Today, I was standing in a parking lot where I am getting pictures in Wheaton now, and this cop is hastling me. “Hey! What the hell are you doing?” He really said that. I had a scanner in my hane and camera strapped to my shoulder. I said, “I am wating for the trains. i think their will be a special one today.” He says, “This is UP property, get out.” If infact the parking lot were UP property, their would have been a sign, I would have known about it, and their wouldn’t be a basketball hoop nailed to a building, or 2 Ford pick up trucks. He said, “Leave, or I’ll have you arrested.” I moved to the other side of the road where their is another lot, and he comes back and says, “This is still UP property, I am glad you moved, but get out!” I was on a public road when he came up to me and said this, and stayed on the road. Then I go to the Wheaton train station, he is their too. He says, “This is METRA property, leave.” I say, “This is public property hosted by METRA and UP. I don’t want to be mean, but stop hasteling me. I don’t need to tell you you’r job, but if I need to, I will!” He stormed off when I said, “You think you know what is owned by who, but I was on public property, unless it has your name everywhere, I am fine!” That guy had to have been the biggest jerk I have ever met. This was in Wheaton Illinois, for a word of the weise, yell at the cops their if they get started with you, or else, you will be in a cell the rest of the day. These people are more serious then METRA!
Was there a point to this lunaticish rant?
I would have got his badge number and gone down to the police station and demanded to file a complaint… Especially if I was a citizen of that city. Which I assume he didn’t know if you were or not, so obviously he would treat his own citizens that way too. Then go home and write letters to anybody and everybody associated with the town… Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, local store owners associations on that street… Explain to them how a guy who represents their city, is spending their tax money by being paid to treat visitors like garbage… and how you’re planing on telling anybody you know that’s what they’re in for when visiting the area.
Dave
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Point?
Oh yea. I will be very careful to stand in PUBLIC areas and keep those tracks in view. Along with a pen and paper ready to write badge numbers down. I doubt that I would want to go to Wheaton Illinios (which I am sure is a very fine town) to watch trains.
Naa,He’s just power hungry.
I don’t mean to be aggressive against anyone’s position, but I am not sure the cop did anything illegal. And the statements about getting aggressive with the cop should be taken with the highest amount of reservation.
Gabe
Gabe correct me if im wrong but,If someone where on public property and if a cop asked that person to leave isn’t kind of childish? I mean come on now.
It is illegal to harass citizens without due cause. I am more then sure of this because I read the papers and I listen to news of the U.S. I have heard the outcomes of some of the cases in Los Angelas for example so I would say that unless Illinois law is different then California law, the police officer did in fact break the law and could be suspended for it.
The fact that he didn’t arrest him even though he was challenging the officer should tell you something right away. The officer new he didn’t have just cause to arrest him so he gave up the “dirty harry” act.
I agree. Contempt of cop is an easy way to wind up in the Graybar Inn as a guest of the County…
LC
The jail in DuPage County isn’t too far from the tracks–maybe you could get lucky from a northward-facing window.
Seriously, a less confrontational attitude, or a different choice of photo spots (I doubt that anyone would have bugged you on the Prairie Path bridge, for example) might have been helpful.
I am sorry, my mind doesn’t think in terms of “childish and non-childish;” it thinks in terms of what one may legally do and what one may not legally do.
From the scenario described above, it seems to me that the officer probably had the legal right to do what he did. I would also point out that, in many states, resisting an officer’s order is just as illegal if the officer didn’t have the right to arrest you in the first place. The law wants you to challenge police officers in court or through complaints, not by on-the-scene confrontations.
Being on public property is often a safe haven for rail fans. But, it is not an automatic pass. For instance, you can be arrested for loitering on public property in many instances. The more “functional” the “public property” in question is, the more the government has the right to police it. Just because the train station is public doesn’t mean gangs can hang out there, bums can sleep on the benches, you can set up your own photography studio, etc.
My point: DO NOT BECOME AGGRESSIVE WITH THE OFFICER. If you want to photograph trains at a particular spot and the officer wont let you, seek permission from someone who has authority to give it. Better yet, politely ask the officer to whom you might ask to get permission. Such a non-confrontational approach might get the officer to let you take pictures. If you are going to be aggressive with an officer, you better be absolutely certain you have the right to do what you are doing.
As for why the officer didn’t arrest anyone, he probably didn’t think it was worth his time for the paper work, which leads me back to my earlier point—don’t get him mad enough to make it worth the time for the paper work.
There is
See last post.
No worse than dealing with the Berwyn IL City Atty. I had a minor incedent invoving a tree I knocked off about a 1 square foot section of bark. Now here is were it gets interesting the tree was on private property in a yard 10 ft inside the sidewalk and i was charged with damage to city propety. I was billed 195.00 for the removeal of said limb my bosses insurance company paid the bill. Just to get all that done took 5 months. I went into court after the 4th mouth got tired of the City atty antics so I said lets take it before the judge.
That *e City atty dismissed the charges on the guy ahead of me Same BADGE # as me but mine he contines for another month. The next month I had done EVERYTHING that the city had asked me to do execpt kiss the mayors butt on main st. I got the smae judge and showed him the recepit from the city that the bill was paid. The judge goes I am dissmissing the charges against me starts to hand me my licsence back. The City atty rips the licencse out of the judegs hand and goes he will get this back when I am good and FG ready to give it back you don’t run this courtroom I do. The judge looked him in the eye and said Balliff show the Prosecuter to the Gray bar hotel under the charge of contempt of court and assualt on a judge. Then the judge threw out every case from the city of Berwyn that day. So it is not just Wheaton that has an attitude from city employees must be the air or water that turns them into GOD [soapbox][:(!]. Sorry about the rant just wanted to show you were not alone in dealing with idiots.
I can’t imagine an attorney ripping something out of the judges hands and saying “I run this courtroom.” It is simply inconceivable.
Gabe
Just adding in my 2cents here but even if the cop was being a classic example of a power mad a$$hole, yelling back at him is a very bad idea…its a great excuss for him to feel “threatened by the suspects actions” and introduce you to business end of Mr Nightstick!
Its always better to keep a even tone of voice and not act aggressively, you can be firm in your point of view but dont go ballistic on him, some cops just live for confrontations like this so they can act out there aggressions on someone, anyone… you, me, or the nun who spit on the sidewalk…
Well after a trip to jail I would imagine he would not try that again. I’ve seen people do some really stupid things in court. One time this punk was facing GTA charges. I was shocked when he said to the judge"I’m going to kill you when I get out". The judge replied “Well than, I’ll just make sure you don’t get out” and gave him 2 consecutive life sentences without paroll. How stupid can you get.
Sounds like the world wrestling federation school of courtroom protocall… would have loved to see it.
Randy
You get more flies with honey that you do with vinegar.
General rule: defying those in authority is not good sense. Can really ruin one’s month…if your case is over by then.
My approach would have been to agree immediately to move, express regret for any transgression, and then to put it back onto the cop by asking him, “Where would you like me to go to where I can still get a good picture of this rare special train? You see, I am a big train fan, and would hate to miss an opportunity.”
He might have screamed at you, but chances are good that he might have been mollified and given you a suggestion that became HIS acceptable place for you to be.
You know what? Wheaton probably does not cover the entire state of illinois.
I would simply relocate outside of town limits somewhere else further down the rail line where it may still be legal to get the shot.
I would rather do it within viewing distance from the city line. But that’s just me.
A sad commentary on how things are today.I suppose people will blame it on increased security since 9/11,but I suspect it’s more about power than anything else.