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  Photography "Harassment" at airports 
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Michael Martin



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 96
Location: RYY PDK MGE FTY ATL

PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:46 pm    Post subject: Photography "Harassment" at airports Reply with quote

Anyone ever been harassed by local Law Enforcement while shooting at their favorite airport? Here is my little story:

Several weeks ago, a friend and I were shooting from the parking deck at ATL when a APD (Atlanta Police Department) officer shows up. Didn't ask what we were doing, but demanded to know. Told us to give him our ID's and to put our camera's down. After he TOLD us that what we were doing was against the law (?), we said that we would gladly leave and go somewhere off the property to shoot. Immediately he told us that he would make sure that we were put on the FBI's most watched list if we ever got caught again taking pictures of airplanes! We politely left the area. One does have to understand something about the APD officers at ATL. Quite a few of them are sent there because they are about 1 step away from being dismissed due to poor performance, public complaints or just a bad officer.

Part II - but on a better note:

Today, I was not on ATL property taking pictures, but on a public roadway. Within 5 minutes, a yellow ATL operations truck pulls up along side of my truck and ask what am I doing. I told them I was shooting pictures of the planes. They asked if it was for business or pleasure. I told them pleasure and the two guys in the truck exchanged glances and they said "OK. Have a great day" and drove off. No problem. Another 5 minutes pass and here comes APD! The officer walks up to me and asks me, very politely, what I was doing and if I would show him my ID. I told him the same thing and he just smiled and asked if I had any weapons on myself or in my truck. I told him "no" and he asked if he could look in my truck. I gave him permission and told him that I was probably the most "boring" person he was going to have. He laughed and said that he wished all his contacts were boring. After figuring out I wasn't a radical terrorist, he told me why he stopped by and that I did have the lawful right to take pictures, but that another officer may stop by and ask me to leave. I told him no problem and he told me to have a nice day and left. Day get's better! About 15 minutes later a big black Ford Excursion pulls up behind me and this guy gets out and goes "Hey man! Hows it going! Great day to take pictures!" I looked at him and said "You are #3 so far". He asked who else has been by and I told him, and he just smiled! He pulled his ID out from his back pocket and showed me that he was a US Marshal and he was just stopping by to make sure I wasn't a "table cloth and fan belt dude"! We laughed about that and then he really surprised me by telling me where some even better places were to take pictures from! I was a bit taken back by that!!! He shook my hand and told me to enjoy the day and left!

I learned my lesson! Don't shoot from the airport, but off the property where they really can't bother you. And, if a US Marshal tells you where better places to shoot from are, you definitely tell him THANK YOU and take him up on the tips!

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  Great story 
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Airport-Data
Site Admin


Joined: 05 Aug 2005
Posts: 1437
Location: Toronto, ON

PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:13 pm    Post subject: Great story Reply with quote

That's a great story. Thanks for sharing.

Ken

   
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Doug Robertson



Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 1751
Location: Southern California

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"table cloth and fan belt dude"?? Must be southern humor! Translation, please. I am certainly glad that SZP is a private, full access airport that encourages visitors-never accosted in 40 years!

  table cloth and fan belt dude 
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Airport-Data
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Joined: 05 Aug 2005
Posts: 1437
Location: Toronto, ON

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:15 am    Post subject: table cloth and fan belt dude Reply with quote

Terrorist, especially middle east terrorist?

Ken Wang
Airport-Data.com

   
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thomas hughes



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Tomball, TX

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here in Houston we are able to shoot from the garage areas. We do call the airport security office and let them know where we are. We also have an official parking lot viewing area at the threshold of one runway.
So far have never been bothered.

   
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Michael Martin



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 96
Location: RYY PDK MGE FTY ATL

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ATL is very anal about people taking ANY picture of airplanes at the airport! Directly from the ATL website:

Filming/Photography

Requests for filming or photography are to be made to the Public Relations Manager for approval five (5) days prior to filming. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours prior to film appointments or a $100 fee will be assessed.

