NY seeks Moves To Ban Public Filming And Photography

[IChing]

Some tourists, amateur photographers, even would-be filmmakers hoping to make it big on YouTube could soon be forced to obtain a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance before taking pictures or filming on city property, including sidewalks.

New rules being considered by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting would require any group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour to get a city permit and insurance.

The same requirements would apply to any group of five or more people who plan to use a tripod in a public location for more than 10 minutes, including the time it takes to set up the equipment.

Julianne Cho, assistant commissioner of the film office, said the rules were not intended to apply to families on vacation or amateur filmmakers or photographers.

Nevertheless, the New York Civil Liberties Union says the proposed rules, as strictly interpreted, could have that effect. The group also warns that the rules set the stage for selective and perhaps discriminatory enforcement by police.

“These rules will apply to a huge range of casual photography and filming, including tourists taking snapshots and people making short videos for YouTube,” said Christopher Dunn, the group’s associate legal director.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/nyregion/29camera.html?ei=5090&en=71135caff6fefe6a&ex=1340769600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[EFerrari]

1. That's just crazy. n/t

[Mz Pip]

2. Even an amateur

photographer might sit around long than an hour for the light to get right for a shot.

Hopefully, they'll rethink this.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[On the Road]

3. "In a Single Public Location for More Than Half an Hour"

was this language meant to exclude Google Earth?

[devilgrrl]

4. Oh give me a fucking break please!

:wtf:

[porphyrian]

5. Tired of all the evidence against the police corruption, huh? - n/t

[mitchum]

6. This is a gimme to well funded filmmakers...

and intented to screw those who are not

[Rick Myers]

7. They have admitted they will selectively enforce this law

So it will be directed against people of color and those of us who might wear a DU or Buck Fush t-shirt!!! Fascists!!!

[Tyrone Slothrop]

8. Fuck you, Bloomberg, you piece of shit

The NYT, of course, omits the real reason for this law.

They mention Rakesh Sharma, but they neglect the actual reason he was detained. He was a brown person taking snapshots of the city.

http://www.rakeshfilm.com/NYPD/index.htm

'I was physically and verbally assaulted by an NYPD detective even after I had clearly identified myself, produced my passport and offered to put him in touch with my hosts - Professors at Columbia University as well as the New School. I felt his entire tone and tenor to be racist in nature and found him to be intimidatory. It was my impression that the officer's hostility towards me was driven at least in part by the fact that I am brown-skinned and have a beard. To quote him - “We know how to deal with you guys, asshole”. Though later he did offer me a conditional apology "if I was all clear", the question that begs to be asked is - even if I weren't "all clear", does the officer have a right to abuse me physically and verbally, intimidate me and violate my rights?'

One step closer to a police state...

[KatyaR]

9. It's official--we've lost our freaking minds.

Is it just me, or does the news make you want to escape the madness even more than the day before? There are some days I can't STAND civilization--if this is civilization.

Or maybe it's just the nonstop rain we've been having that's causing me to feel this way . . . .

ON EDIT:

AAAAAAAAHHHHH--I'm in the 700 Club--HELP!!

[The Straight Story]

10. When they came for the smokers I said nothing, when they came the photographers...

drip, drip, drip...and before you know it, we ain't got jack and we can't do shit but exist to feed the governmental beast.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. As a photographer...

I say this is bullshit. There should be no rules against engaging in photography in public places. Jee-zus, what's this country coming to???!