Cop Commandeers Camera in Coral Gables

Photo by sunrise954

Like the story of the photographer in Coney Island we posted on last week, here’s another incidence of a person being asked to hand over their film by law enforcement. Momoko Sudo was taking nature photos in her Coral Gables, FL, neighborhood when she snapped one of a police motorcycle. The officer, who Sudo says was abusive and confrontational, demanded to see her camera, deleted all her pictures and threw her memory card on the ground.

She thinks the officer was not only suspicious that she was a foreigner taking photos but put off by her outfit (a large sunhat and bandanna with Japanese writing) and the fact that her camera settings were in Japanese.

It’s unfortunate Sudo didn’t get the officer’s name or badge number because he seems completely unprofessional and inappropriate. Assuredly this is not the policy of the Coral Gables Police Department (Franklin of Artblog.net has a letter in to them to make sure). But it’s just another reminder that no one, in pretty much any circumstance, has the right to ask for your film or your camera.

Article from Artblog.net via Carlos Miller

Andrews International Execs Remain Silent Over Guards’ Aggressive Behavior

Photo by discarted
NOTE: This guard did not have anything to do with the incident.

Dear Mr. Andrews:

I wanted to write again regarding an incident with your security personnel because it seems as if you didn’t receive my last letter. At the very minimum, this is a customer service issue, and it’s shocking that you wouldn’t want to address, much less acknowledge, a situation where your security team’s actions have been questioned.

I am referring to what happened between myself and your security guards at the Hollywood and Highland Metro station where I was harassed, threatened with arrest and cursed at for taking photographs. In case you are unaware, Andrews International security are notorious for overstepping the limits of their authority and harassing people in Hollywood. There are extremely few laws that restrict photography in public places, and they’re mostly relating to military installations or people with an expectation of privacy (i.e., in their homes). National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) attorneys have issued a memorandum on the subject that says in part:

+ There is no federal law that would prohibit photography in public places or restrict photography of public places and/or structures.

+ Any restrictions that the government does impose would need to have supporting evidence that it was essential for public safety. The burden is on the government;

Presumably you are thinking that the issue will just go away, but I’d like you to know that photographers will continue to shoot in public spaces in and around Hollywood since it is our legal right to do so. What’s more, now that we have a small movement going, this issue is on the radar, and it’s more than likely that your guards will unnecessarily and inappropriately detain photographers in the future. So my suggestion to you is to train your security force on the laws so that a situation doesn’t escalate unnecessarily.

Sincerely,
Shawn Nee

To contact Andrews International executives regarding this incident click here.