There is an escort fee of $25 per hour (two hour minimum; non-refundable, even upon cancellation) and a location fee of $100 per hour to film on airport property. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reserves the right to restrict filming of the security checkpoint at any time.

Now is that not stoopid?

"table cloth and fan belt dude" is politically correct term for "towel head"!

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Author Message
Airport-Data
Site Admin


Joined: 05 Aug 2005
Posts: 1437
Location: Toronto, ON

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I travel to ATL, and take pictures while I am waiting for the flight, do I need to notice them well in advance?

That's just insane.

Ken

   
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Michael Martin



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 96
Location: RYY PDK MGE FTY ATL

PostPosted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You know, that's the strange thing. Last month we flew from ATL to STL and once you are beyond the security check point, you will rarely see any LE anywhere! I was able to shoot from the inside of the terminal all I wanted and even had a couple of the gate agents take a real interest in what I was doing. I showed them the pictures I was taking (from the display on the back of the camera) and they were impressed! Guess if you have a ticket and can get beyond the security point, you can take all the pictures you want! You just can't take pictures from outside of the airport! Someone there needs their heads screwed on right!
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  Photo Insanity 
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Bill Larkins



Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Posts: 12
Location: San Francisco area

PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:27 am    Post subject: Photo Insanity Reply with quote

That is almost as bad as the new CAF policy. They now claim that all of their aircraft are copyrighted and that you cannot take photos of them for publication or sale without paying CAF a fee. One potographer has been told that they want 10% of any income from any sales but I have not seen anything in writing. The Collings Foundation charges to get into their area at airports they visit so the CAF will probably try to do that also.

   
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Doug Robertson



Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 1751
Location: Southern California

PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The CAF Southern California Wing, Camarillo, California CMA Airport has charged entry fees since they built their two new hangars, Museum admission: $5 adults, $2 (12 & under), under 3-free. They also charge separate admission to their C-46 and C-131 guided tours. I am warned no commercial photo use and do not join the CAF's guided tour. Yet, pictures of their aircraft at Airshows seem to be all over the Web. After payment, the CAF gives you a VISITOR sticker to slap on your clothing in the museum and on their ramp for access.

If you do not have an aircraft based at CMA, through an FBO office, the CAF or the Waypoint Cafe and its outdoor patio dining area are the only pedestrian entries to CMA. Transient pilots who stay a while in the area joke about it while schlepping their flight bags, luggage etc. through the cafe back to their planes.


Last edited by Doug Robertson on Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:39 am; edited 1 time in total

  Photgraphy "Harrassment" at airports. 
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Sam Andrews



Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 12
Location: IPT; Williamsport, PA

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:39 pm    Post subject: Photgraphy "Harrassment" at airports. Reply with quote

I was shooting some pictures one day on the opposite side of the airport from the tower. This is an area where people go to access the river in the summer and run, walk, exercise and whatever else one feels like they want to do. I like to take pictures of airplanes. I had my pickup truck parked as close to the fence as I could get it in order to see down the runway to the approach end of 27. If you look at some of my photos at IPT you might understand. Anyway I was shooting the approach and landing of a US Airways (Piedmont) Dash-8 and listening to the tower frequency. IF you would like to see the pics I took of this it is N942HA. At the end of this guys rollout and just where he should have been turning away from me toward the the gate to exit the runway HE stops. Stops on the runway. Sits there for a few seconds and I hear him report me to the tower as "pointing something at the airplane". This was right after they had issued a notice of reports about Laser beams being pointed at aircraft. So I could understand, I suppose, the caution. The tower says that they will send someone out to check it out. So what am I supposed to do....run away? I din't think that was good idea. So I got my military id (retired) out and ready and heard the security truck call ground and get permission to cross the runway and I watched him come to me. HE asked me what was up. Actually I had a pretty nice conversation with him. He knows who I am now and we greet each other by name. While we were talking an L39C (N339DM if you want to look at some of the pics) flew by and he started talking about the guy flying it. I later took the security guy a CD with some video of the L39. That's another story. Anyway that is the only "harrassment" I have ever experienced. The FBO here at IPT doesn't like you to take pics during normal business hours but I rent a plane out of there and if I'm on the ramp I don't get harrassed. At least not yet.

