OT: NYC may Seek permits and insurance for taking pics on public property

[eastside]

I doubt railfans in the NYC area will be frilled with this, and this proposal doesn't give other communities or the railroads any ideas that would ruin railfanning.

This has nothing to do with railroads; they aren’t mentioned in the article.  This has to do with the constant production of films and commercials that goes on in New York, mostly in Manhattan.  When a movie is being filmed in the neighborhood, they often shut down the entire block; trucks carrying production equipment and accommodations for the actors take up parking over several blocks; and pedestrian traffic is detoured by production assistants.  If they’re filming at night – and they often do – the street for an entire block or more is lit up.  I’ve seen this go on until after 3 or 4 in the morning.  The commotion and bright lights outside often make it impossible to sleep.  So many people have complained that the city is reacting with this proposal. I suspect this is aimed at small productions which have the effect of aggravating sidewalk congestion or interfering with street traffic.

Anyway, unless you want the challenge of taking pictures in a subway, Manhattan is a railfanning desert.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been “frilled” .

[tomikawaTT]

Not being legally trained, I can't say with certainty what the City might do.  I am very close to certain that, if some political dimwit tries to stop tourists from photographing each other at Battery Park with the Statue of Liberty in the background New York will quickly cease being a tourist destination!

I know the Big Apple is rotten to the core, but this is ridiculous!

Chuck (ex-native New Yorker, 3,000 miles removed)

[Lyon_Wonder]

I doubt railfans in the NYC area will be frilled with this, and this proposal doesn't give other communities or the railroads any ideas that would ruin railfanning.

City May Seek Permit and Insurance for Many Kinds of Public Photography

By RAY RIVERA

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