Groundspeak Portal

A recent waymarker, while taking pics of the outside of a US Post Office, was approached by an employee of the post office, demanded the pictures be deleted from the camera and took the waymarkers name, address, etc....This is the first time I have heard of this happening. Does anyone know the rules and regulations in regard to this subject?

It is legal for people to take photos of anything as long as they are located on public property.  This is a common problem and you can often read stories about on photography sites.  In fact there are a few Flickr groups devoted to posting photos of places where people had the right to photograph but were told they didn't. 

I'm wondering if there is a short paragraph that lays out a photographer's rights that people could copy and carry with them to show to overzealous security guards.  If anyone knows of something like this let me know and I'll post it on my waymarking website in the "wayinfo" section.

 

Warning!!!  Opinion coming.

Based on another thread about this very topic... it is perfectly legal to take photos of any location from any PUBLIC place like a sidewalk.  Taking photos while standing on PRIVATE property may be trespassing.

Do a search for "The Photographer's Right" as a PDF.  It is an American document, but I use it when needed.

Just consider the Papparatzi (sp) aspect... they take photos, as do regular respectable media persons of items such as these.

If there was a break in, or hostage taking or bake sale at the post office... don't you think the local TV station might show the location on the nightly news?  Guess what is likely in the background!!!  The Post Office???

 

Chances are the person is another in the misguided "Homeland Security" over kill faction.  I would ignore them completely, but you are free to do as you wish.

 

BQ

ptcrazy:

A recent waymarker, while taking pics of the outside of a US Post Office, was approached by an employee of the post office, demanded the pictures be deleted from the camera and took the waymarkers name, address, etc....This is the first time I have heard of this happening. Does anyone know the rules and regulations in regard to this subject?

The post office employee was out of line.

 If the pictures were taken on public property and there is no city ordinance restricting the right to photograph that the employee can refer to you can take as many photos as you like. I would encourage the waymarker to complain to the postmaster after they educate themselves about photographers rights. There is no excuse for this kind of treatment. Even if they were on private property there is some legal questions about limiting photographs. You have the right to photograph about anything at any time it seems but may be arrested for trespass if you refuse to leave when asked.

This came up previously in the Waymarking?Muggles? thread. My post there gives an excellent resource for photographers to have with them while waymarking.

It appears that I have explained the situation slightly wrong, according to the waymarker, the postal worker DID allow him to keep the pics in his camera after all. However, he did feel like he had broken the law or something by the way he was approached and questioned. He contacted me in regards to making the photo requirement an option in cases like this. I told him I would research it and make a decision as to whether the photo should be optional. I feel bad that he had this confrontation. However, I myself,
always try to be as descreet as possible when taking photos, as it seems to make people nervous when taking photos in their "space" or general direction.

the blue quasar:

If there was a break in, or hostage taking or bake sale at the post office... don't you think the local TV station might show the location on the nightly news?  Guess what is likely in the background!!!  The Post Office???

LOL

I've just added a section on photographers' rights in the Wayinfo section of Wayward Waymarking.  It has links to the U.S. pdf on photographers rights, and also a link to a similar pdf which focuses on rights in the U.K.  Hope that helps.  Just scroll down the info page until you see the header "Photographers Rights".

What's this Postal worker doing about the satellites?  You know, Google Earth/maps.google.com or Microsoft Live Local?

I hope he's not disgruntled.