FlyerTalk Forums - Using cameras in an airport

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- - Using cameras in an airport (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/1099444-using-cameras-airport.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIFIN (Post 14200886)

and above all spy on and report your neighbors for whatever meaningless rules or law they may violate,

do you really think your in a free country any longer?

well we have some pretty silly laws here, but nothing like what it appears the US has become.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VH-RMD (Post 14200906)

well we have some pretty silly laws here, but nothing like what it appears the US has become.

The only saving grace is that the number of people who still take the DHS' (and others') warnings and admonitions seriously is steadily declining.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIFIN (Post 14200886)

and above all spy on and report your neighbors for whatever meaningless rules or law they may violate,

Ah, but the clever terrorist won't actually do those things, they will only think about doing them. So even if you're neighbour isn't violating any laws, they may well be thinking about it. Therefore, you should report people who are not violating any rules or laws, as that is suspicious in itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosu84 (Post 14197486)

A few weeks ago, I was about to get on an early flight out of Concourse B at CMH. [...]

A few minutes later, the baggage handler came through a door into the terminal from outside. He walked directly over to me and started questioning me. "Why are you taking pictures? You can't do that.

In March of 2009, upon the advice of TSA's blogger Curtis Bob Burns, I used TSA's "Got Feedback?" form to ask about photography policies at each of 50 major U.S. airports. I documented all of my correspondence here on FlyerTalk.

In the responses I received from CMH, John DiPaola, TSA Stakeholder-Customer Support Manager at Port Columbus International Airport, referred me to Bob Mauldin, CMH Public Safety Manager, who stated:

Quote:

Rule 11.6D of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority states, "No person shall divulge information regarding the airport security system, any airport tenant's security system, or any topic affecting air transportation security to any unauthorized person." Violation of this would be a level 2 minor misdemeanor.

So long as you confine your taping to non-security related areas and items (passenger screening checkpoints, access control systems, CCTV cameras, Explosive Trace Detection devices, etc. would be considered security related) you should have no problem at Port Columbus.

Today, I wrote:

Code:

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:45:55 -0700

From: Phil Mocek

To: Robert Mauldin - CMH Public Safety Manager <RMauldin%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

Cc: John Dipaola - TSA Stakeholder-Customer Support Manager at CMH <John.Dipaola%AT%dhs.gov>,

        GotFeedback <Gotfeedback%AT%dhs.gov>,

        Richard Morgan <RMorgan%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

Subject: Re: Got Feedback : Port Columbus International (CMH)



Mr. Mauldin and Mr. DiPaola:



In April, 2009, you reported to me that the only restriction on

photography at Port Columbus International Airport concerned such

action at security-related areas and items.



Three days ago, a passenger who flew out of CMH reported the

following:

<http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1099444-using-cameras-airport.html>

> A few weeks ago, I was about to get on an early flight out of

> Concourse B at CMH. I had my camera with me, so I was taking a few

> pictures of the planes just to pass the time. One of the baggage

> handlers on the ground saw me taking pictures and waved his arm at

> me. I didn't think anything of it, and I sat down to do some work.

>

> A few minutes later, the baggage handler came through a door into

> the terminal from outside. He walked directly over to me and

> started questioning me. "Why are you taking pictures? You can't do

> that. Will you show me the pictures that you took?" The terminal

> was mostly empty at that hour, and I had chosen a pretty secluded

> corner of the Terminal to hang out. Maybe that's what alarmed this

> guy. In any case, I told him I was taking pictures of the planes

> in the morning light. Not satisfied with that response, the guy

> began asking about my flight details and from which gate I was

> departing.



Have your photography policies changed since April 14, 2009?



[long quotation of previous correspondence omitted]

Mr. Mauldin responded:

Code:

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:56:15 +0000

From: Robert Mauldin <RMauldin%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

To: Phil Mocek

CC: John Dipaola - TSA Stakeholder-Customer Support Manager at CMH <John.Dipaola%AT%dhs.gov>,

        GotFeedback <Gotfeedback%AT%dhs.gov>,

        Richard Morgan <RMorgan%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

Subject: RE: Got Feedback : Port Columbus International (CMH)



Mr. Mocek:  The policy is still the same.  I'm not sure what occurred in this

incident, but all of us in aviation security are keenly interested in providing

a safe environment for air travel, not in stifling interest in aviation.  Once

again, so long as there is no evidence of an attempt to compromise safety or

security, you should have no problem.



Hope this helps.



