[Leica] NPPA Weighs in on MTA Photography Ban

[feli2 at earthlink.net (Feli di Giorgio)]

New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority has revived its earlier  
effort to ban photography from New York's subways and buses and the  
National Press Photographers Association is asking all journalists to  
join in the fight against this proposed ban by submitting public  
comments.

  The change in MTA policy would make photography on the historic subway  
system punishable by a $25 fine and/or up to 10 days in prison. Other  
banned activities include smoking, jumping turnstiles and putting one's  
feet on the seat. This effort to criminalize photography is presented  
as necessary in order to increase security on the transportation lines  
and to prevent terrorism, although it would continue to be legal to  
carry a licensed, concealed gun on the subway.

  While the proposed regulations contains an exception for journalists  
with NYPD press credentials, the NPPA supports right to free expression  
for all photographers, not just photojournalists. We also believe that  
no government entity has the Constitutional right to determine who is,  
or who is not, a journalist with First Amendment protections.

  In addition, because of the availability of hidden cameras and camera  
telephones, this proposed ban will merely result in police wasting  
valuable time harassing innocent photographers and tourists with  
visible cameras.

  The photography ban, which NPPA has opposed since we first learned of  
the plan in May 2004, was posted in the New York State Register on  
November 24. The official public comment period has begun but it will  
end shortly, on January 10, 2005.

  We encourage all of our members and other interested parties to submit  
comments as soon as possible here:

http://mta.info/nyct/rules/proposed.htm

  According to the MTA Web site, comments that have already been  
submitted will be reviewed and considered along with the any new  
comments submitted during the official comment period.

  The NPPA believes this proposal represents a part of a larger, ongoing  
trend in the United States and that it is important for all NPPA  
members to take action, regardless of if they are a New York resident  
or not. Under the umbrella of "fighting terrorism" we have seen  
government officials nationwide moving to limit free expression, free  
speech, and free press. While such rights may often be inconvenient for  
the government, we believe that they are essential to ensuring the  
liberty and freedom that we enjoy in this nation.

  Related story:

https://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2004/09/ 
nppa_opposes_subway_photography_ban.html


  Note: Permission to reprint this letter is granted, provided it  
appears in its entirety and is properly credited to the National Press  
Photographers Association.


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