I’ve said it before, I’m not gonna worry about being approached by an officer (not HASSLED) until it happens. And do the things Jay said to do if I am approached. Like Ed said, if we quit, they win.
The sky is NOT falling!
mike
Once a police officer approached me when I was filming trains and he didn’t say “Get off”, instead he said that he APRICIATED it!! I made sure that I was on public property when I was filming. I want to tell all of you that is isn’t very wise to watch trains on railroad property, even if you can get a good view. That’s when the police are more likely to chase you off.
I think this “warning” is just a bunch of junk. Like many others have said, if you quit you’re just surrendering to the terrorists. Just like the people in London. If they’d quit riding the buses and trains, the terrorists would have won. But, they didn’t!!
And GUESS WHAT? Yesterday I went on a train ride and brought my video camera along and recorded almost the entire trip, and no one even questioned me. Instead they waved at the camera!![:D][:D]
What makes your friend such a expert of our security system nationwide? Has he traveled thru all the lower 48 & surveyed every foot of every state to know what the situation is everywhere. If I sent you a Email that I have a good buy on the Brooklyn bridge would you believe that[?][?][?]
[quote]
Originally posted by BNSF railfan.
Ed has it right, like usual. Most of the time all the cops want is a name to go with a face. Cops (myself included) don’t just stop and question railfans, we stop and talk to anyone who due to their looks or location raises some suspicion. If I see someone walking next to a store at 2:00 AM, I’m going to stop and talk to him. If everything appears harmless, then I’m going to go on my way but tell the comm center to log down the guys name at whatever location I’m at. If the store owner finds the store broken into in the morning, the detective checks the log. He now knows that such-and-such was at the store at 2:00AM. He now has a place to start his investigation. That guy may not have done it, but may have seen a car pull in as he left or may have some helpful information.
Granted, there are some cops out there that are overzealous and/or overbearing. The reason railfans seem to usually get approached by this type is that the good officers see the railfans for what they are and don’t bother them.
So, go railfanning. Take pictures. Just make sure you’re on public property, or on private property with permission. If we stop doing the things we love in the name of security, then the terrorist have won. As Benjamin Franklin said “those who would trade liberty for security, will get nor deserve neither.”
Well I’m not about to call it quits. Since 9-11 I’ve had a number of encounters with the police, and all of them have been short, professional, and courteous. Several have even been apologetic, they’re usually the ones where someone called in a “suspicious person” report. One officer even asked if he could shake my hand, telling me that I was the most undertstanding person he ever met! Of course it helped that he was pretty understanding too!
Give the cops hell[:p] Railfan in a highly populated area![:D][:D][:D]
Thats me, i go to the same place almost everyday. And i know the crews, i go inside the depot and talk and other stuff (if ya know what i mean [;)]) They do stuff for me and i do stuff for them. So , you can say we are friends, and they dont worry about me.
Alec