Pixiq

This is awesome! Excellent. I love how it says “present to any peace officer on demand”

I bet this will work for ignorant security guards too.

Hahahahaha.

Great job.

Creating this for fun is one thing but presenting this as an official identification or credential could get the bearer charged with document fraud.

There has been a lot of discussion of this on the pdml (pentax discussion mail list) and the consensus is that this would be good for the jail time that photography is not.

funny but not doable.

It’s kind of a good idea for a joke. But some pinhead might take this seriously and start asking for the ID because he saw it on the internet. Remember requiring a license is a form of prior restraint so think hard about that one before you embrace the idea.

Using this thing would get you tossed in jail if the person you showed it to knew the rules of using the symbols and markings of the goverment.

Cute.

I just carry around a copy of the Constitution for my ‘license’.

Funny but ultimately dangerous.

Which leads one to think of starting a simple LLC called something like…oh I don’t know…The US Department of Photography.

Sure anyone can make a badge but, to have thousands of people with the same ID would be great and AFAIK, legal.

Website in 3…2….

Not working for me. I get a 404 error. Guess no photos for me. :>

This is NOT document fraud, for the legally challenged. (What official identification is it fraudulently copying, anyway?)

It’s a spoof, which is quite legal.

It appears the designer is having second thoughts of having this idea on the internet because he has privatized his Flickr account, removed the photo from his blog post and shut down the other link.

Perhaps he received a visit from the Department of Homeland Security for designing licenses without the proper license.

It’s a violation of 18 USC 1028. I’ve alerted the United States Secret Service to Matthew Williams’s actions and forwarded to them a copy of his fabrication. The USSS investigates 18 USC 1028 violations for document fraud like this.

Matthew Hussein Williams re-posted the license back on his site, but this time, after seeking the advice of a lawyer, he added the following disclaimer.

So I guess he won’t be raided after all.

This license is intended as art and political commentary in that one does not need a license to take photographs. This license is not an official government-issued document, nor is it intended as an imitation of an official government document, and it should not be used as such. The author expressly disclaims all liability for any use to which this artwork is put. This license is a work of fiction and is not to be used as official identification or authorization. Know your rights, and please support the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Posted by matthew on 05/14 at 04:05 PM

http://www.matthewwilliamsdesign.com/weblog/index.php/site/comments/muni...

But I believe he should be raided for making people register before they can comment on his damn blog.

“But I believe he should be raided for making people register before they can comment on his damn blog.”

OTOH, it does cut down on the anonymous clowns claiming to be cops.

OTOH, it does cut down on the anonymous clowns claiming to be cops.

Thats the truth!

I still want to know where to find a copy of the “original” graphics file. While I would remove the DHS Logo and references, the volunteer organization (duly authorized) that I serve with could really use new ID cards. If anyone knows where go obtain this file, I would appreciate your assistance. THANKS!

It must be made clear, that yes, it is a given American right to photograph at will, but there are also privacy and protection acts for the Safety of peace officers and/or Government employees

I realize this was primarily a 2009 thread, but I can’t help contributing and commenting on a few things that really struck me.

One thing that is important to say is that it doesn’t matter if something is illegal or not. An officer will arrest you if he or she feels like doing so. You really can’t stop it. It’s up to a judge to throw it out if someone is going to do so.
I don’t mention this as a matter of legal knowledge, but of practical experience. In my town at least, cops do what they damn well please.

Sheepdog: – Cops break more laws than criminals do, even in small towns. They have no respect for civil rights. I have witnessed on more than one occassion a police officer saying to someone, “One more word and you’re going to jail.” As if you guys can actually arrest someone for speaking. Though, of course, you don’t. You arrest them for drunk and disorderly, or some other nonsense charge.
Funny that, because in South Carolina, it’s a felony for an officer to arrest someone for a crime other than what they are actually arresting them for, as it is also a felony to refuse to state the charge.
I don’t know if you’re a police officer or not. If you are, you ought to get your head out of your ass. You are here to protect and serve, not bust heads. The president has sworn to uphold the constitution. As an officer of our government, regardless of how far down on the ladder you are, you are an extension of his authority, which binds you to that same oath.

