[Leica] Police interference with photographers

[lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

I've never been questioned by a policeman in New York City when I used a
Rollei 35 or a small digital P&S camera, even when taking pictures near the
waterfront or the UN. If the police tried to question every tourist using a
camera in the Big Apple they would have no time for eating doughnuts. On the
other hand I have been stopped by an overzealous cop when using a SLR with a
zoom lens. The only place that you can carry a "professional" camera with
impunity is in the Gramercy Park photo district. This is the area between
14th and 23rd streets, extending west from Lexington Ave. to Seventh Ave.
Most of the pro studios and labs are in this area. You can walk down the
street with two Leicas hanging from your neck and a Hassleblad over your
shoulder without anyone thinking you had ripped off a a photo store.

Larry Z