by Spokker
The Sprinter light rail system down in San Diego County is hardcore about forbidding photography. The only problem, they forgot to tell anyone about it, haha. Their web site and even the city ordinance contains nothing about photography (they don't even address it), yet I was harassed and intimidated into stopping by NCTD security. They threatened to haul my ass away in handcuffs if I didn't delete my photos and video on my crappy five year old point and shoot camera. In any case, I repeatedly refused and after ten nervous minutes they let me go.
Since it doesn't get much ridership, you tend to hear about these things less on Sprinter, but I know of multiple people who have been harassed. You'd think they'd be more welcoming since the light rail system has little support in San Diego County anyway. I would think they need all the friends they can get.
Here are the photos that were too hot for TV apparently: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8579276@N0 ... 309729598/
I emailed the board of directors of NCTD and one actually responded fairly quickly with this reply:
I'm a big supporter of public transportation and I love trains, but I'm about to defect to my car because the proliferation of random bag checks here and photography bans are getting to be too much. It's only going to get worse as Homeland Security "cracks down" on transit. I would not be surprised if it gets to the point that you have to go through security every time you board a rail transit system, at least at the larger stations. I would think that anyone who has a car would stop riding transit at that point.
Since it doesn't get much ridership, you tend to hear about these things less on Sprinter, but I know of multiple people who have been harassed. You'd think they'd be more welcoming since the light rail system has little support in San Diego County anyway. I would think they need all the friends they can get.
Here are the photos that were too hot for TV apparently: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8579276@N0 ... 309729598/
I emailed the board of directors of NCTD and one actually responded fairly quickly with this reply:
First, thank you for taking the time to share your concern with our Board of Directors and Executive Director. I am sorry that you had a problem with our system, but unfortunately we live in a new era of heightened security and public transit has been identfied as a potential target. The security personnel correctly pointed out that this is a defensive position that our North County Transit District team has had to undertake to keep all our customers safe, especially during this holiday season. I will speak to our Executive Director to make sure that our rules are clearly posted, so that others don't have a similar challenge. Thanks for being a train enthusiast and again I am sorry that you had this problem, but our goal and responbility is to keep all customers safe. Best wishes, DaveI wonder if they are going to put it into writing that you will be intimidated if you take photos, haha.
David W. Roberts
Member, Executive Committee
North County Transit District
I'm a big supporter of public transportation and I love trains, but I'm about to defect to my car because the proliferation of random bag checks here and photography bans are getting to be too much. It's only going to get worse as Homeland Security "cracks down" on transit. I would not be surprised if it gets to the point that you have to go through security every time you board a rail transit system, at least at the larger stations. I would think that anyone who has a car would stop riding transit at that point.