Originally Posted by
polonius
Nonsense. They have a duty to check things out only if there some reason to believe a law is being broken.
The laws are numerous and a cop can not know them all. (Nobody can) If a person has a dyed pink rabbit it would be unusual and illegal in some areas. Most likely a cop won't check it out because having a rabbit is not that unusual.
Your example with the artist, would be unusual and possibly illegal and worth checking out because wrapping trees in pink cloth is
very unusual.
See the difference?
Originally Posted by
polonius
What may be an entertaining part of a hobby to someone who does some occasional weekend photography can be an inexcusable burden to someone who is forced to tolerate it day in and day out.
I can see that. That is why you have assistants to run interference and to get you coffee. (Just be sure to charge the client)
Originally Posted by
polonius
You imply as if all such enquires by the police end so benignly -- obviously, you didn't read the story I linked to; and I would say, just as obviously, you don't have brown skin or the harmless curiosity you experienced would have replaced with something far more sinister in most cases.
I will be honest I did not look at the link. I tend to avoid links when someone uses "brown skinned" to show some perceived or even real injustice.
In any case I do follow a couple of blogs on photographer rights and have seen way too many stories of photographers being told they can't take a picture due to the patriot act or the cop is being a jerk and violating the law and/or civil rights. Those officers should be punished.
There is no excuse for a cop to violate anyone's civil rights. Asking someone about something unusual is not a violation. A cop approaching you and asking "how's it going" is not a violation either.