Newyorkcentralfan wrote: Erie Lackawanna wrote:You were trespassing. Doesn't matter that you were doing it safely, you were trespassing. And your proof this tresspassing actually occured is what? Just because the BNSF RR police said so doesn't prove their statement has any relationship with reality.
Erie Lackawanna wrote:You were trespassing. Doesn't matter that you were doing it safely, you were trespassing.
You were trespassing. Doesn't matter that you were doing it safely, you were trespassing.
And your proof this tresspassing actually occured is what? Just because the BNSF RR police said so doesn't prove their statement has any relationship with reality.
The problem is there are three situations and so far I have seen all three represented here and some people are getting confused especially on the bottom two and how the RR police act towards you is usually reflected by how you act in those situations. I have seen people do number three because they feel it is thier right to do so. Then they act rude with the police and help ruin it for the rest of us. If you do #3 expect a problem
1- Not Tresspassing on RR property (ie on a municipal sidewalk, bridge road etc).
2- 'Innocently Tresspassing' - Not knowing you were on private property (ie property not marked with No Trespassing signs) but not on the ROW
3 - Blatently tresspassing - intentionally going past the no tresspassing sign, going through/over a fence, standing on the ROW even just to look down the tracks etc
And your proof this tresspassing actually occured is what? Just because the BNSF RR police said so doesn't prove their statement has any relationship with reality. Here's a tip if your ever harassed by government police. Get their badge number and name if you can. Most times the name is on a nameplate on the uniform. Then go and make a complaint with your local police review board. By law they have to take it and investigate it. The reason for doing this is that even if they find in the cops favor the complaint goes in their jacket and follows them forever. Too many complaints can keep them from getting advancement. Obviously, don't tell them that you're going to do this. All that will cause them to do is take more copious notes of the incident.
EJE818 wrote:I told him that I never heard of any law that says that. He just said don't you be taking photos. He didn't say anything else about it being illegal to take photos, and I haven't had any problems with CN since.
EJE818 wrote:, a CN officer walked over to us and told us it was illegal to take photos of trains from ANY property, even if it is public property.
magicman710 wrote: I think the government should make it so if that you go to your local City Hall, they can give you a licence wich would allow you to photgraph and record trains, as long as your not on railroad property,
I think the government should make it so if that you go to your local City Hall, they can give you a licence wich would allow you to photgraph and record trains, as long as your not on railroad property,
The cops who try to make up laws on the spot rely on people's ignorance of their rights to push them around.
One cop told a railfan that there was a new law that superceded the US Constitution prohibiting railfanning. He didn't get away with it (ultimately), but if someone told me that, I'd laugh in his face.
EJE818 wrote:one time at Blue Island, a CSX officer told me that watching (not just photographing!) CSX trains from anywhere, public property or not, was not allowed and then asked us to leave from a sidewalk.
I think the government should make it so if that you go to your local City Hall, they can give you a licence wich would allow you to photgraph and record trains, as long as your not on railroad property, and if the rr cops tell you to shut off the cameras, show them the licence, and if they refuse, just BEAT EM' UP!!
CSX cops are alot nicer than BNSF cops, they like railfans.
Grayson
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
Railfanning in Manitoba, i've never had any problems, only if you cross strict tresspass boundaries would you have any trouble
videomaker wrote: No Military shipments can be photo'd NO EXCEPTIONS !
Myself,5 year old son,and a friend of mine were on a public bridge(on the sidewalk) over Argentine Yard in Kansas City last week and were stopped by a BNSF cop who after checking ids mentioned that he would appreciate it if we would move along. A few days later we were stopped by a UP policeman at Airline Jct. who took our info and told us to be careful and off he went. I wish I would have mentioned to the BNSF cop about having the BNSF railfan card to see what his reaction might be,but forgot I even had it. I think next time I'm in KC I'll go check out Argentine again!
Doug
BNSFreak wrote:I just recently went to get some pictures by corwith yard in chicago. I got some suggestions from some other fellows on here to see where I could go around the yard without getting tooclose to the tracks. I ended up at a viaduct on the North lead into the yard. Now everytime I go train watching i ALWAYS stay atleast 10 or 15 feet away from the closest rail. I was taking some shots of a loaded intermodal train, when right after the last car past, A BNSF Police ford explorer pulled up. We said, Top of the morning to ya, Just trying to be nice and civil with him, He responded real quick, " Shut off the camera and the cam corder right now!" We said ok, no problem. He took down all our Names, Our phone # and address. Then told us, and I qoute, Get offBNSF property now. No one is allowed on any railroad property exept for authorized personnel, We said, (Being real civil) We arent on the tracks, Were not even 15 feet close to the tracks, Were not doing any harm. He used the excuse, Oh well no one is allowed to take pictures our eqipment anymore due to circumstances with the war and the 9/11 attacks. We asked if we could take pictures from the side walk, (IN A PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD). He said, absolutly not! If any of you ever get caught taking pictures (on Or near) BNSF property, We will be arrested on the spot and the film and tape will be desrtoyed. Now whats funny to me is, In the summer of 2002, 1 year after 9/11, We got approched by a BNSF police officer on the east end of Eola yard. He just told us that we could'nt take pictures anymore that day at that spot, He told us if we wanted to get shots it would have to be on a public side walk or street. Yet he did at first tell us he didnt have a problem with us taking pictures, He just had to do his job which is understandable and we respected that, so we just left the spot for the day. we eventually came back, a month or two after that, and yet a BNSF cop past right nexted to us. He jut waved as he entered the yard. When he exited, He just stopped and said, Make sure you guys dont go out on the tracks, And we taked to him for a while, just discussing about whats goin on in the yard. He took us up on our offer of some fresh Krispy cremes too. He was a real nice guy. He said the railroad police dont have problems with railfans they incurage it, as long as its being done safly. So im wondering why now, all of a sudden, 6 years after 9/11, Its now becoming an issue for train watching? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks, Dillon