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Your rights as a photographer in US
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev
    Your rights as a photographer

    • When in public spaces where you are lawfully present you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view. That includes pictures of federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police. Such photography is a form of public oversight over the government and is important in a free society.
    • When you are on private property, the property owner may set rules about the taking of photographs. If you disobey the property owner's rules, they can order you off their property (and have you arrested for trespassing if you do not comply).
    • Police officers may not generally confiscate or demand to view your photographs or video without a warrant. If you are arrested, the contents of your phone may be scrutinized by the police, although their constitutional power to do so remains unsettled. In addition, it is possible that courts may approve the seizure of a camera in some circumstances if police have a reasonable, good-faith belief that it contains evidence of a crime by someone other than the police themselves (it is unsettled whether they still need a warrant to view them).
    • Police may not delete your photographs or video under any circumstances.
    • Police officers may legitimately order citizens to cease activities that are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations. Professional officers, however, realize that such operations are subject to public scrutiny, including by citizens photographing them.
    • Note that the right to photograph does not give you a right to break any other laws. For example, if you are trespassing to take photographs, you may still be charged with trespass.


    Read the rest at: http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-photographers
  • 5 Replies sorted by
  • sam_sticklandsam_stickland
    It's basically the same in the UK to. Here's a handy card to have on you:

    http://www.amateurphotographer.com/news/uk_photographers_rights__print_them_out_and_keep_them_handy_news_300122.html
  • mpgxsvcdmpgxsvcd
    Looks like Texas is trying to ban taking and posting pictures of Police Officers.

    http://twaddle.newsvine.com/_news/2011/05/25/6712867-texas-law-would-ban-publication-of-photos-of-police-officers

    My understanding is that there were some states that have or had laws on the books that banned taking pictures of police officers even on public grounds. The state laws are unconstitutional of course. That won’t stop you from getting arrested though.
  • Ian_TIan_T
    Yeah those loopholes are necessary for them to exercise abuse.
  • NickBenNickBen
    http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/78612

    current case of man in Illinois being charged with 75 years for 5 video recordings (15 years each)...
    for using a CAMERA!


    Chicago Democrat politicians keep insisting they don't want citizens to have right to bear arms and
    I know Chicago has Thousands of TAXPAYER FUNDED cameras surveiling us citizens

    I think a couple million of citizens should have the right to film the Politicians and public officers
    right back as long as they don't interfere directly...

    With all the flash mobs, a camera should be the least of their concern...

    Chicago citizens should have legal right to carry GUN MOUNTED CAMERAS to protect themselves from the thugs...
  • MrAnthonyMrAnthony
    Bert Krages is an attorney who posted a pdf file showing photographer's rights, within the U.S.:
    http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

    It's downloadable, printable, and foldable. :-)
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