WMATA mulls photo ban...

AnnexOperator · August 05, 2008, 08:17:44 AM

metro does not want no one on there property taking pictures,drivers were also complaining about the photo taking aswell.

Perry · August 05, 2008, 10:30:10 AM

It's a public space. How about this? Next time I'm walking down the street and someone is taking a picture and I happen to be in it, I'll ask them to have it deleted or call the cops. That's about a lame as this whole photo "ban" thing. What's next, banning photos of trees? I know they are pretty sensitive these days as they don't want to be the next one chopped down for development.

AnnexOperator · August 05, 2008, 11:18:05 AM

Okay here is what happen someone went into the FourMile garage secound yard and took pictures and went on the buses in the secound yard and took pictures until the persons got caught by maint.staff.

WayneNYC · August 05, 2008, 11:20:44 AM

Even if WMATA makes life hard for those wishing to take photos on their property, they can't do anything about the person taking pics on the street. That said, I think we all agree that non-employees should not be trespassing to get photos or even distracting bus operators and train operators with flash photography.

WMATAGMOAGH · August 05, 2008, 01:46:01 PM

Quote from: WayneNYC on August 05, 2008, 11:20:44 AM
Even if WMATA makes life hard for those wishing to take photos on their property, they can't do anything about the person taking pics on the street. That said, I think we all agree that non-employees should not be trespassing to get photos or even distracting bus operators and train operators with flash photography.

Well said, Wayne.

Sand Box John · August 09, 2008, 10:07:45 AM

Ok folks, I am going to end the argument concerning photography in public areas of WMATA property once and for all.

Read Section 100.8 on pages 9-12 (PDF pages 13-16) of Regulation Concerning The Use By Others Of WMATA Property.

The pertinent entry concerning casual photography is on page 10 (PDF pages 14) in Section 100.8 (a) (2).

Tristan · August 09, 2008, 12:31:56 PM

Relevant text: "Still photography that does not require a tripod, special lighting, film
crews, models, impair the normal ingress/egress or operation of WMATA
services and can be accomplished by a hand- held camera by one person
is not regulated."

John, I don't think this "ENDS" the argument, because what AnnexOperator presented was something that sounds like an attempt to change what the text says.

Sand Box John · August 09, 2008, 08:50:43 PM

"Tristan "
John, I don't think this "ENDS" the argument, because what AnnexOperator presented was something that sounds like an attempt to change what the text says.

The key word in your replay is "attempt". No one within WMATA below the Board of Directors can arbitrarily change rules or procedures unless they are granted the power to do so.

Read the Preamble in Section 100 on pages 1 and 2 (PDF pages 5 and 6).

My Advice to all is to carry a copy of the WMATA Use Regulations when taking picture in publicly accessible areas of WMATA equipment and facilities. I would also suggest carrying extra copies of the cover page with the full URL printed on it so that the confronting individual can refer to it at a later time.

Tristan · August 10, 2008, 12:34:17 AM

I was thinking that as well, John. If things become a big problem, I will make a wallet-sized card to carry around (and will post that here)...

Let's just sit this one out and see what happens...I bet not much will come from it.

WES · August 10, 2008, 01:16:54 PM

If you think about it, this should not be viewed as someone taking a picture in WMATA's divisions, this is a overall security threat. WMATA should take precautions to prevent any unauthorized person from getting in any of their divisions. I remember a few years ago, a couple of theives tried to cover up a robbery, went into the Southern Avenue Annex division, set fire to some of the Neoplans that were stored there to cover up said robbery. And yes this was before 911, but the fact that someone ventured onto WMATA property and noone caught this person even crossing their bus yard border should mean that cameras should be going up in all their divisions with someone monitoring all parts of the garage. If some idiot busfan can get into a garage to take pics, then what would prevent some idiot terrorist from getting into a garage and booby trapping a bus.

This shouldn't be grounds for banning overall photography, this should be the grounds for improving overall garage security.

WMATAGMOAGH · August 10, 2008, 04:17:43 PM

Quote from: WES on August 10, 2008, 01:16:54 PM
If you think about it, this should not be viewed as someone taking a picture in WMATA's divisions, this is a overall security threat. WMATA should take precautions to prevent any unauthorized person from getting in any of their divisions. I remember a few years ago, a couple of theives tried to cover up a robbery, went into the Southern Avenue Annex division, set fire to some of the Neoplans that were stored there to cover up said robbery. And yes this was before 911, but the fact that someone ventured onto WMATA property and noone caught this person even crossing their bus yard border should mean that cameras should be going up in all their divisions with someone monitoring all parts of the garage. If some idiot busfan can get into a garage to take pics, then what would prevent some idiot terrorist from getting into a garage and booby trapping a bus.

This shouldn't be grounds for banning overall photography, this should be the grounds for improving overall garage security.

Unfortunately, the security "experts" seem to think that banning photography will solve all security problems. Said experts should take a vacation to Israel on El Al and watch those security measures if they want to know what would really work. And while the Israeli guards would descend on anyone who tried taking a photo of the waiting El Al Boeing 747 or even had the plane in the background of the photo at the Rome airport while I was waiting to board a flight to Israel in April, they were engaging in other security efforts as well that I would say are effective and would work. If only the US could learn to use those measures.

MetroLinerXLZ · August 10, 2008, 09:16:31 PM

Quote from: WES on August 04, 2008, 08:37:30 PM
Well, most of us don't take pics inside of metrobus divisions, me personally don't need to. I know my limitations and as I have stated elsewhere, I can take pics elsewhere instead of going into a garage or at the Pentagon to take a bus pic. If I don't feel comfortable taking pics, I won't and believe me I have taken thousands of pics. My guess is this person went inside of Bladensburg to take pics of the new NABIs that came in. I mean I don't care if I am the first one to take a pic of a bus, if the opportune time comes and I happen to see one rolling down the street, heck yea I will try to get a pic, but WILL not go into a garage to do it.

Same here....matter of fact, this should be the base standard for transitography (my word for transit photography). I almost ran into the same problem when I was in Atlanta in 2006, but that situation was easily cleared up (seeing that they only banned transitography for commercial purposes, like brochures, only).

That being said, most transits here in Virginia actually don't mind photography in their garages, as long as you don't bother the employees doing their business. Example, both CTS and UTS (in Charlottesville) are very liberal when it comes to transitography. You can walk straight onto their garage facilities and take pictures like you'd do anywhere else. But then again, this is my experience, and seeing that my family is well known in Charlottesville (Tristan can attest to this), it's not seen as a big deal.

GRTC is the same....and HRT only gets suspicious if you take photos around military areas (ex: Norfolk Naval Station). Matter of fact, some GRTC drivers are even willing to stop the bus, pose IN FRONT of the bus and let you get some pics of them.

But to end...basically, the only doubt I have is whether that photo will come out like I want it to.

MetroLinerXLZ · August 10, 2008, 09:49:28 PM

Quote from: Tristan on August 10, 2008, 12:34:17 AM
I was thinking that as well, John. If things become a big problem, I will make a wallet-sized card to carry around (and will post that here)...

Let's just sit this one out and see what happens...I bet not much will come from it.

That's an excellent idea. Perhaps we could do the same for other TA's that try to place photo bans as well, as that could help those that'll be traveling into their territory.

RailBus63 · August 11, 2008, 12:37:52 PM

I came across one WMATA driver during my visit last month who put his hand up as I was photographing his Flxible at Rockville, but otherwise no one seemed to care that my son and I were taking pictures of buses and trains. I don't see how a garage security incident should be blown up to include a full photography ban.

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WMATA mulls photo ban...