Despite Public Right to Take Photos, Police Are Camera-Shy and Worry About Pix of Buildings
In theory, citizens have a constitutional right to take photographs in public places, under most circumstances.
In practice, in a post-Sept. 11, 2001 world, doing so may well get you questioned by police if your subject is a public building or police themselves. And if you assert your rights, the situation could escalate, according to the Washington Post.
While several jurisdictions say they plan to provide more training to security officers to help them determine what is and isn’t appropriate, the problem continues. Among those who have recently complained about overly aggressive intervention is a retired oceanographer who says he was threatened with arrest after he took photos of a federal courthouse in Silver Spring, Md., the newspaper recounts.
Related ABAJournal.com coverage:
UW Prof Gets $8K Settlement Over Arrest for Photographing Power Lines
