Cameras might as well be bombs

In one American city, there is a message going out to photographers: put the cameras away, they're a threat to public safety. The source of this asinine message: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

Apparently, the CTA considers “excessive photography” as much of a threat as unattended packages, smoke, and noxious smells. Don't believe it, check out the sign here (it's a wonder that no one called the police on the person who took this picture). In addition to labeling photographers a threat and trying to stop them from taking pictures, the CTA is also urging people to tell Transit employees and/or call 911.

And this is the land of the free?

The ironic part of this whole sorry saga is that these new signs go in direct contradiction to the CTA's official photography policy, which states that “the general public is permitted to use hand-held cameras to take photographs, capture digital images, and videotape within public areas of CTA stations and transit vehicles for personal, non-commercial use.” In layman's terms, take all the pictures you want, just don't go selling them without CTA permission. The official photography policy prohibits auxiliary equipment (tripods, lighting, etc.), photographing non-public areas, and photography that gets in the way of transit operation.

Another problem here is the definition of “excessive.” Generally, laws open to personal interpretation are a recipe for trouble.

Yes, terrorism is a very real threat and a transit system could make for an ideal target, but caution needs to be balanced with common sense. With camera-equipped phones all over, it is highly doubtful that any terrorist would be so stupid as to go around with a camera and take a lot of pictures (attracting attention to himself) when using a camera phone and pretending to talk would raise no eyebrows whatsoever.

Common sense is becoming increasingly uncommon.

For more info (and links):
NBC Chicago
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