Shooting pictures of people in public (legality)

[Rson]

Does anyone know the legality of shooting people in the public in the capacity of them committing a crime and documenting it.

Is there any expectation of privacy? Does it apply to teenagers?

[sldi]

It seems that sometimes its not the "shooting" of the pic, but what its use is afteerwards

[zebulus]

There are no laws against taking pictures of people in public, but if you try to publish it you have to have their written consent.

HOWEVER, the loophole here is, if you can take the picture in a certain manner which disguises their identity, your fine.

[hotshot38]

Legal Rights of Photographers

A good reference for any question like this.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by zebulus

There are no laws against taking pictures of people in public, but if you try to publish it you have to have their written consent.

HOWEVER, the loophole here is, if you can take the picture in a certain manner which disguises their identity, your fine.

I'd like to see where you reference this advice. It could be correct in a small paradigm of instances, but I certainly wouldn't consider it sound general advice.

Check out the laws regarding journalism, and those regarding an 'expectation of privacy'.

[babybluetx23]

its also a good idea to carry multiple copies of the legal rights of photographers. We went to a car show last weekend in biloxi mississippi and I was on the sidewalk taking pictures of cars dragging down the strip. a biloxi cop tried to tell me he could arrest me for that. I pulled out a copy of the legal rights of photographers and showed him i was NOT breaking the law in any way shape or form since I was on public property taking pictures of vehicles on public property. he KNEW i wasnt breaking the law, he was just trying to be an ass. he then politely asked me to stop that I was encouraging people to drag and burn out. Im glad i had that photographers rights on me! example of the biloxi cops just trying to flex their non existant muscles. My fiancee runs police demo lights on his vehicle. he was on private property PARKED and had the keys with him while he was about 100 feet away from his vehicle. cops pulled up and told him they could take him to jail for impersonating a police officer. he works for a company that builds police cars so he knows the law on running police lights. Anyway he proceeded to tell the police officer that he was on private property and that what he was doing was far from illegal. the cop asked him for his ID, he proceeded to hand him his buisness card and ID. the cop saw his buisness card and didnt bother to look at his ID and then proceeded to nicely ask him to please turn off his strobes and walked away. Just another example of how important it is to educate yourself on your legal rights and to obey the law so the police dont have any kind of ground to stand on.

[L Stegall]

Is the OP trying to catch some kids in the act of breaking into a car or house and use the photos as evidence? Just trying to get some additional facts.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by zebulus

There are no laws against taking pictures of people in public, but if you try to publish it you have to have their written consent.

HOWEVER, the loophole here is, if you can take the picture in a certain manner which disguises their identity, your fine.

Consent is not required for editorial use or fine art.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by L Stegall

Is the OP trying to catch some kids in the act of breaking into a car or house and use the photos as evidence? Just trying to get some additional facts.

Yes, caught them destroying a bridge. Posted on neighborhood forum without title. Just, do you know this kid.

[Imagebuffet]

That's the sort of thing I am doing with this set on Flickr:

Garland Greenbelt ATV Menace

I've spent months photographing people breaking the law by operating motor vehicles and guns and setting fires in the Nature Preserve and adjacent private property. Yesterday, I was resting in the creek, when I heard gunshots nearby. I followed the gunshots to their source, a pair of men shooting in the brush in the land for sale next to the Preserve.

Edit to add: I do not believe that people who are in public have a reasonable expectation of privacy. As long as one does not use the photos for commercial use (and, sometimes, even if one does), then the photos may be used in any way that does not defame the person photographed, regardless of age, sex or occupation of the person photographed. If someone or something is in plain view, I have the right to photograph it.

[robert t]

You don't have to say your a cop you only need imply it. Chevy marks their demo cars very well to show they are not police vehicles, but having lights on the car is not against the law only if you use them on the road. The locals were reaching past the statute bit. Volunteer Fire fighters have lights on their vehicle and need no markings.


Sec. 37.12. FALSE IDENTIFICATION AS PEACE OFFICER; MISREPRESENTATION OF PROPERTY. (a) A person commits an offense if:

(1) the person makes, provides to another person, or possesses a card, document, badge, insignia, shoulder emblem, or other item bearing an insignia of a law enforcement agency that identifies a person as a peace officer or a reserve law enforcement officer; and

(2) the person who makes, provides, or possesses the item bearing the insignia knows that the person so identified by the item is not commissioned as a peace officer or reserve law enforcement officer as indicated on the item.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Rson

Yes, caught them destroying a bridge. Posted on neighborhood forum without title. Just, do you know this kid.

Dang, they destroyed a bridge?! Did they imploded it or something? Post the pictures!

[danchez]

why not print copies and turn them into the local police department and let them investigate?

[johnastovall]

If you are truly interested in this topic get and read, "Photojournalism, Sixth Edition: The Professionals' Approach " by Kenneth Kobre.

Chapter 15, "Ethics," is the key...

[texfoto]

If you are concerned about being within legal bounds, why not hand them over to the police and let them handle it legally?

There is no law against taking pictures of adults or minors in public, especially committing crimes. As far as posting the pics, check out youtube. Lots of crimes being committed.