Longtime WSB’er Kevin McClintic cc’d us on this letter earlier this morning, and we asked to publish it as an open letter. He had told us a few months ago about being hassled on a state ferry for taking photographs, and while we’d thought about writing a story then, we never got around to it. Now that he’s been hassled again, it seems worthy of further light. He is sending this to various government officials:
Thursday evening (8/6) I finally decided to take my first ride on our new light rail system. I parked my car at the Mount Baker Station and took two small pocket cameras and a monopod with me. I purchased a round trip ticket and boarded a train to Westlake Station.
I had a delightful time at Westlake with one exception. If you have not yet been, you should! It is beautiful, and there is SO much to see and photograph. I will have to return when I have more time. Public art everywhere! I was a little concerned about leaving my car on the street in the Mount Baker area after dark, so I cut my Westlake visit a bit short.
Upon arrival at Westlake Station, I put one of the cameras on the monopod (similar to a handicap cane) and proceeded to walk all over the station, taking pictures of buses and trains. After a few minutes of that, I took the escalator to the upper level and took more pictures on the mezzanine level. There were plenty of security officers around and some of them walked right past me. Not one even said hi to me.
Metro might just want to take a clue from the banking industry on this one. If someone “looks” suspicious, take a moment and say hi to them – perhaps take a moment and suggest a good place to get great pictures or a particular item of interest?
I even approached one security officer with my camera in hand, and asked him if there was a time limit on my round trip ticket. His answer was “good all day” and that was the end of that conversation.
After I had been shooting all over the mezzanine area, a security officer finally approached me and told me that “this is a sensitive area” and I need to “STOP taking pictures.” Hmm… where did I least hear that line? On a Washington State Ferry, and that issue has since been resolved. Their head of security personally invited me to return often, and take ALL the pictures I want.
I told the Metro security officer that as far as I know I have the right to take pictures ANYWHERE in a public place. He did not like that answer. I was polite, but I was not going to back down, and he did NOT like it.
Kevin’s letter continues after the jump:
I pointed out that none of the other security officers that I had seen had said anything. His answer was that “they had been watching me” and he was dispatched to talk to me.
I pointed out that LOTS of people were taking pictures in the tunnel. His answer to that was, “well, we have not caught them yet.”
I told him that I was just an average “Joe Blow” from West Seattle, out having fun taking pictures, and added that this was my first ride on the new light rail system. His answer to that was, “we don’t know that.” Mental note to self – is Metro profiling mid-fifties white males now? Perhaps it is my red hair? My Irish/Scottish heritage perhaps?
I offered him to show him some ID. He DECLINED – that sounds like a security breach to me. I thought to myself, “you have been watching me all this time on camera, but you don’t want my name or address, even when I OFFER?”
If Metro is going to waste MY TIME harassing me about taking pictures and telling me that this involves National security – then they should at least practice some due diligence about knowing my name and where to find me? Certainly much easier than asking the media to publish my picture later in hopes that someone will call in as in the case of the photographers on the ferry?
I politely continued to affirm my Constitutional rights to take pictures in a public place. http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm
The security officer was clearly not a happy camper. He got on his radio to call someone and stated that he was “talking to the person of interest” and that “this individual tells me that he has the right to take pictures in a public place.”
There was a pause. I could not hear the other end of the conversation as he evidently had an ear piece. He then looked at me and kind of smiled, and said “it’s OK”, indicating that it is OK for me to continue taking photographs.
He did repeat himself several times, WARNING me that “I was being watched, pointing out that there are cameras everywhere” and that I “they would continue to be watching me.” I told him that I had no issues with that, in fact it made me feel very secure knowing that they ARE watching!
Please Metro, in the interest of GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS, take a moment and get everyone on the same page regarding photography in public places. I plan to return at a future date and take more pictures of the entire system. I do NOT feel that this is an isolated instance. I have been told a similar story from a friend who visited the tunnel several years ago. Please LIGHTEN UP – photography is not a crime!
My hope is that the next time I visit, I will have a pleasant visit, knowing that I will not be harassed by either uninformed or overzealous security officers. Thank you.
Best regards,
Kevin McClintic
West Seattle
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