Pictures in public illegal?

[mmd8x28]

I was always taught that, taking pictures in public is legal, because it's public domain.

Well, I was outside walking on the street taking pictures of a helicopter that was hover. I had the big lens on the camera, telephoto converter, and large zoom lens..

A short time later, cops come by asking if we saw a man in a white shirt taking pictures. I mean, they were looking for this guy, even with an undercover car. Well, I knew it was me, but I wasn't about to argue with them. I had changed my shirt, so I just said "no". Police here in Oviedo are TOUGH as hell, and I didn't want trouble. I just kept the camera in the house and plan to keep it inside until I find out what the laws are again.

But, what the hell? Is public domain no longer legal?

[AChotrod]

Was it a spy copter? As far as I know if your in public your fair game.

[mmd8x28]

It was a TV copter.

This is the pic I took with the camera when I was supposedly "seen".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/copter.jpg

[Z28pr0jekt]

There is no expectation of privacy when you are outside.

If a person asks you not to be photographed then you may have to comply with that but otherwise it is not illegal.

[AChotrod]

aw shit............ you posted it??? Your screwed now bud.......

[mmd8x28]

No one asked me anything. The only person I saw that saw me, was a women who walked out of the house and saw the same helicopter (it was over HER house hovering). I was on the other side of the street trying to get a point of view shot to see the markings on the copter. She looks over at me, goes in house, and I was done photographing, I walked away.

[jaysz2893]

next time shoot a flare at the aircraft and hail them down to sign a release!! LMAO!!

As far as I know you were in your rights, but since 9-11 they have been touchy about photographing things in public in general.

[mmd8x28]

aw shit............ you posted it??? Your screwed now bud.......

So? It's supposed to be public domain as far as I know, and from what I see, EVERYONE else knows.. Popo will be the final word for me, because he'd know the law.

[GreenZ96]

Your golden

[BLK95-Z]

A few weeks ago here in Louisville a local news helicopter was covering a drive through H1N1 clinic at our fairgrounds. Some little kid pointed one of those laser pointers at the helicopter and all hell broke loose. The helicopter quickly banked away and cops were coming from everywere.

I think theyre so high up they cant see exactly what your doing, they dont seem to play around when it comes to pointing things at helicopters around here either.

[mmd8x28]

Well they obviously knew it was a camera. I say, you point your copter camera down at us, I'll point my camera back.

[Z28pr0jekt]

lol

[Wooshie]

sounds like fair game to me.

[mmd8x28]

I should email my local PD as anonymous asking about the laws on this, and question why they would be looking for me if it's public domain. (emailing from a public wifi location NOT in my hometown).

[AChotrod]

PS I was just messing with ya. :jest:

[BLK95-Z]

you really dont know what kind of call the responding officers got, it could have been one of your 80 year old neighbors called 911 thinking you had a rocket launcher lol

I bet they would have just asked what you were doing, I doubt if they would haul you to jail just for taking pictures.

[popo8]

There is no expectation of privacy when you are outside.

If a person asks you not to be photographed then you may have to comply with that but otherwise it is not illegal.



dead on!

[black hawk]

be careful next time you go to watch an air show! :secret:

[HoLLo]

I might have told them I took the pictures and asked WTF the problem was, but then again, who knows what they'd turn around and slap on ya. I'd definitely call them and ask WTF was up, even maybe request to speak to the officers.

[TRIPOD]

As someone else said, it's 9-11 man. The officer was prolly dispatched to the call because someone thought it was suspicious that you were taking pictures of a chopper. When I was a police officer for another department, ANYTIME we found someone taking pictures of the stadium or air port, we were to stop and identify. That's probably all the officer was doing; just checking to make sure your not a terrorist. No law broken, just 9-11 man.

And, a lot of it has to do with the area your in at the time. It's just today society and the world we live in now.

[Camaro_94]

be careful next time you go to watch an air show! :secret:

LMAO! Be smart and keep the camera at home! :laugh:

[mmd8x28]

Well the funny thing is, I was going to do a video documentary on Oviedo, where I live. I guess I'll need to go to the police station and state my intentions then. Cause I'm going to need to film all around the city. Downtown, etc.

[BlackWidowSS]

next time just wait till the cop gets there and shoot a photo of him and see what he says lmao

[BluBeaSSt]

you should be fine..... that is weird tho!