NYC "tripod law"

[PenGun]

Not that it's particularly relevant but I get away with all kinds of things by being nice to the cops. Almost no one is and it sort of sets them into a different mode if you can set them at ease and make them laugh.

You see if you are on their side, as opposed to them, the whole thing changes ... a lot.

There is maybe no one on this board that looks more like a criminal than me.

[bobwysiwyg]

Yup,

You catch more bees with honey than you do with vinegar. Now you could take the position, "I shouldn't have to.." but, how would you prefer to spend your time?

[Brian Ellis]

There is a funny aside to this.

When I told the second officer I was just a hobbyist. He paused and said, "How do I *KNOW* you are just a hobbyist?"

A friend was along with me keeping me company and later at dinner we started laughing about the fact that you can't prove you are an amateur at something. You can't take out documentation that shows you have no professional associations or make no income from your hobby. By definition, you have nothing to show. . . .

You could always show him your photographs. : - )

[John NYC]

You could always show him your photographs. : - )

Now THAT'S funny! :-)

[John NYC]

If I were a tourist/hobbyist coming to NYC with the intention of seriously shooting in the city, I'd apply for a permit in advance. It's so easy to get and so advantageous to have.

Not really. Try clicking on the link on this page to download the form. It doesn't work.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/pe...prcedure.shtml

The whole point is that you don't need a permit, as per my earlier linked document, so no one should be getting hassled in the first place unless they are violating those two rules that were stated on page 5.

EDIT: I actually found it...

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/pdf/optionperm10.14.pdf

But guess what, you have to name times and locations... and it doesn't look like there is much room to put 20 places in Manhattan.

[Brian K]

Not really. Try clicking on the link on this page to download the form. It doesn't work.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/pe...prcedure.shtml

The whole point is that you don't need a permit, as per my earlier linked document, so no one should be getting hassled in the first place unless they are violating those two rules that were stated on page 5.

EDIT: I actually found it...

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/pdf/optionperm10.14.pdf

But guess what, you have to name times and locations... and it doesn't look like there is much room to put 20 places in Manhattan.

I haven't had to get a permit in over a decade but I can recall a certain amount of flexibility that they had relating to times and locations depending on how disruptive (to the location) the photography shoot would be. If I were planning a shoot in NYC I'd know in advance the areas of interest for me and get them listed on a permit, or get multiple permits. And as a permit fir tis type of photography isn't really required, I'm sure the Mayor's office on film would be quite accommodating.

I am not saying that someone has to have a permit, but given the climate we live in and the ease and lack of cost for a permit, that having one would be very advantageous and would make it far less likely that a police officer would tell you to leave a scene.

[Marko]

The entire point is that a police officer does not and should not have the discretionary right to tell you to "leave the scene" (scene of what exactly?) as long as you are engaging in legal activity in public space.

We (still) live in the country where innocence is presumed and guilt has to be proven and we (still) don't need to "show the papers" when stopped by police (or any other uniform).

If we want to keep it that way, we'd better start challenging the self-appointed law-makers. Nobody ever said it was easy, but it's peanuts compared to what could and what will happen if we let that slip too far.

[Frank Petronio]

I imagine that there probably is a statue in effect that a cop can get someone to move along if in their judgement their apparatus (tripod) is a safety hazard.

Now of course they can abuse that power, or be stupid, but at the same time, I think we need a law so that our cops can move vagrants and crazies along...

[Greg Blank]

But, then how would you manage to post to the group Frank

I think we need a law so that our cops can move vagrants and crazies along...

[rdenney]

Not that it's particularly relevant but I get away with all kinds of things by being nice to the cops. Almost no one is and it sort of sets them into a different mode if you can set them at ease and make them laugh.

I am as nice to cops as I am to everyone, and I try to be both polite and cheerful to everyone I meet. That is a moral obligation. But if I am further obligated to be particularly obsequious with cops in order to deflect impending harrassment, that false friendliness becomes a kind of bribe. No longer do we believe in the rule of law, but now we have to be fake buddies with cops to get treated the way we should be treated in any case.

Yes, cops should be able to move loiterers along, when legally authorized to do so. And owners of private property should be able to expect cops to move along loiterers on their premises. Cops should be able to break up situations where a confrontation is occurring or about to occur. None of that seems to apply to making photographs in a public park.

I respect cops for what they do, but I expect the same in return and I see no reason to tolerating being afraid of them when engaging in lawful activities.

Rick "who works in the public sector and understands the extra obligation to be polite and lawful to the citizenry" Denney