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Photographers take on Port Authority
By Chuck Bennett
amNewYork Staff Writer
October 9, 2006
New York's feisty photojournalist association says the Port Authority's strict ban on photography is way out of focus.
"We are getting ready to do battle," said Todd Maisel, vice president of the New York Press Photographers Association and a veteran Daily News lensman. "At the bus terminal, the PATH train, bridges, tunnels they are putting up signs that say no photography."
Photography is allowed in Port Authority facilities but only with prior permission and then only when accompanied by an official escort, according to spokesman Tony Ciavolella. The rule, which predates 9/11, is the same for both amateurs and professionals with press passes.
The authority says the rule is meant to protect photographers, say from getting struck by a train. But Maisel said his group is looking at the legality of the rule. It is also documenting instances of photographer harassment at all Port Authority facilities, including the PATH and George Washington Bridge.
Within the past two weeks, he said, two photographers were forbidden from shooting pictures on the George Washington Bridge. One was charged with disorderly conduct and the other had his digital images erased.
"The Port Authority is the current bad boy," he said, adding that he's hopeful that the issue can be resolved through talks, not legal action.
The photography association is not the only group concerned.
"We are collecting complaints," said New York Civil Liberties Union attorney Sam Munger about photographers in Port Authority facilities.
Still, he added, the most complaints -- about one a week -- come from shutterbugs in MTA facilities like the subway, where photography is allowed.
"It's people who've had a run-in with MTA personnel or NYPD personnel on either the subway, Long Island Rail Road, or Metro-North and told they were not allowed to take pictures. It's gone as far as having police officers look at the film, digitally speaking," Munger said.
The MTA tried to ban photography in the subway but dropped the effort in May 2005 after a huge public outcry -- lead partly by local press photographers.
Even so, both professional and amateur photographs have long complained there is a de-facto photography ban in the subway.
"A lot of employees are very insistent that photography is not permitted," said Brian Weinberg, a train buff and amateur photographer who maintains the site railfanwindow.com. He estimated he was stopped six times during the past three years for taking pictures in the subway. Like many photographers, he now carries a copy of the MTA rules that explicitly state that photography is allowed.
As for the professionals, Maisel said, the climate is getting better at MTA facilities. He credits the change with aggressive action by his group.
"The Port Authority should understand we are not a group to be trifled with, let them ask the MTA about that," Maisel said.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
