Pixiq

This link (.pdf file) makes clear that there is no ban on photography in the LIRR, and no requirement for advance notice:
http://www.lirrhistory.com/photog.pdf

That said — and the blog post wasn’t clear exactly where he was, and I don’t recall exactly where the sign is — the Port Authority administers the AirTrain, and they do not tend to permit photography on their premises. I haven’t seen the official rules or policies, but PAPD apparently doesn’t allow photography on the AirTrain or in AirTrain stations.

I have taken photos on the premises of JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports and at the bus terminal in Midtown Manhattan (all operated by the Port Authority) without any trouble, though I’ve heard stories of photographers being hassled.

(My one experience with Port Authority personnel denying photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vidiot/436621500/)

I see from further reading of the FlyerTalk link that Richardson was definitely in the Port Authority-controlled part of Jamaica Station. The PA response — that they can’t stop him, but insisting on advance notice — is confused at best.

Photography is indeed not a crime. But unfortunately it’s also not a crime for them to harass you for doing something perfectly legal.

As long as they’re allowed to do that without consequence, in some ways it might as well be illegal.

From my own experiences with NYPD and MTA, plus what I’ve read here on carlosmiller.com, and elsewhere, it seems as though they have a policy along the lines of “acknowledge the law but ignore it anyways.”

It’s as though there’s an idea among governmental organizations that photography is an exponent of terrorism, and that idea is sticky with dim minds.

No matter how big or powerful your terroristic WMD is, they believe you’re gonna need photographs in order to detonate it inside their obscure little train station, I guess.

It makes me weep when someone passes up a perfectly good opportunity to make some cash.

le sigh

isn’t threatening someone with arrest a crime?

The Port Authority has proven itself to be a tough nut to crack. For some reason neither the NYCLU or the NPPA, which have been very active in fighting for photographers on the MTA properties, remain very silent when it comes to the PA.

I suspect one of the reasons may be that while the MTA is a taxpayer-supported entity, and thus gives rise to a stronger claim that it is public property, the PA is self-supporting. It generates all of its revenue from port and airport fees, real estate rentals and bridge and tunnel tolls. Therefore they like to claim that they are “private property”.

Also the PA is less vulnerable to political pressure – as opposed to the MTA which answers to the governor of NY, the PA is controlled by both NY and NJ. Their board of directors seems to be virtually immune to the political pressures that the MTA faces.

Oh and meanwhile the PA can’t get its act together on rebuilding the Trade Center site – a report in the NY Daily News states the earliest possible completion date for a new tower will be 2018.

Contrast that with 3 years to build the original Trade Center and 1 year to build the Empire State Building…

I am the traveler who was stopped by the Port Authority. Thank you for taking the time to write this.

To be specific, I had just exited the AirTrain at Jamaica Station and was just past the AirTrain fare-gate inside Jamaica Station on Port Authority property.

This was prior to entering the Long Island Railroad Station.

After the encounter with the security guard, I was upset – but I also found myself determined to get the photos I wanted. I was also a bit confused as I heard contradictory things about Port Authority Property because they are “self funded”.

Had I known better at the time, I would have ignored the guard and taken the photos I wanted – my only fear being the guard trying to go for the camera (I wouldn’t have put it past this specific guard with his actions/demeanor).

I encourage other travelers to write to the Port Authority about their policies. The policies are wrong, violate the constitution, and only hurt visitors and tourists to New York.

Extremely sad we’ve gone down such a slippery slope. Where is my country?

Steve

Hey, Steve. I agree with everything you said but phrases like, “Where is my country?” is pretty much a cliche now. Just say it’s a shitty situation, because it is.

I make it a practice to not antagonize police. Being an asshole right back at them won’t do any good.

Post 9-1-1 syndrome has been the basis for this dubious concern.
Security concerns regarding taking pictures in the subway system surfaced at the end of 2003, after police in NY intercepted two Iranian “intelligence agents” taking pictures in Queens train tracks leading into a tunnel under the East River; they were arrested.
After the incident, the MTA proposed restrictive rules regarding taking pictures in the subway system and in the trains. New York Civil Liberties Union challenged the MTA proposal and vowed to sue. MTA quietly rescind the proposal.
It is true that when mosquitoes are flying, it hard to identify which one is male or female; the same principle is true in case of war or national emergency where the state has a fundamental rights to pass laws to protect its population from hostile enemies but that usually leads to a cynical atmosphere.
Police have to protect themselves on the beat and sometimes the demarcation line between real and imaginary threat might be blurry during chaotic events and period of upheaval; however,why the Iranian government would use outsider to take pictures in the train tracks in NY when it would have been easier for them to use Iranian-born MTA employees or even some proxies that know the system very well? It appears that logic is taking a back seat when fears and emotions are galloping.
It is legal to take picture in the subway or in the train according to MTA rules. Refers to : New York City Rules and Regulations 1050.9c. This rule is on the MTA website.If police is stopping you from taking pictures in the subway or in the train,you should show them the NYCRR 1050.9c. but refrains yourself from challenging the police. Police everywhere are the same. No police like to be challenged.
In case you feels that your “rights”have been violated,you may call the following agencies:

-New York City Deputy Commission for Public Information at: 646-610–8795->One Police Plaza, N.Y.,N.Y. 10038.

-New York City Civil Liberties Union at:212-607-3300->Address: 125 Broad St,suite 18, N.Y.,N.Y.,10004.

Pierre:

What you said about the New York subway and all MTA properties is true, however there are two other agencies operating transit and commuter services in or to NYC (Port authority and New Jersey Transit).

The Port Authority operates the Airtrain to JFK airport and the PATH system that runs between NY and NJ. Airtrain is a relatively new system but they have operated PATH since the mid-1960′s.

The no-photo rules on PATH and all PA bridge and tunnel properties long predated 9-11. The rules were in place when the WTC was first built back in the 1970′s. I suspect the real reasons had more to do with controlling their image rather than anything security related.

It appears that they have extended those draconinan rules to their new property – the Airtrain. I only wish that the NYCLU and the NPPA would challenge them at this point – something that does not seem to be happening.

Also the Port Authority has its own police force that does not answer to the NYPD. The PA is a bi-state agency jointly controlled by the governors of NY and NJ.

Well I usually tell cops who question me when I take pictures at rail stations that I am just a homosexual who likes trains and they leave me alone.

Its things like this that stop me from visiting the United Police States of America

Same here.

Who gives a frack about them? They have no right to stop me from taking photos if I want to.
Neville A. Ross´s last blog ..The Fates Must Be Against Me

>> They have no right to stop me from taking photos if I want to.

“Having no right” does not prevent someone from screwing up your day and perhaps costing you time and money to unscrew it.