For what it's worth, in October my partner and I fanned SEPTA and NJT for a week and used cameras quite freely. Only once, at Newark Penn, was I told to put away the camera. Specifically that taking photos was against the law. It was a flash (film) camera, and if not for the flash she wouldn't even have noticed. - a.s.
al-in-chgo wrote:For what it's worth, in October my partner and I fanned SEPTA and NJT for a week and used cameras quite freely. Only once, at Newark Penn, was I told to put away the camera. Specifically that taking photos was against the law. It was a flash (film) camera, and if not for the flash she wouldn't even have noticed. - a.s.
Actually taking photos of NJT trains is perfectly legal! There used to be a photo ban which you could get around with a special permit.
When I was in NJ a year ago we called the NJT police to ask about taking pictures, they said that we should bring ID just in case we were questiond, but that was all.
Why did this lady want to stop the railroad? Does he have any locos anymore?
I think that there might be some legal considerations, if his railroad would haul freight and there is no other railroad in town, he could make an argument that it is not fair to the business because there are only trucks, and because of that prices are higher to ship items.
In other words not enough competition
You need to throw the BS flag on these people.... politely, of course.
People charged with enforcing the laws -- railroad police and regular police -- can tell you EXACTLY which law you've violated (Town Ordinance 1234; Title 10, United States Code, Section 1234), etc., etc. If they give you a ticket, the specific law which you have violated MUST be on the citation. If it isn't, due process hasn't been followed, and you don't have to pay a fine. This is because you have the right to go look up the law for yourself!
So the next time someone tells you that you're breaking the law... well, if it's a civilian, politely disagree and be done with it. Even if you're on THEIR property, you're not necessarily trespassing. For example, in Connecticut, if I don't have a posted "No Trespassing" sign and I haven't specifically told you not to be on my property, you are permitted TRANSIENT access... and the law doesn't define transient. Presumably, if you erect a tent, you're no longer a transient, otherwise, who's to say. And if I see you, and don't do anything, then that's de facto permission to be there. Then again, I'm not a lawyer or law enforcement officer and I might have it wrong, too!
Of course, If it's a law enforcement official, politely ask WHICH law, and write it down. They can make mistakes too, and none of the cops I know are afraid to admit it. If there's "a new law" which prohibits photograph, for example, they will be able to cite you chapter and verse.
The important thing is to BE POLITE and NON-CONFRONTATIONAL, as many have said. But you cannot be convicted of a crime (even a summary offense, which is handled by a ticket and a fine) in the US without being told WHICH law you have supposedly violated.
It's a little trickier when you're on private (as in, railroad) property, because then their rules apply, but anything which is going to be handled by public courts is subject to habeas corpus.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford