The Deadline Is Thursday, Dec 13!

The Time To Comment Is NOW! The Deadline Is Thursday, Dec 13!

This Thursday December 13 is the deadline for public comment on the most recent version of camera regulations proposed by the Mayor’s Office of Film. Thursday at 10am is also the public hearing, where you can testify into the public record. We hear the time limit is 3-5 minutes. You can contact MOFTB to reserve a spot, or just show up before 10am and sign up.

Picture New York is concerned about the needlessly opaque language in the new regulations, and even more concerned about what will happen when this all shakes out on the street. MOFTB bases need for a permit on the concept of obstruction but
does not make clear in the actual rules that the mere presence of a filmmaker or photographer, even with a tripod, does not constitute an ‘obstruction.’

Perhaps you noted the recent ruling about someone standing on the sidewalk who was arrested. New York State’s highest court threw out the conviction but it took a few years to get through the courts. We’d like to avoid this kind of situation.

by Adam Cohen at Thu Dec 13 03:57:48 UTC 2007 (ed. Mar 12 2008) Brooklyn, United States | Bookmark this | Digg this |

I live in europe. so this has not been a concern of me, but. you can actually get arrested for photographing with a tripod now in n.y.??? or was this me not getting the point?
how did it all go there on the hearing?

by marius sortland myklebust | 13 Dec 2007 09:12 | fredrikstad, Norway |

Thanks Adam. :))

I sent in a long email on Tuesday and cc’d Teru. God, I hope these miserable rules dry up and away…

kick down the barriers!

bob

by Bob Black | 13 Dec 2007 13:12 | Toronto (for now), Canada |

The problem is that even the newest set of proposed regs are so vague as to place you at the discretion of the cop on the spot. Say you’re shooting movie film, video or stills, with or without a tripod any where on the streets or subways of NYC. Without firm guidance as to what constitutes an ‘obstruction’ any law enforcement official can just decide you’re a problem and at best give you the bum’s rush….at worse its off to the pokie. Yes you can and probably will fight it, but that can mean years in and out of court…at your expense.
So the net result, whether you actually get hassled on the street or not; intimidation….which might be the idea in the first place.
First Amendment doesn’t mean alot if many people are too scared to own it.
What happens here in New York has a ripple effect around the world. As the city, where after Paris street photography was practically invented; NYC is precedent setting in these matters. It matters.

by Adam Cohen | 13 Dec 2007 16:12 | Brooklyn, United States |

adam: :))

u got that right brother!

tired to write about that in my email to the board which i sent. I’ve forwarded this and Teru’s post to lots of friends in the city and around toronto and the states…im hoping lots write!!!

by Bob Black | 13 Dec 2007 17:12 | Toronto (for now), Canada |