Freelance photographer in trouble with the law

[Steelsun]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...o/4659021.html

Felony?
"Taking pictures of Law Enforcement doing their duties" is a crime?
Since when?

Sounds like the guy may have some recourse for suit of intimidation by law officials afterwards.

[ndsimm]

I'd be interested in seeing what happens
I've seen about three accidents and whenever I got ready to snap some shots, I was told by officers on the scene that I couldn't. Is that only for certain photographers?

[LoungeLizard]

OK...this was discussed when it came up originally over a month ago. The discussion went south almost immediately and resulted in the thread being deleted.

To avoid that this time, stick to facts and discussion points.

[Terrancelee]

That's bull****. If it had been my family member, being a "nobody", there would have been no problems. I'm sorry the fella died, but it's still a simple traffic news story. No conspiracy here to uncover, for crying out loud.

[Murph]

I'd like more information before I make a decision.

[mobilezen]

Originally Posted by Murph

I'd like more information before I make a decision.

Me too

[Ahh!]

I, too, would like to subscribe to this thread if we can stay on point. Will this story, as it unfolds, become a furball of emotional reactions (it happens)? Or is there some real line that the photog crossed and the only way to "make him pay" was to throw this charge on him and exact an inexact punishment(legal costs to defend an inappropriate charge)? Was there something on the published photos that crossed that line? Or was everyone just upset that a respected leader died?

[amadjuster]

Is there such a statute against taking photos of peace officers w/o their permission? I sure see a lot of video on TV of peace officers and I don't think they are giving model releases.

Sounds like the good ol' boys in East Texas got their nose out of joint.

[SaundraU]

Is it possible he's done this numerous times and been asked to stop and hasn't thus the charges? Sounds like there is some confusion as to the guys role between the 3 departments. Also did the county have jurisdiction of the area, if not then maybe he shouldn't have been shooting film.

[Steelsun]

One of the things stated in the article was that he left the scene before the sherrif dept arrived, thus how could he be interfering tiwht them?

[Mike G]

I just think they have the redazz at him for selling pictures of the scene .. its a small town and I'm sure he was well known and probably well liked. So they found some way to "punish" him for it.

[jmoore01]

Bert P. Krages, a photographer and attorney, discusses many situations, in his downloadable handbook. He also did an even more informative podcast.

Good and informative.

[kamari]

Originally Posted by Terrancelee

That's bull****. If it had been my family member, being a "nobody", there would have been no problems. I'm sorry the fella died, but it's still a simple traffic news story. No conspiracy here to uncover, for crying out loud.

I totally agree. 10 years ago a guy in my neighborhood was shot after a basketball game. On the front page of the next day's philadelphia inquirer lay his very detailed body in the spot he'd been shot at, bullet holes clearly visible on his chest and shoulder in a pool of blood. People complained about the portraying of a black teenager in the way he was displayed on the front page but the police chief and city officials quickly downplayed it. It's pretty ironic how when one of their own meets fate that they don't want it displayed.

[mobilezen]

Sometimes pictures speak absolute truth and some people can't handle that. Media likes to sugar coat some stuff. Ah, how frustrating society we live in.

[Ahh!]

...per the reporter covering the case, the photos taken were not sensitive (no bodies, etc). Although emotions are running high, the photog is an easy-going, former deputy sheriff, who knows the ropes.

Trying to not get political, here, but the DA has much to deal with in these cases.