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

[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

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...=2011110621029

[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.

[paul ron]

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

It seems like they will defend any photographers

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...=2011110621029

Thanks I'll contact them.

I called the news and they seem very interested. Perhaps a public beating is what they need to make this stop? Ticket for tripods n now to throw someone off the beach for taking pictures, obsurd.

Brian, How do I care for an egret till the court date, I got em right here and he's not talking?

.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Orchard Beach is part of the NYC City Parks system, which has different rules from the City, which generally allows tripod use without a permit on outdoor city property by a group of fewer than five people, as long as it doesn't involve setting up lights, wiring, sets, etc., and doesn't obstruct roads and sidewalks. The City Parks guidelines are here--

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsr...uidelines.html

Much seems to be left open to interpretation, if you don't have a permit, but usually when I've been questioned while photographing with a tripod on City Parks property, it's been about commercial use, and the officers have taken me at my word when I've said I was not shooting commercially.

Central Park seems most liberal about enforcement of these rules, allowing even commercial wedding photography, small-scale model shoots, and bird photographers with tripods and big glass, as long as it isn't too obtrusive and there aren't, say, officious production assistants with walkie-talkies keeping passersby out of the shot.

There are also NY State Parks within city limits, and they have different rules, and MTA property has its own rules.

[Sirius Glass]

Thanks Dave, that explains away some of the confusion.

Steve

[paul ron]

I did check the parks dept and city rules, Orchard Beach is not on the restricted list as are some parks in NYC, nor is photogrtaphy illegal on the beach or a permit needed for tripods... as long as you are not comercial nor blocking the flow or controling the flow of pedesttrian or car traffic as in the NYC mayor's office rules n regs. Tripods are considered hand held devices, not comercial equipment, and fall under no permit required to use em.