, only the criminals have them, the law abiding citizen does not...railfans DO notice when things are not right, way more than a normal transit rider, WE HAVE RIGHTS TO, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PUNISHING THE NATION AND PUTTING US THROUGH THIS CRAP ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE STOPPED AND PULLED ASIDE, therefore, I am in strong favor of profiling people of Arab decent, from which the major terror threat continues to come from, punish them, not us, let the FREEDOM ring for us as well as the country!
Fear is the most infectious disease known to man. And the only way to stop its spread is to point out the irrationality behind the fear. We do a service to the nation when we say that it makes no sense to curtail innocent fun in the name of a false sense of security!!
Ban, schman. Our government does not have the resorces to prevent me from taking pictures of trains. There are enough places secluded throughout rural America that I can and WILL take photos of trains for a long, long time. We, the railfans of this great country, are an asset to the security of our rail system. Please refrain from wasting our tax dollars on such a ban. Thank you fer your support!
Thefireman
We shoot with no bullets. We focus on what others pass and don't notice. In fact, our lenses are extra pairs of eyes at the service of the good guys. Let us not let paranoia and fear rule our lives.
This is another example of outr rights being taken away for the sake of the almighty dollar! Shame on our government. THE SLEEPING DOGS ARE AWAKENING..
I am the son of a retired railroader who is a railfan himself and I have loved trains ever since I was old enough to go trackside with my father which is about 27 years. We can and want to help you by being your eyes and ears. Why ban photography and lose all of that free security?
A Patriotic American and Rail Enthusiast
U.S.A. is not a free country, if it "needs" this kind of things, almost everything is controlled like in China in the 70's. The US government is way too paranoid nowadays (=after 9/11).
1984 seems to have come in 2004.This sounds more like a communist or marxist dictatorship. (And they probably allow train lovers to photograph trains ) OK you politicians are trying to go too far too fast this time. Wake up.. The average railfan usually causes no problems for the railroads nor national security. We want to see the systems operate, not wreck em. Ther is an old saying,,, "Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You" Best listen up! I am an AMERICAN. I will try to protect MY COUNTRY FROM ENIMIESBOTH FORIEGN AND DOMESTIC!
It's my feeling that if a law enforcement officer can actually catch a person in the act of photographing, say, a bridge, then he can also determine whether that action is "suspicious" or "innocent". If the former, why have a law banning what an officer can already take steps to create/
And if the photography is malicious, and done outside of the view of an officer (I can tell you, the places where this law is posted are almost never manned by officers), why bother with the law in the first place?
This, in my opinion, is simply another opening to convince the population that they're in deep, deep danger and the only resort is to curtailing citizens' rights. I firmly reject this, as should all Constitution-respecting Americans.
I am a experienced RAILFAN and have on many occasions called the Railroads about such as stuck crossing gates, an open door on a trailer on a flat car, a wheel and axel set floating above the rail. I keep with me at all times the wats(800) phone numbers. and have furnished photos for the railroads involved many times. We are a group who protect our intrests.
The whole idea behind the photo ban - that it thwarts terrorism - is absurd. Terrorists don't need to take pictures of trains, buses, etc. that are in plain view anyway, to be able to carry out their cowardly acts.
Big Brother is obviously NOT much of a railfan !Let me guess , did the Union Pacific have anything to do with initiating this anti-photograghy nonsense ?
Hopefully some day tranportation agencies will realize that we responsible railfans are the "good-guys" and not the enemy. As others have pointed out, observant railfans are the most likely to point out something amiss to railroad crews and police. Transit agencies think that by casting a wide net including banning photography that this will enhance safety. They are barking up the wrong tree, so to speak.
Historical photos will be lost for
future generations.
Is this the begining of mass
hysteria where Big
Brother will decree
that no photos can be taken without governmental approval.
The idea of banning photography of railroads and transit properties in the interest of national security is, at best, a misperception on the part of the authorities. When a little thought is applied, its obvious that this activity is harmless. Banning photography would just give the security agencies a false sense that they are really doing something to enhance the security of the transportation network. The opposite would be true, as has been noted. Railfans actually add to security, as they are usually informed observers of rail facilities, and would notice something out of the ordinary. In fact, sometimes we notice visual information in our images which we did not see when acutally taking the picture (remember the film "Blowup"?). Who knows, someday a railfan may take a picture which records the presence of a suspected or known terrorist on or near a transportation property. Rather than alienating the public from the authorities(which is just what those using terrorism want to accomplish, by creating an environment of chaos which undermines the public's confidence in the ability of government to ensure security and order, e.g., the current situation in Iraq), the police, railroads, and transit agencies should be actively enlisting the support of railfans. Those officials in charge of these entities should start thinking through the security issue, rather than just reacting.
You can use racial profiling to seek out terrorists. Most of them wear towels on their head. I'm not racist, but that's just the way it is. Bin Laden should not be used as another excuse to harass people who spend their time trackside, rather than drinking their brain away in a bar or beating their wife and children.
I have been taking pictures of trains for over 30 years and have a collection of over 22,000 such photographs. It is my hobby. I have nevere caused trouble with this hobby, and I never expect to do so.
Innkeeper of The FALLSTON FLAGSTOP Railfan B&B. Advocating 'Responsible Railfanning.' Railfans PROMOTE railroad safety by reporting unsafe conditions, loads, dangerous acts of trespassing, vandalism, etc. We are your 'unseen police force.'
Benjamin Franklin was purported to have said something to the effect of "Those who would give up their liberties for security deserve neither liberty, nor security." I haven't taken train photos for years, but that doesn't mean I don't want to in the future. I think this is fast becoming a police state.
I'm also from Ottawa,Canada.
This proposal wants to ban the very people who care the most about transit systems and railroads. This "neighbourhood watch"comes free to the operators of these systems.