   
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Michael Martin



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 96
Location: RYY PDK MGE FTY ATL

PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, another off day for me (from work), so I decided to go down towards ATL to shoot pictures of airliners. Find a great abandoned warehouse with a large parking area, so what do I do? I park and start shooting. Time until Forest Park Police Department shows up? About 30 minutes! Not one, not two, but THREE cars come to investigate me! Two officers and a sergeant! Pretty thorough check on me! Complete NCIC check (full background history), check out the truck, take my photograph and a fingerprint! Good thing was that they let me continue to take photo’s. One funny part of it all was that every time they keyed up their radio’s, the Close Call technology in the Uniden 996 would kick in! They would all turn and look at it! All in all, it was very professional, and they got a kick out of me when I told them that I was going to become College Park’s problem because ATL turned the airport around and I would have to go to the west side of the airport to shoot!
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  Airports 
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John Little



Joined: 06 May 2006
Posts: 65
Location: Centennial, Colorado

PostPosted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:55 pm    Post subject: Airports Reply with quote

I have never been hassled or even had anyone from any official agency make contact with me, as long as I was not on airport property.

I did have issues at Centennial when I was taking pictures from their parking lot at the ariport, especially towards the FBO's, but that was resolved a long ago (with the help of some great folks at the field).

DIA does allow pictures but you have to jump some hoops and pay money to get to them, also they have the 6'-0" Fence rule....you cannot get within 6 feet of the fenceline anywere near the field.

The one thing is that every airport that I have visited does have is a special photography rule, that states in essence, if your are taking pictures for commercial use (money changing hands), then you do have to pay the airport authority for the privilege.

You will see this on every website for every "Commercial" Airport, or in their Rules and Regulations materials available from the Airport Administrative Offices.

You will see these same clauses as well for taking pictures in State and US Parks, Federal Lands, Marinas, Beaches, and other similar locations.

My only argument is that I pay both city taxes, and airline ticket taxes for the "privilege" to have and use the airport, why should it be such a problem to enjoy my hobby at the same place.

The real point they are missing and as I have posted before. We are enthusiast of taking pictures of airplanes, we are not going to idly sit by and watch some idiot do something that would ever endanger a plane, it's crew, or passengers, plus with all of us with cameras hanging around our necks, what better "un-official" security service could they ever want.

   
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Richard T Davis



Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I usually check in at General Aviation before going out to shoot the planes lined up at my hometown airport.. Shooting planes for Airport-Data from different sites seems to me to be a benefit for the airports.Your photos are putting the airports on the map.People get to see the planes creating the air traffic.Not to mention the airshows,aviation museums,and general aviation aircraft shots. Airport-Data is viewed all over the world. At crash sites Ive been to while on the job as a news photographer ,Ive suggested to authorites to check Airport-Data to see if a photo of the plane is listed there.In September 2006 while at a crash site with 2 fatal's, I went back to the paper and found a photo of the plane that had been posted a few months before by its owners who had perished in the crash.If anything these airports and authorites should be happy we are helping them. The photos posted here have taken me to airports and shown me planes that cant be seen anywhere else.Recently new signs have been placed at several locations at the local airport with the phone number's of the airport manager and police so that suspicious activity can be reported.My friends at General Aviation just mailed me the 2007 Virginia Aviation Photography Contest sponsored by the Virginia Department of Aviation.If we cant get on the airports we cant get the shots.

   
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Michael Martin



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 96
Location: RYY PDK MGE FTY ATL

PostPosted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The saga continues!

Today, my wife calls to "congratulate" me on having the FBI come to our house to interview me! About 30 minutes later, I get a call from one of the agents requesting to interview me about my pictures. I won't go into detail, but I guess they figured out that I'm not the bad guy they thought I was!

So, my tally includes: Atlanta Police, Forest Park Police, ATL Operations, Fulton County Police, US Air Marshal, Marietta Police, DoD Police and now the FBI. Who else will "investigate" me?

To my Law Enforcement friends - I'm here to stay! Planespotting is not a crime!

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