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."
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The universe is a haunted house. -Coil
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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
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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Last edited by jd callow; 02-26-2008 at 10:21 PM.
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Well, I was just as polite as they were. I gave them my ID without a hassle. They laughed when they saw the giant Afro I used to have (I now have a buzz cut). He asked for my contact number. I gave it to him.
At no point did he tell me I was doing some thing wrong.
Not a big deal but it did rattle me. And I just wanted this somewhere just in case.
Well, I was just as polite as they were. I gave them my ID without a hassle. They laughed when they saw the giant Afro I used to have (I now have a buzz cut). He asked for my contact number. I gave it to him.
At no point did he tell me I was doing some thing wrong.
Not a big deal but it did rattle me. And I just wanted this somewhere just in case.
A
To the best of my knowledge you do not need to give them your id. I wouldn't out of principle, though they could look at my license plate and figure it out.
It's hardly a free society if you need to produce papers when walking about in public.
I guess it would have been wrong to have responded "My name is Average Joe Citizen-TaxPayer, and I am minding my own business". I wonder how these 3 LEO's put this in their report - Hassled a suspicious street photographer for five minutes. Seriously, there may have been something going on, a political rally/speech, opening a new donut shop, etc. How many police are needed to question a man on the street? As many as we have at the time I think. Sorry, but I am cynical and cranky.
Yes, the police need to be vigilant, even since 9/11, but they need to have some common sense as well. And they need to watch a lot fewer super-cop cartoons/movies (ie, Stallone, Willis, Bronson, Eastwood, etal) too. Just my 2 cents, after taxes...
It seems in US everyone is scared from own shadow. Two hundred years ago it was pull the gun, now is pull the lens. Well here in Canada is not too far from the same. I had intention to get into Downtown to make some oil paintings, but changed my intention. Might be some guy will come with chains and ask me "do you make it for tererists? ..." I have impression that in whole North Am. if one just stop on the street he is potential terorist. And if he pull the camera, "God we got him, run". Well I would not live in US if Bush present me whole NewYorkCity.
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