Train Photography Regulations and Federal Law

[fifedog]

The first sentence in your second paragraph answers your own question - - - Wackenhut Security. Understand that these folks are the bottom feeders on the security chain...[;)]

[Anonymous]

In the past year have taken over 1,300 train pictures including pictures in Union Station in Chicago and all across the US. No one has ever bothered me until Friday, April 21, 2006.

Friday, in a public place, I was threatened with arrest by a Wackenhut security person for taking a picture of a local commuter train (Tri-Rail - Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach). He stated that it was against Federal law, the Homeland security act, to photograph trains. I asked him for a copy of the law and he said to call Tri-Rail at 1-800-874-7245. I called them and they repeated what he stated and said they would call back in an hour with the information. They didn't call back, perhaps hoping I would go away. A subsequent follow up call didn't yield any results. Their website www.tri-rail.com, their trains, and their stations do not have posted regulations or signs prohibiting photography.

Then I searched www.trains.com and found a news article (01/04/2006) about the New Jersey transit authority deciding not to try to prohibit photography. A further Internet search at www.firstgov.gov located the New York transit regulations which also allow photography. See www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/rules/rules.htm section 1050.9. There are probably more as there were a lot more hits.

There are Tri-Rail pictures on the Internet at web.presby.edu/~jtbell/transit/Miami/TriRail/, are these illegal? What about the photography pavilions in Folkston, GA on the CSX mainline (this carries freight & Amtrak passenger trains), in North Platt, NE at the worlds largest train yard (UP's Bailey yard), and there are probably more elsewhere. Are people taking photographs at these pavilions violating the Federal law? What about the web cams and people with camera cell phones? Then there are the aerial pictures on Google Earth showing every bridge, crossing, and switch available to anyone with an Internet connection?

If two major New York/New Jersey transit systems allow anyone to take photographs, how do they do it if is against Federal law? If it isn't against Federal law how can a third rate system in SE Florida ban taking pictures claiming it is against Federal law? A search of the US Code did not get any hits on the prohibition of photography, perhaps the wrong search argument was used. What happens if I post my existing Tri-Rail and other train photos on the Internet? If there is no Federal law, what recourse do I have? Any suggestions on how to proceed from here?

Perhaps everyone should call Tri-Rail at 1-800-874-7245 and ask them for a copy of the law.

Your thoughts, enlighten me.