Questioned by the FBI and Local Police

[david b]

Today, I went out with the 6x9 to make some photos around downtown Albuquerque. It is really nice out here and a great day to make some photos. I shot a roll while walking around and then got in my car to leave. On my way back home, I swung by to Albuquerque Bus Station to remake a photo I did before, but this time with a film camera, instead of the digital p&s. (the photo can be seen here)

No sooner do I get back into the car, two men and a woman approach me, flashing their badges. One guy and the woman are from the FBI and the other guy was an APD detective. They wanted my ID and to know what I was doing. The male FBI agent politely explained that since 9/11 they are watching who is photographing public transportation buildings. Since I was standing in the middle of the public street with a rather large camera, I was easily seen. He also made a comment about me doing half the work (photographing) for possible terrorists.

I told them I was a local photographer who is doing a project on Albuquerque, the place in which I live. None of them quite got it. I offered my camera to them so they can see what I was doing. The female agent acccepted, took my camera and she too stood in the middle of the street to see what I saw. She kind of got it, but not really. I also asked if I could take their portraits, they all declined.

Then they asked why I was still shooting film since every one else has gone digital. Without getting into it too much, I explained that I like film and have a home darkroom. They seemed to get it.

Before they walked away, we all exchanged business cards and full names. That was appreciated. They also told me that if I ever see anything "suspicious" while out making photographs, that I should take a photo of it, and then call them immediately. Fair enough.

All in all, it seems like a harmless encounter but it can sure rattle the nerves. I packed up my stuff and went for lunch. I'll develop the film tonight to see if all of this was actually worth the photo.

 

[thebanana]

3 well paid professionals at one bus station, looking for "anything suspicious". Your tax $$ hard at work:rolleyes:

 

[Dinesh]

3 well paid professionals at one bus station, looking for "anything suspicious". Your tax $$ hard at work:rolleyes:

1 well paid professional provincial employee, surfing APUG. My tax $$ hard at work

 

[AgX]

I've repeatedly been interrogated just for standing somewhere.
Without having a camera with me.

Sometimes their arguments are annoying, sometimes I can accept them with some effort.
My ID will be milled through their computersystem, they'll make a report in their log.
That's life...

 

[Sean]

What I find frightening is at which point does it go to the next level and is such a move imminent? Right now it is questioning on location but a few yrs from now will it be taking you away in cuffs for questioning, observation, confiscation of your equipment, etc. David are you now on "The List"? I watched this the other day which is one of those highly alarmist pieces, however it makes you think if just 1% of this is true.. yikes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0LvtQAQ6sc

 

[david b]

I have no idea if I am on the list, but I did a little research and came across this rather bothersome encounter that happened a few blocks from where I was questioned today.

 

[MikeSeb]

David, not sure what to say. Sounds like the officer/agents handled themselves politely and professionally, probably because you did the same.

It seems that some people--not talking about you here--want it both ways. Like it or not, the reality after 9/11 is different. There are people out there whose stated aim is to kill as many of us as they can. This is incontrovertible fact. Some of the people--again, not referring to you, David--bitching the loudest about being "hassled" by the authorities will be the same ones fault-finding and finger-pointing when some US city goes up in a pillar of fire.

I have been accosted by police in similar situations; they are being vigilant, and in no case have I been treated with anything but courtesy, after extending the same to the officers. Photography on a tripod, of a more deliberate and slow nature than the average digicam snapshooter, is not an activity familiar to all these days, after all.

I phoned the local water-supply authorities for permission to photograph a few of their buildings, which are architecturally quite beautiful. I was denied entry, because in the post-9/11 world, water purification plants are considered strategic assets and points of vulnerability. Makes sense if I'd only thought about it–-a malefactor could do tremendous damage with the right chemical or biological agent introduced into the water supply. Nevertheless, I was welcomed to photograph the buildings' exterior, and asked to give them some notice so they could let the security people know I'd be around. Don't see much wrong with this level of watchfulness.

 

[GGardner]

Then they asked why I was still shooting film since every one else has gone digital.

"Terrorists use digital cameras".

 

[waileong]

There is no problem as long as these guys are polite and do their jobs within the law. If however they start seizing cameras or arresting photographers without reasonable cause, I hope they get sued out of their pants.

 

[David Brown]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess (an "educated" guess - I work at a federal law enforcement agency) that there was something else going on. FBI agents don't just hang around bus stations. This doesn't explain why you were talked to, but this was likely not a normal day for them, either.

 

[DaveOttawa]

Sounds like a very paranoid city (not the only one nowadays), glad you got the shots you wanted though.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

You're lucky they did not detain you for hours without charging you or telling you what crime(s) you committed without a lawyer. Hell, you're lucky you weren't sent on a plane in the middle of the night to Poland or some other European country. Or that they didn't trash your camera or dump your film.

 

[removed account4]

david

it may have rattled your nerves, but
you did a good job explaining what you were doing.

john

 

[el wacho]

of course. they ( the bad guys ) now use vintage cameras for their intelligence gathering... and not minoxs mind you, big f--k--g sheet film cameras. yes, things are different post 9/11. we are now dumber. kenna , sugimoto etc should all be questioned about their twin tower fotos..

