aki ([info]aki) wrote in [info]mbta,
@ 2008-04-09 12:51:00
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Photography on the Commuter Rail
This photo was taken from the window of a Providence bound commuter rail train.  Shortly after taking a few pictures, a conductor came along and told me I wasn't permitted to take photos on the train.  'Why not?' I asked politely, turning off my camera and putting it away.  The answer was along the lines of 'Because.'  He didn't seem to know why, it was policy, they had been told it wasn't allowed.  I know that you can take photos on the subway now - anyone have any idea why the commuter rail would be different?  Is the MCBR a greater security risk than the MBTA?  Since this was the Providence line, I know there's some affiliation with Amtrak - is this an Amtrak policy?

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[info]ron_newman
2008-04-09 04:56 pm UTC (link)
There is no such policy. The correct response is to ignore him.

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[info]bigrock
2008-04-09 05:12 pm UTC (link)
You are allowed to take pictures, but if they ask for identification you must show them your ID.

http://www.transitpolice.us/Photo%20Policy/Photo%20Policy%201.pdf

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[info]pdelahanty
2008-04-09 07:52 pm UTC (link)
I carry a print-out of that PDF in my camera bag...just in case.

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[info]bobquasit
2008-04-24 04:25 pm UTC (link)
Thanks so much for that link - I've been taking pictures on the commuter rail lately, and I'm printing out a copy of that PDF to keep with me!

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[info]iandavid
2008-04-09 05:19 pm UTC (link)
Amtrak has no policy against photography on trains either. This was definitely BS.

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[info]ron_newman
2008-04-09 05:25 pm UTC (link)
In fact, Amtrak has, or recently had, a photography contest.

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Now what...?
(Anonymous)
2008-04-10 01:24 am UTC (link)

Now with this new information.....what are you going to do?

I would try this again, sitting somewhere near the same conductor...and have the .pdf file handy.

I'd love to know his response when you "trump" him.

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[info]bostonista
2008-04-10 01:57 pm UTC (link)
The MBTA requires that you purchase a permit from them to take photos on their trains. Maybe the commuter rail guy thinks that this is also the case for commuter rail trains.

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[info]bostonista
2008-04-10 01:58 pm UTC (link)
Oh hey, it's changed. Nice link to the pdf!

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[info]madfilkentist
2008-04-10 04:37 pm UTC (link)
That conductor was lying.

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[info]boblothrope
2008-04-10 07:53 pm UTC (link)
He was probably misinformed. The T didn't bother to tell their employees that the policy changed.

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(Anonymous)
2008-04-13 05:11 pm UTC (link)
you legally have the right to take photographs on public property. photography is not an act of terrorism. as long as nobody is being physically harmed or that there is a safety issue, you can ignore any requests by security to tell you to stop. if police detain you for this or take your equipment, a lawyer will go after them on kidnapping and theft. the one issue here is that you cannot photograph while on public property. you can photograph a building, but you may be asked to not photograph "in" a building, in that case you must stop. so the question is, is the MBCR public or private? i believe they own and operate the train as a private company - on behalf of a public organization (mbta) so yes they probably have the righ to tell you to stop, unfortunately.

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(Anonymous)
2008-04-14 06:34 pm UTC (link)
Please read the rest of this thread. It doesn't matter if the MBCR is considered public or private property -- their policy is that noncommercial photography is allowed without a permit.

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