With 11 days left to submit comments on the proposed NYCTA photo ban, it is time to submit letters to the NYCTA. Attaced is a strawman letter that may make it easier for you to do this.
Remember, even if you live no where near New York, other agencies may decide to copy what is being proposed elsewhere in the country. So, we all have a very real stake in this.
dcwarner
wilmington, de
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David Goldenberg
New York City Transit Authority
130 Livingston Street, Room 1207
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Subj: Proposed Amateur Photography Ban
Dear Mr. Goldenberg,
I am opposed to the proposed ban on amateur photography of NYCTA rail and bus equipment. The proposal is nothing but an arbitrary, knee-jerk reaction to “do something” in reaction to the Madrid train bombing this past March. Attempting to enforce this ban would draw law enforcement personnel away from responding to real crimes and actually result in making the subway system more dangerous.
There is no evidence that amateur photography has ever been a factor in any untoward event affecting public transportation in this country. For that matter, there have been no reports that photography played a role in the Madrid bombing.
While there is a possibility to exercise some control over photography on the subway, how can any agency prohibit photography from public sidewalks of buses running on public streets? New Jersey Transit (NJT) found it overstepped legal and constitutional authority when it tried a similar restriction this year. When challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, NJT had to back down.
I urge NYCTA to not impose this draconian ban. If some level of control is deemed necessary, then just ask people to have a permit. Even such a permit, though, doesn’t help the millions of tourists each year who take photos of themselves on the unique subway