 

[david b]

As I said, I was politely questioned. At no point was it hostile or threatening. It just caught me off guard and kind of ruined the day.

 

[Early Riser]

I don't have a hard time with due diligence, although it always seems that the greatest amount of paranoia doesn't actually come from citizens of the cities that have already been hit by terrorism or cities who are the biggest targets of terrorism, but more often from people living in areas that are the least at risk of a terror attack. What really bothers me is that while we allow 30,000 people to die every year from guns in the US, and 50,000 to die in automobile related accidents, often alcohol related, and 400,000 to die every year in the US from tobacco related diseases, no one seems to be too alarmed by that.

We sadly lost 3000 people on 9/11. I had several funeral processions for local firefighters pass before my home, my wife at one point worked in the WTC and was nearby, as was my sister who was across the street. But to really put things into perspective, in the 8 years since the new millenium, we have lost 3000 people on our home soil due to terrorist activity, I am not counting our armed forces abroad who have suffered many losses and clearly are in harms way at all times. In that same period though we have lost 3,840,000 due to the 3 preventable causes I mentioned above. People still have the right to buy and carry guns, to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, however when we point a camera at something, we get stopped and questioned by the police.

 

[Sean]

Yes, a high resolution digital camera pen stuck in the shirt pocket of a casual looking pedestrian would be out of the question for intel gathering.. Not sure what is more scary, LF shooters under suspicion or the notion that terrorists are stupid enough to shoot LF for intel gathering. There is the excuse floating around lately stating law enforcement doesn't know about our types of gear, but shouldn't that be basic training? A short and simple slide show should resolve this? There is also the notion the images are helping the terrorists, have these guys not seen that pretty much everything is already photographed and accessible online? I haven't been back home to the US in years but am starting to feel paranoid about my street photography next time I visit

 

[Sean]

Oh, and don't get me wrong like the post above mine I understand due diligence, I just wish common sense was involved..

 

[jd callow]

There is no problem as long as these guys are polite and do their jobs within the law. If however they start seizing cameras or arresting photographers without reasonable cause, I hope they get sued out of their pants.

I don't see it that way. The problems begin when everyone is under suspicion. It doesn't matter how polite or 'professional.'

Some point to a 'new' reality after 9/11. Sadly that new reality is not one I think is necessary, effective or positive.

As Sean points out when will this end? If it is due to 9/11 and we are attacked again will the next step be a quick DNA sample or a trip to the station? ..and when we're attacked again, and again?

I'd rather be free and 'unsafe', then have my rights slowly removed and still be unsafe.

 

[walter23]

They also told me that if I ever see anything "suspicious" while out making photographs, that I should take a photo of it, and then call them immediately.

You've now got an effective way to eliminate potential photographic competitors.

 

[david b]

I did see a guy with a fancy digital camera and did think about calling them...

 

[walter23]

"Papers please!" Just a polite interrogation.

Being interrogated, while going about your daily business, by federal agents (with the power to throw you away without trial) is the antithesis of living in a free society.

If this is what you're seeing, as a normal citizen minding your own business, what are people on the fringe (and I don't mean dangerous ones) going through? This is seriously frightening business.

I mean, what if the federal agents had somehow seen your tagline on APUG and inferred something about you? It would be pretty easy to twist "war is terrorism, but with a bigger budget" to imply "my terrorist actions are a just response to the war I don't believe in", or "I consider the actions of my government to be morally equivalent to terrorism". And then you'd be right f***ed.

Or what if you'd excercised your constitutional rights and said "I'm doing nothing illegal, buzz off, or at least let me consult my lawyer before I give you any information."

 

[david b]

Maybe I should move to Canada?

 

[dburian]

Couple years ago, I was out shooting for a local contest. One of the topics in the competition was "stairs". So I see a neat set of stairs on a building downtown. I take a camera over to see if I can get a pleasing composition, decide that I can and go back for the tripod in the car. About the time I'm ready to push the button, an officer comes out of the building and very politely asks me what I'm doing. I explain myself and he, again very politely, tells me I can take the picture but not if I'm standing on the grounds, only from the street. Needless to say, from the street I can't get the composition that attracted me so I pack up my kit to go. As I'm leaving, I go by the front of the building and notice that it is the new Federal Building, the one they built in Oklahoma City after the old federal building got bombed. To this day, I remain impressed at the professionalism of the officer and a bit surprised that he would have let me shoot to my heart's content from the street.
DB

 

[23mjm]

You know is it what it is---I have no problems with LE (Law Enforcement) asking me questions while I am out. They are just doing a job. What I have a problem is with LE sitting around with their thumb up there butt waiting for the next terrorist attack. I feel better knowing they are out asking questions looking around. It is amazing how far a little politeness can go. Being with the Fire Department I work with LE often, and if you want to get the old cavity search just cop an attitude. 90% of people have no idea the crap LE has to deal with---Watch Cops on TV then get back to me if you think you could do that job. LE asking me questions is not violating my civil liberties, when they tell me I can't own and use a camera then they are violating my civil liberties.

Asking you questions is NOT interrogating, interrogation is what they do after they arrest you and have you in custody.

One more thing don't be a tough guy/girl and refuse to give proper ID--if you do that will be the fastest way to jail, LE has the right to ask for ID and also has the right to detain you until they figure out who you are.
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