$250 Ticket, amature photog shooting on a tripod in NYC without a permit?

[paul ron]

While at Orchard Beach, a NYC public beach, I saw a photographer get a ticket for shooting a model on the sand without a permit because he was using a tripod.

The park ranger said as soon as you shoot on a tripod in NYC you are considered a professional and that requires a NYC permit... it's the law. Is this true?

Anyone know exactly what the law is on this?

 

[ehf]

NYC permits

While at Orchard Beach, a NYC public beach, I saw a photographer get a ticket for shooting a model on the sand without a permit because he was using a tripod.

The park ranger said as soon as you shoot on a tripod in NYC you are considered a professional and that requires a NYC permit... it's the law. Is this true?

Anyone know exactly what the law is on this?

According to the nyc.gov web site, a permit is NOT required for:

- Hand-held cameras or tripods are used and the person filming does not assert exclusive use of City property.

So unless the area around the model was cordoned off, I think the police offer was perhaps overzealous. (Even if he wasn't the permit fee is $300 and the $250 ticket is cheaper.)

 

[artonpaper]

According to the nyc.gov web site, a permit is NOT required for:

- Hand-held cameras or tripods are used and the person filming does not assert exclusive use of City property.

So unless the area around the model was cordoned off, I think the police offer was perhaps overzealous. (Even if he wasn't the permit fee is $300 and the $250 ticket is cheaper.)

I would just like to affirm the above comment. Tripod use alone does not require a tripod, and there's a good chance the ticket could be challenged in court. If the photographer is blocking access, that could be a problem. hard to imagine on the beach. I think I would not admit being a professional if possible. In the above case I'd say this or my girlfriend, or because I'm way older than most models, my friend's daughter. Then there's the question of, unless it's large format, why do need a tripod on the beach?

 

[BetterSense]

The police don't know the law, they just enforce it.

 

[Steve Smith]

The park ranger said as soon as you shoot on a tripod in NYC you are considered a professional and that requires a NYC permit... it's the law. Is this true?

Being considered professional and actually being there in a professional capacity are two different things.

Whilst it might be a park ruling, I doubt that it is law.


Steve.

 

[paul ron]

I just got this from a reliable source about the LAW as written by NYC...

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/downloads/pdf/moftb_permit_rules_QA_final.pdf

I will take this to the Orchard Beach police n rangers to make them aware.

 

[jeff.blackwell]

While its disappointing, its not at all surprising that the police would act in this way. I used to go to Orchard Beach as a child, but uneven rule enforcement ( and sometimes complete lack of enforcement) drove us to Rye Beach. And Play Land makes a great photo backdrop.

 

[paul ron]

You should come visit the beach again? They did a massive sand project to restore the shoreline and an amazing cleanup of the park as well. Soon they are proposing a renovation of the old bath house n locker rooms making em into restaurants n businesses. Too bad it's still the polluted waters of the Long Island Sound but you can't have everything.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You should come visit the beach again? They did a massive sand project to restore the shoreline and an amazing cleanup of the park as well. Soon they are proposing a renovation of the old bath house n locker rooms making em into restaurants n businesses. Too bad it's still the polluted waters of the Long Island Sound but you can't have everything.

Picky, picky, picky! I'll bet that you want clean air to breathe too!

 

[Klainmeister]

While at Orchard Beach, a NYC public beach, I saw a photographer get a ticket for shooting a model on the sand without a permit because he was using a tripod.

I'm just amazed he got off with such a little ticket....no manslaughter or homicide charges?!?

 

[j-dogg]

hurr durr I has a tripod, I are professional. derp derp derp derp

 

[JamesDean]

I've got a tripod. I've had one for years. I didn't know it made me a professional. Who do I speak to about my back pay?

 

[paul ron]

Sue the city for your back pay.

It always amazes me how fast law enforcement hands out tickets for any little thing. Perhaps the ranger should have advised the guy since he never saw the photog before?... but that is just being courtious and will never happen in NYC.

We are also experiancing a bike blitz of tickets. This city really bums me out, they always have their hands in your pocket, got dam blood suckers!

I hope the guy they ticketed Sunday is reading this? I also posted it on a couple other photog sites so he'll fight it instead of paying the illegal fine.


.

 

[M.A.Longmore]

hurr durr I has a tripod, I are professional. derp derp derp derp

.
I have three tripods !

Ron
.

 

[mopar_guy]

What if you have a tripod and no camera, are you still a professional?

 

[Focus No. 9]

As an organization of 50K plus members couldn't a collective letter be sent to the NYC authorities complaining about this behaviour? To the media?

 

[Focus No. 9]

Never mind. Ron Paul was not the ticketed party. A letter shouldn't be sent based on hearsay.

 

[paul ron]

Thanks for the support.

I only saw n spoke to the photog when it happened, I wasn't the ticketed party. I am going to the beach today to hand them the information so I don't get a ticket in the future, I do use the park often and use my tripod regularly.

 

[artonpaper]

Thinking about this again, the parks have their own rules separate from the city. And there are state parks and national parks. I was warned once under the Brooklyn Bridge while shooting a portrait, no tripod. One area down there has a different agency in control and they have their own rules.

 

[paul ron]

I got thrown off the beach today for taking pictures. A very cocky sargent ranger told me I have to leave the beach because I was taking pictures of the half naked ladies in section 1 to the right of the jetty. He says the girls called him n said I was hanging around for hours harrasing em and taking their pictures. I was actually taking pictures of the egret to the left of the jettty in the same area. But imagine getting thrown out for taking pictures?

I refused to leave and insisted he arrest me for taking pictures, regardless of the subject matter, so they gave me a ticket for refusing to obey an order to leave, and escorted me to the exit. I was also called a pervert by the sargent ranger. I did offer my camera n film if they provide a search warrant but kept insisting they arrest me for taking pics if that was what they felt I was doing wrong... that just escalated their tempers so more sargents n cops n rangers showed up. By the time we finished there were 10 cops n 5 rangers. It's an abuse of power. I'm going to show up in court.

I'd really like to sue the bastards but don't know any lawyers. I wonder if there are any involved in this sort of thing? I'd also like to send this in to the news.

.

 

[BrianShaw]

Sue for what? Calling you a pervert, or asking you to leave the beach?

I think your within rights to challenge the ticket. It might help if you bring the egret to testify on your behalf!

 

[Steve Smith]

I'd really like to sue the bastards but don't know any lawyers. I wonder if there are any involved in this sort of thing? I'd also like to send this in to the news.

You don't need a lawyer to sue someone. You can do it yourself. However, unless you can show some loss or defamation of character - and prove it, I don't think you would achieve much.

Getting it mentioned in the news will probably make you feel better.


Steve.

 

[Darkroom317]

Try here: http://www.nppa.org/member_services/advocacy/

It seems like they will defend any photographers

Dead Link Removed

 

[2F/2F]

One of the best things to do in cases like is to contact a local newspaper or two and see if they want to write an article. Some editors are very serious about protecting the liberty to photograph and otherwise gather information in public, and would invest a few hours and a few inches toward publishing a story. Others couldn't care less (though they really should care, given their profession). It is just one fella who got a ticket, and it may be hard to track him down, but you never know.

 

[Steve Smith]

One of the best things to do in cases like is to contact a local newspaper or two and see if they want to write an article. Some editors are very serious about protecting the liberty to photograph and otherwise gather information in public

Of course they are. It's their business and therefore, in their interest to maintain it.


Steve.