May 25, 2005
Taking Photographs Constitutionally Protected, NYC Ban Scrapped
The act of taking a photograph in a public place is protected First Amendment expression, reports The Empire Journal.
After civil libertarians, New York City officials and members of the public expressed concerns about a proposed ban of photography, videotaping and filming in the city's subways, trains and buses, the New York City Police Department has withdrawn its request.
The NYPD Transit Bureau had requested the ban and the Metropolitan Transit Authority and NYC Transit Authority formally announced a proposal to do so, purportedly as an attempt to deter surveillance by terrorists.
"The NYCLU said the proposed regulation was unconstitutional on its face in that the exceptions in the proposal were too narrow and too vague. Additionally, the group said the ban would threaten millions of MTA riders with wholly unnecessary and perhaps discriminatory interactions with police officers. “In an age where cameras are becoming ubiquitous through camera cell phones, virtually every subway rider will become a suspect and possible target of a police stop”.
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