Start doing your job. You were not hired to be a thug, a force of one, the inquisition, or the cunt you seem to be.

Vidiot:- Your ID idea is genius. A simple ID (no more fraudulent than a school ID) that has your picture, your name, address, and any other information you feel is relevant, and any direct statements of law relevant to photography in public or private domains. That would be jam up. Someone tries to stop you, pull out the card and read them the law.
Of course, it might get taken . . . but what can you do!

R,

Way to keep crime off the internets.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1028.html

R is an idiot who apparently has nothing better to do with his time then send aggressive armed men after innocent people who have not harmed or been a liability to anyone.

Hopefully someone tasers him soon.

What a bunch of damn pussies.

This “photography license” is NOT covered under 18 USC 1028.

It’s a parody (spoof.) Read the case law.

It’s not falsifying any known identification, such as a drivers license, military ID, or other ubiquitous papers. Please!

I’d love for some prick cop, about as bright as the fraidy-cats here, to arrest me for document fraud. lol Or maybe impersonating a photographer.

Parody: Fair Use or Copyright Infringement
http://www.publaw.com/parody.html

It has been a long-standing practice to poke fun at our cultural icons, symbols, public figures and celebrities. A parody exists when one imitates a serious piece of work, such as literature, music or artwork, for a humorous or satirical effect. Parody, as a method of criticism, has been a very popular means for authors, entertainers and advertisers to communicate a particular message or point of view to the public.

I’m an offduty federal agent. Like any sworn officer, it is my duty to alert the appropriate authorities when I see unlawful activity.

Holy crap I just read that Cornell page. Up to 30 years in prison. Not too bright of Matt Williams to put his mugshot and home address on the thing.

The caselaw well documents successful prosecutions of persons who failed to establish that a forged instrument met parodical standards. The Secret Service is particularly vigilant in their investigations and prosecutions and will decide if this matter warrants further action. That Matthew Williams has removed this item from his webpage suggests some enforcement action is already underway or at least he has realized the seriousness of his mistake.

R,

Thank you for keeping us all safe.

Oye,

R is a jerk. If he bothered to understand 1028 he’d know jus what a jerk he was.

As long as the document is intended as parody, as Kol. Klink pointed out, there is no violation.

If you printed one of these and tried to use it as more then a joke you’d have problems.

I strongly suspect R is an Internet Tough Guy and completely full of shit.

If he just identified himself as a “federal agent” (no mention of which actual agency… could be an FDA chicken inspector for all we know) but isn’t… Oh wait, he’s anonymous, no one can tell.

Mr. Williams is making it easier for the terrorists to infiltrate our society.

I hope they throw him in jail.

Yes, I heard that his middle name is not even Stanley.

It’s Hussein.

R, all those “successful prosecutions” are for forging documents to look like documents that are widely used.

A “this is parody” defense of copying dollars or drivers license won’t wash, as you point out.

But a fedgov photography license – that is pure parody.

Sort of like this website – which uses the SEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES – as a parody.

http://whitehouse.georgewbush.org/index.asp

Maybe you should get dutiful and call the SS and let them know POTUS’s SEAL is being abused.

With the internet you never know. R may be bogus but maybe he’s not. I’m sure Carlos’s website is watched by various cops and feds. They seem to have it out for him. Nothing would make them happier than to prosecute somebody based on something they found on this blog. I think there’s been some unflattering things here in the past about the Secret Service.

Until he/she makes with some sort of identification, it could be anyone. We don’t even know that “R” actually has anything at all to do with the designer doing anything. All we have is some random person claiming they submitted something to the SS.

I call troll until we see something actually verifiable.

Perhaps R is guilty of impersonating a federal officer.

