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Video: Local Videographer "Harassed and Ticketed" By Police For Taking Photos Of Cops
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 26, 2011
Modified May 26, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published May 26, 2011
Modified May 26, 2011
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Yesterday, a local NY photo/videographer claims he was "harassed and ticketed" by MTA police for taking photos of armed soldiers and cops inside Penn Station. Joey Boots, a Howard Stern regular who posts lots of provocative videos on his YouTube channel, posted a (mostly obscured) video of the incident late yesterday; you can watch/listen to it below (the excitement starts at 1:42):
Before the video starts, Boots says he was trying to take pictures of an armed soldier at the entrance to the Long Island Railroad portion of Penn Station on W. 34th Street; when the soldier said he couldn't, Boots retorted that he was allowed to take pictures in public. When the video starts, Boots is already arguing with two MTA officers that he is allowed to take the photos. He was ordered to shut off the camera, and the officers accused him of harassment: "Don't be a creep...now you're harassing him...Is that how you treat another guy in uniform?" (Boots is a veteran).
At one point, an officer implies Boots' camera may be a weapon: “Don’t point that camera at me again I don’t know if it’s a real camera or not…put that thing back in your pocket.” Boots was detained awhile, while the police inquired whether they could cite him for taking the photos (which they couldn't). Instead, he was ticketed for interfering with traffic.
In NYC, there is no ban on taking photos of MTA workers or officers. According to the NYCLU: "there is no requirement for a permit, no requirement for advance notice to the MTA, and no requirement for insurance."
We've contacted Boots for comment on the incident.
Tagged
cops
harassment
joey boots
MTA
photographer's rights
photography
police
video
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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