Bob Mauldin

Public Safety Manager

Columbus Regional Airport Authority



[long quotation of previous correspondence omitted]

Quote:

I'm not sure what occurred in this incident

The all-to-common appearance of a jackass, that's what.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosu84 (Post 14197486)

Irritated, I chewed him out and just walked right past him back toward my gate.

:D^

Another thing that can be done is educate them on what Google image search is. 1,390,000 results for "Columbus airport" and there is a picture of the TSA checkpoint on the first page. :p

Also, you can just type in an airport code in Bing Maps, click on birds eye view, and here 'ya go:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...6fbsrw41cy.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIFIN (Post 14200886)

and above all spy on and report your neighbors for whatever meaningless rules or law they may violate,

do you really think your in a free country any longer?

Yes, actually I do think I live in a free country to a large extent -- free to ignore toothless edicts, certainly, and free to question the type of harassment described in this thread. And as long as the freedom remains to seek remedy to municipal rules, local, state and federal law that violate my freedom of movement, association and expression I'm good to go.

Of course I'm angry about the easy slide into a mindset of authoritarianism on the part of some of my fellow countrymen and of course I shouldn't be subject to senseless harassment in the name of security. But I since the bell of 9/11 can't be unrung I've learned to deal with the toothless, mindless, senseless fallout from that tragic event rather effectively and efficiently so as to get on with daily living.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosu84 (Post 14197486)

As an attorney, knowing that this twit didn't have any right to see my camera, I told him to go to hell.

I wonder if you'd care to comment on the content of this document: http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally Bird (Post 14198310)

It's ¿quien es mas macho? I think. Nicely sums up all these jumped-up nobodies who have crawled out since 9/11. They were always there of course, just waiting...

Actually, it's ¿Quién es más macho?

CMH Public Safety Mgr suggests calling police if CMH staff threaten re: photography

Further discussion with Mr. Mauldin, Public Safety Manager at CMH (see also: earlier discussion):

Code:

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:16:26 -0700

From: Phil Mocek

To: Robert Mauldin <RMauldin%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

Cc: John Dipaola - TSA Stakeholder - Customer Support Manager 

    at CMH <John.Dipaola%AT%dhs.gov>, GotFeedback <Gotfeedback%AT%dhs.gov>,

    Richard Morgan <RMorgan%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

Subject: Re: Got Feedback : Port Columbus International (CMH)



On Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 03:56:15PM +0000, Robert Mauldin wrote:

> The policy is still the same.  I'm not sure what occurred in this incident,

> but all of us in aviation security are keenly interested in providing a safe

> environment for air travel, not in stifling interest in aviation.  Once

> again, so long as there is no evidence of an attempt to compromise safety or

> security, you should have no problem.



Thanks.  What action do you recommend someone take when faced with airport

staff who assert that photography is prohibited in a circumstance in which it

is not, in fact, prohibited?



--

Phil Mocek

Code:

Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:08:24 +0000

From: Robert Mauldin <RMauldin%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

To: Phil Mocek

CC: John Dipaola - TSA Stakeholder - Customer Support Manager 

    at CMH <John.Dipaola%AT%dhs.gov>, GotFeedback <Gotfeedback%AT%dhs.gov>,

    John Rockwell <jrockwell%AT%ColumbusAirports.com>

Subject: RE: Got Feedback : Port Columbus International (CMH)



Actually, we do not encourage non-law enforcement people from confronting what

they may think is a security risk, but rather to report it to the police.

Conversely, if someone feels threatened or if they think they are being

challenged unjustly, I would suggest calling the police responsible for the

facility/area to straighten out the matter.



[quotation of previous correspondence omitted]

does anyone know the policy about audio recording with no video or photo capability?

Quote:

Originally Posted by deldel (Post 14210345)

does anyone know the policy about audio recording with no video or photo capability?

It would depend if the location where you are requires the consent of one or both parties to record. However, I would also assume there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public area of an airport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majuki (Post 14210572)

According to Wikipedia,

<SNIP>

I would caution against using Wikipedia as a source of legal counsel. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by N965VJ (Post 14210589)

I would caution against using Wikipedia as a source of legal counsel. ;)

That's why you use the sources each article links / references to at the bottom. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelsonic (Post 14210800)

That's why you use the sources each article links / references to at the bottom. :D

That's right! :p Unfortunately you snagged my post before I could edit it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deldel (Post 14210345)

does anyone know the policy about audio recording with no video or photo capability?

From the TSA website:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav..._pictures.shtm

Basically photos at checkpoint are OK unless prohibited by local law.

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