The NYC “tripod ordinance” is yet another urban legend ...
Tripods are not mentioned anywhere in the NYC Charter or the Administrative
Code (both finally are available on the New York State Legislature
site, under the link “Laws of New York”; they're at the
bottom of the page. Note that “tripod” doesn't appear anywhere
on the permit application, either.
Unfortunately, there is a law regulating photography. NYC Charter
Sec 1301 gives authority to require permits for photography, and Sec.
22-205 of the NYC Administrative Code makes it a crime to take a photograph
without a permit. The law clearly was intended for commercial activities,
but the way it reads to me, it would appear to cover
any photography, including that by tourists with P&S cameras.
Obviously, enforcement is quite selective. The law likely is soon to get
tested, because it was the one under which filmmaker Rakesh Sharma recently
was detained. The NYCLU have taken up the case, claiming the permit
process is unconstitutional. The capricious enforcement might be the law's
undoing.
The Washington, DC Mall is under the jurisdiction of the NPS, so it's
covered by Public Law 106-206: you don't need a permit unless you're
working with models or props. Awareness of this wasn't too good the last
time I asked, but the folks who issue the permits said they do not require
them for noncommercial photography. This isn't quite the correct
interpretation, but it might be better to be “noncommercial”
than argue with the Park Police. Another option is to carry a copy of Pub.
L. 106-206, as NANPA recommend.
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