Police Ticket Photographers @ Highland Park Fire

**Fulcanelli** · September-05-12, 06:43 AM

I ran across this online and didn't see any discussion here about it. This is about the Highland Park fire this summer. The writer claims that photographers present were ticketed but the writer gives no reason for the tickets. Does anybody have more information on this?

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...building-1.php

**Gannon** · September-05-12, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by Fulcanelli

I ran across this online and didn't see any discussion here about it. This is about the Highland Park fire this summer. The writer claims that photographers present were ticketed but the writer gives no reason for the tickets. Does anybody have more information on this?

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...building-1.php

Without any idea of what the ticketed offense was, it is tough to form any sort of opinion. I cannot imagine what would be illegal.

Loitering?!

Seems pretty petty to me for the police to be doing anything other than directing traffic around the firetrucks.

When we drove by a HP fire near rush hour in the early summer, the cops were frantically pulling everyone over on nearly every block...it seems they had runners from a raid gone wrong.

Cheers

**WKL** · September-05-12, 07:21 AM

Could it be one those new "homeland security" laws about photographing police or fire doing there job?

**Kathleen** · September-05-12, 11:15 AM

Definitely need more information to determine what exactly why the photographers were ticketed at this fire. I myself stopped around 9am and again at 1:30pm that day to take photos of the fire in progress. I was not stopped by any police or fire dept personnel either time. And I saw a few other photographers at the scene as well.

**JBMcB** · September-05-12, 11:51 AM

There is absolutely no reason or right to ticket people taking pictures in public. The police can tell you to move if you are obstructing traffic or interfering, but they cannot force you to stop taking pictures.

There WAS a homeland security directive against taking pictures of federal buildings, but I believe one of the federal courts pretty much struck it down as unenforceable.

**Detroitnerd** · September-05-12, 11:58 AM

Detroit Police sometimes get their jollies ticketing people taking pictures. A colleague of mine was ticketed for taking pictures of Michigan Central Station. He went to court and the charges were dropped. Usually it's just a prick cop making trouble for people.

**Fulcanelli** · September-05-12, 02:42 PM

Check this out:

http://www.pixiq.com/contributors/248

**leapfrog** · September-05-12, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by JBMcB

There is absolutely no reason or right to ticket people taking pictures in public. The police can tell you to move if you are obstructing traffic or interfering, but they cannot force you to stop taking pictures.

There WAS a homeland security directive against taking pictures of federal buildings, but I believe one of the federal courts pretty much struck it down as unenforceable.

I thought the police were still ticketing/arresting those who photograph/video tape the police? I heard of several examples where someone videotapes a police office doing something illegal [[usually a traffic violation, such as parking by a hydrant) only to find themselves in trouble for it. I'll see if I can find anything to answer this one way or the other.

Personally, I hope like heck that you are right. Not being able to shoot pictures in public [[or even recording our "finest" breaking the law) seems too police state for me. They should be subject to public scrutiny just like everyone else.

**mikefmich** · September-05-12, 05:26 PM

There is nothing in homeland security about photography, it's a common thing cops & security guards try to shovel BS about. Cops usually know better, security guards are just steeped in utter ignorance.

As a matter of fact, there is scant little....and I do mean scant little that one cannot photograph if they are shooting from public property.

**rex** · September-05-12, 05:59 PM

sounds like a cash grab to me. Issue a ticket to someone that probably has a little money. It will cost em for an attorney to fight it so they may just relent and pay the ticket. Lots of poor people in HP, issue them a ticket and good luck trying to collect.

**wolverine** · September-05-12, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by mikefmich

There is nothing in homeland security about photography, it's a common thing cops & security guards try to shovel BS about. Cops usually know better, security guards are just steeped in utter ignorance.

As a matter of fact, there is scant little....and I do mean scant little that one cannot photograph if they are shooting from public property.

I once got hassled by a rent-a-cop for taking photos of a building on public property. I gave him time to speak "retail stores don't like to be photographed, safety of customers, blah blah blah." I told him that only applied inside stores on private property, not public property. He still threatened to have me arrested.

That was when I told him the building I was photographing was in fact my own home. I lived in the building above the stores. Damn, the look on his face. I said I'd be reporting this incident to his supervisor in hopes of no punishment, but education on why people are allowed to take photos on a public street. Well I never saw the guy again, and he was replaced by city cops on beat.

If I'm ever on private property, I ask security for permission. You wouldn't believe the benefits. A friend and I were given a tour of an amazing building in downtown Pittsburgh by the lobby security guard.

**KJ5** · September-05-12, 09:39 PM

So they're taxing ruin porn now, huh? It's about time! This city has misspent a lot of money to get things looking this fucked up. It's about time the ruin pornographers chip in and pay their fair share!

**wolverine** · September-05-12, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by KJ5

So they're taxing ruin porn now, huh? It's about time! This city has misspent a lot of money to get things looking this fucked up. It's about time the ruin pornographers chip in and pay their fair share!

Not until you pay YOUR share
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in..._than_hal.html

**mikefmich** · September-06-12, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by KJ5

So they're taxing ruin porn now, huh? It's about time! This city has misspent a lot of money to get things looking this fucked up. It's about time the ruin pornographers chip in and pay their fair share!

I surely hope this is sarcasm and not serious.

**Meddle** · September-06-12, 12:12 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/ny...the-bronx.html

**wolverine** · September-06-12, 07:44 PM

^ Not surprising. Incidents of photographers getting hassled by the cops appears to have gone down after NATO. The law in Chicago was relaxed so people could photograph the police facing head on with protesters...some of them violent. Relaxing the law turned out to be a major PR boost for the police department. Photos showcased a department that maintained superb composure against lawless individuals. You see photography can work to the benefit of both.

Phone photo by me:

GUSHI · September-06-12, 09:06 PM

He should sue them.

**detroittrader** · September-07-12, 08:40 AM

I was there from around 10:30 till noon, The only cops I saw were in their car the whole time in front of the "Bell Telephone" building, blocking off Oakman. There were 5-6 people taking photos with the small shit cameras, myself and a couple others with what seemed to be better equipment, and the Freep guy was there taking pictures and interviewing Firefighters.

This story seems strange. Why is Curbed/Alexis Zimberg not pissed, It seems like getting a ticket was not a big deal even though that was the headline of the article...

"Meanwhile Police on the peripheries of Oakman Boulevard seemed focused on ticketing photographers [[us included), which we hope was for safety reasons."

You would think as journalists they would be pushing back a bit. Is "Curbed" journalism? lol Maybe someone from Curbed can speak about that, I know they have posted here before.

**mikefmich** · September-09-12, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by wolverine

I once got hassled by a rent-a-cop for taking photos of a building on public property.

On two occassions when being hassled by a rent a cop, they announced they were calling the police. I offered them my cell phone to call, and insisted they do so ASAP.

Both demured...lol