Lifehacker:
Nearly every modern phone has a camera attached to it and subsequently more and more people are taking photos in public places than ever before. The shot might be as simple as snapping a picture of a parade or as tricky as recording video of a riot. Regardless of the reasons, the rules for photographing in public places are the same.
For the most part, your right to take photographs and video in public places in the United States is protected under the First Amendment under free speech. This includes snapping pictures of your favorite monument when you’re on vacation or taking part in a little citizen journalism. It’s not as cut and dried as you may think and it’s good to know your rights and the caveats that come with them.
Good article and subsequent discussion in the comment section about your rights to photograph.
People are routinely arrested in the United States for
taking photographs. Talk about “rights” is stupid and antique advice that is going to get you arrested. You have to be white to even entertain such stupidity. There are more than 1 million innocent people in jail in the US, many in private prisons that subsidize the local police and even judges as a way to encourage more incarceration.
I don’t know what is worse: Americans who are ignorant about this or international visitors who show up thinking it is Clinton’s America or something. You have no rights here.
One Million Innocents?
Maybe, maybe if you are counting those under pre-trial confinement, withheld bail, awaiting deportation, civil committment (mental state)…considering that something like 2% or so of the US Population are sentenced prisoners…having 1/6th of those in hack awaiting their turn isn’t too far fetched.
But as far as the photography thing…these “restrictions” are more of the subject not wanting the publicity of a “got you” moment. Why are cops threatening arrest for filming them? Why is the TSA so touchy about having their little assualt ritual taped? Then there’s other reasons…maybe a city wants to preserve their cash stream…