Chicago Tribune story about being busted while photographing trains

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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is here.

2

Don’t believe the Metra statement in this article that they acknowledge that people have the right to stand on public property and photograph their trains. A friend and I photographing Metra and UP at Waukegan were not only stopped and questioned but ordered to leave.
Dave Nelson

3

Could somebody out there publi***he ‘link’,
so we all can read it ?

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Mike

Thanks for that post. Train photographers might want to carry around a copy of the article to show to any over zealous officers of the law.

Jay

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I heard it mentioned in several other posts on the site that maybe the photogrpaher(s) should carry “credentials”, such as TRAINS magazine, or something of the sort so that if they are approached by Officer With Something To Prove, they can back their story up and hopefully reduce tensions. I’m not saying it’ll work, but hopefully common sense will set in.

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Thanks, guess I didn’t notice the ‘obvious’. Very interesting reading.
I just don’t know about carrying “credentials”. In my opinion, common
sense should be obvious to everyone.
It’s unfortunate that circumstances in the last few years has “dictated”
this new way of life for us all.

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Somehow I was able to read it, then it kicked me out after asking for registration…Also, once you gain access, it has an option to 'e-mail this article". Just like other newspapers do, the link along with the Chicago Tribune header will post. At any rate, it provides publicity to the Metra Incident that caused so much controversy and raised the ire of railfans(including myself) Hopefully, it has served as a lesson. If the railfans involved did not question and publicize what happened, perhaps the practice would still be occurring to other railfans there. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

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The same thing actually happened to me in Morton Grove back in september. its a shame i didn’t say anything on here about it…now i just look like a copycat. Oh well, life goes on. They DID tell me the same thing about not being able to take pics from a public sidewalk, and I called BS on them for that. i showed the officer the photographers bill of rights and he looked at it, handed it back and said “well thats nice”. way to go Metra Police…alienate the people who know how the railroad works, and who can recognize something wrong and let you know. Railfans could be the extra eyes and ears, but no, i don’t have a right to be there even though i ride metra 5-6 times a week. Those guys must’ve been out photographing the F40C’s #611 and #614. The 611was the power on my train last thursday. the noses look almost as bad as all those retirement age F-units when those were still in service.

d

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I read the article. I am wondering about the statement that the people were upset because the transit authorities should have found it obvious they weren’t terrorists.

How do terrorists look?

It all sounds to me like confusion on the part of the transit police, a “my Dad is bigger than your Dad” on the part of the tourists and a lot of nonsense about a small matter.

I know it is important that you don’t have your God Given Right to photograph whatever and whomever as long as you are on public property infringed on, but I get the feeling there was a little attitude involved here and even if there wasn’t, cooperate and then discuss it with the proper authorities afterward.

Smells like the same thing that causes road rage to me! Don’t try to get along, get all puffed out of shape at the slightest hint of authority and make sure no one pushes you around and never, ever let there be a mistake made involving you!

And like I read here before, maybe the crew doesn’t want you taking their picture, but does anyone ever ask them for permission?

It’s an angry world and getting worse all the time!

Mookie

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Next thing you know, they’ll be telling us we can’t take pictures in Rochelle[:O]

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Wow
Takin pictures and leavin footprints isnt good enough anymore?Guess I better get matt and my birth certificates around.[:(]
stay safe
Joe
ps thanks mike for the link[;)]

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Here is a more detailed account of the incident.

http://www.discoverlivesteam.com/magazine/january_8_letter.htm

Brennan

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I called the ACLU when it happened to me, and basically they said get a lawyer if it happens again.

while the gov’t is at it, why don’t they start inspecting containers as they come off all the ships?

d