Stop that train, I was not breaking the law!!!
As everyone knows, ever since the transformer fire in South Hayward, riders from Fremont to Oakland have to switch trains. Since the layover is about ten minutes in length, I have been using the opportunity to explore the BART stations between Oakland and Baypoint. Today, I decided to bring my camera along with me, as I enjoy taking pictures... Oddly enough, in BART stations...
So, I was in the common area of the Fruitvale station, taking a picture of one of the escalators, and the station agent started yelling at me. "No photography allowed here." I put my camera away, and I informed him that I thought he was mistaken, and that I would like him to check the policy. We then went back to his booth to find out what the policy was.
Learning about the policy seemed to take a long time, as he decided to help other customers, take a long time looking up the proper phone number, etc, and the Richmond train was approaching the station. At that point, I told him I had to make the Richmond train, ran back up the platform and got on the train.
While on the train, the TO said that the train was on a hold due to a police action, but he did not know if the action as at the Fruitvale station, or one in Oakland. Well surprise, surprise, the police action was due to me! I was lead of the train by the police officer, and there on the platform with the train waiting, I was told by the cop that is was ok for me to take pictures of the BART stations!!!! I then got back on the train and headed to work...
I could of told you that it
I could of told you that it was cool to take pics in or around bart. It's too bad the booth person called the cops on ya. How did they know what you looked like other than what you were wearing? What would of happened if you took off your coat - you would of looked differently.
Can't wait to see your pics.
They stopped the train to
They stopped the train to tell you that you can take pictures?
Wow, just Wow.
Cogito Ergo Zoom - I Think Therefore I Go Fast!
I would suggest you file a
I would suggest you file a formal complaint with BART about this. Not only was the agent's behavior grossly unprofessional, it was infringing on your civil liberties. I'm no ACLU-loving hippie, but you DO have a right to photograph public areas of BART - it's called public domain. You can take a picture of anything the eye can see in a public place.
Calling the police on you was over the top. That wastes BART Police resources that could be better applied elsewhere. I'd be willing to bet the agent phoned it in as "suspicious activity."
I hope you do file a complaint. Be ready to have the agent's name, time, and location of the incident, as well as the BART Police Officer's name and badge number (this can all be looked up if you don't remember all of it, as long as you have two of the parameters).
Shrapnel
BARTRage.com Co-Moderator
BARTRage.Moderators@gmail.com
I did not take down the
I did not take down the names of anyone involved, however I do know the exact location, date, and time, as this information is stored in the photographs I did take. As you mentioned, someone with access to the proper data would be able to infer the names of the station agent, and the police officer.
However, I don't know what the grounds for my complaint would be... I asked the station agent to verify the policy, which I guess translated for him into calling the cop... As for him asking me to stop taking pictures, he could have simply been paranoid, and ignorant about what I was allowed to do. In fact, at the time, I thought of him calling about the policy was more about his education then mine.
Now, I thought stopping the train was a bit over the top, given I did absolutely nothing wrong. However, I don't know what the policy on stopping the trains is...
The BART Police officer acted in nothing but a professional manner... He asked me to step off the train, which I guess is done for safety and privacy reasons. He informed me that I could take the pictures. He noted that sometimes station agents get nervous when people take pictures in non-normal areas. He suggested that I follow whatever orders the station agents give, regardless. (Which I did, btw, except when I ran off to catch my train, but I never heard him yell stop, either.) Then, he let me go back on the train...
I assume after letting me go, the officer told the station agent I had not broken any laws... If the agent really was ignorant about photography being allowed, is this not as far is this should go?
obviously the station agent
obviously the station agent was an ignorant fool. however, i don't feel that the police officer acted any better. if i got pulled off a train by a cop, i would be so embarrassed that i would likely not get back on that same train whether they held it for me or not. it doesn't matter what the message is, getting stopped by a cop just looks bad and all the passengers on the train don't have the benefit of knowing what the reason was that you got pulled off. cops don't pull your car over on the freeway to tell you that you were going the speed limit, they don't pull you aside when you leave a bank to tell you you didn't rob it, why should they pull you off a train to tell you that you did nothing wrong by taking pictures?
if i was that cop, i would have told the station agent that they were a douchebag and left it at that.
Check out "The Chaser's War
Check out "The Chaser's War on Everything - Terrorist security response" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McB9tsabPn0
It's Funny as H*LL...
They send someone dressed as a tourist to take pictures of a bridge, local nuclear reactor and stuff then they send out someone dressed as an Arab to take the same pictures.
Guess when security responded?? and who they stopped??
Due to popular demand, I've
Due to popular demand, I've finally gotten around to posting a link to the photo that got me in trouble with the station agent...
Evidently, BART is not the only transit system that has problems of this nature, people have been running into problems in New York, as well.
And, there is going to be a protest in Los Angeles!
Really? That was it??? To
Really? That was it??? To quote the above poster "WOW, JUST WOW"