Maybe R is guilty of impersonating a fascist d-bag..oh wait, that’s not an impersonation.

@Carlos Maybe you should forward his IP address information to the feds, just to make sure he’s not.

Most people who post gibberish on this site are sure to use IP blocking methods.

That’s usually the first sign that they are full of shit.

I think it’s better to be safe than sorry. It doesn’t really matter if R is an agent or not. If he is he doesn’t have to identify himself or who he works for. All he has to do is pick up the phone and contact the right person to get somebody in trouble.

Even if he’s a fake there’s enough real cops who pass through here to make life difficult for anybody here that pisses them off when they can trace you. They could easily call the Secret service and not say anything about it here.

Carlos I think you should at least remove Matthew’s last name and his home address from this article and the picture. He took the original down at his site for a reason. No sense giving “them” any amunition. I agree with Anj that they’d love to use your blog to bust somebody. The Secret Service has a history of investigating people who make very vague comments about the president’s health etc. They also detained and questioned a whole lot of people at Bush rallies who had any kind of anti-Bush t-shirts or buttons. They are not friends of the 1st amendment.

R, as a federal agent, it is sad that you don’t appear to know the law you enforce.

Is that an elective course in academy?

Just in case R is not an agent (but he sounds like he is because he knew the proper US code right away), I called the regional Secret Service office closest to me as a private citizen and spoke with an agent about this “license”. The agent was very interested and logged onto this website while we spoke on the phone. He spent about 20 mins on the phone with me, took the complaint and said he had opened a case file.

Nothing would make me happier than to see cop hater Carlos Miller get one of his buddies prosecuted because of this blog. At a minimum it sounds like this Matthew Williams idiot will be getting a visit from the Secret Service.

This site never ceases to amaze me. I never expected this post to turn into another flame war.

Ellen,

I would hope he did not use his real address because he was the one who posted it on the internet.

It’s really sick, the idea that these statists unapologetically will use the guns of government to go after someone who holds an opposite political philosophy.

But then they wouldn’t be statists if they didn’t believe in aggressing against their neighbors. I hope people like R and Chuck see that their action if what they say is even the truth is nothing more then aggression against their neighbors.

@Chuck: He spent about 20 mins on the phone with me, took the complaint and said he had opened a case file.

That’s what he tells you to get you off the phone. You honestly think he has nothing better to do than worry about some guy posting that image on his blog?

As a journalist, I’ve used similar techniques to get off the phone with people who call to whine that I should write about a story this or that. I just tell them “Very interesting, I’ll look into it.”

And honestly, Chuck, what kind of guy are you that you would waste a federal agent’s time with such a stupid concern?

Yes, the old “I’ll look into it” while you’re thinking “What a whacko”.

The blog and blanks are undoubtedly parody. If someone made up one of these IDs and used it

It’s like saying that making an image like this is counterfeiting.

I spoke with a special agent via a referral from my son, who is a police officer. The agent I spoke with does not handle routine citizen calls. If the agent thought I was a wacko he wouldn’t have called me back or spent 20 mins on the phone with me. I was a parole agent my entire working career so I am very familiar with how to handle lawbreakers.

Go ahead and disbelieve me all you want. See who’s laughing after the Secret Service pays a call on Matthew Williams, who’s easily found via his IP registration.

@ carlos “This site never ceases to amaze me. I never expected this post to turn into another flame war.”

lol, I think it was that story about the cop kicking the prone suspect in the head that brought all the trolls in. Maybe they decided to stay a while?

Now Chuck’s a former parole agent with a cop for a son. Suuuure.

And so what, even if the SS pays Williams a visit? Did he actually print anything AND present it to an actual person as legitimate ID? That’s a long way from a simple parody image on a blog.

I think it’s a lot more likely Chuck and R are just bored 12-year-olds with too much internet access. Or they just act like it.

I hope the SS does pay him a visit because that would create even more outrage among the people in this country.