Below is a link to a story discussing the requirement to obtain a permit from NJ Transit before taking photos of equipment and structures. I gather that failure to obtain a permit could result in the confiscation of film and camera by the “bulls.”
http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1085040351286192.xml
This is first time I saw the policy in print. My self and a friend where told that we where not allowed to photos of NJT trainsand had to leave at Princeton JCT by an station agent a few months ago.
He waited to the light had failed (we had been there several hours) to notice us and was very polite about it. I think he was an Amtrak employee and just covered himself (CYA) if any body ask if he sent us away. I t hink we will see more restrictions on our civil liberties in the future in the name of homeland security.
We are talking about this in the “Terrorist” thread.
Come and join us over there.
I read the link to the story requiring a permit from NJ Transit to photograph their equipment or structures. What wasn’t clear in the story was whether NJ Transit’s policy only applies to their property such as train stations. For example, what would happen if somebody were to photograph one of NJ Transit’s River Line Trains running in a street in Camden from a sidewalk or perhaps a public park? What are they going to do to you if you take a picture of their equipment from your front yard? What would be the security implications of photographing a diesel railroad car running in a city street? How easy is it n for a non-resident of New Jersey to obtain a permit?
I have been aware of NJ Transi’t zero tolerance of rail photography at their stations or train stops for some time, but I only though it applied to their property. I agree NJ Transit’s policy of requiring a permit to photograph their structures is stupid, but unfortunately the railfan hobby is not that well connected or that well organized to be able to fight this policy, or get it reversed.
Which is why, I think, we should become connected through sponsorship from Trains or another rr related industry for the railfanning hobbyist. somehow. someway.
Anybody actually have one of these permits??
I wonder how hard they actually are to get. I mean if all you have to do is submit an app then who’s to say that the terrorists won’t just do that with some assumed name? On the other hand, I wonder if the railroad is just sitting on the apps and only giving them to a select few.
I have been told a couple times not to stand on railroad property when I take pictures (one time by a rather inept local cop and the other by a very polite CP railway cop who them proceded to talk trains with me for an hour or so) I have never though been told that I could not take pictures from a public location.
This topic is being discussed in another forum also. I guess there would have to be some sort of background check-but how far it goes? I’m always wondering in the back of my head when I’m railfanning that I will be approached as to what I’m doing. It detracts from the pleasure of the hobby and almost leaves one on edge. But I figure I have nothing to hide so go ahead-check me out.Too bad it’s become even more of a ‘closet’ hobby.