Is it illegal to take pictures on Tarmac after getting off from plane ?

photoleet · 10-28-2011, 12:20 PM

So this happened to me this saturday when I got off a US Airwarys plane through the back door onto the tarmac. Since we we let out by the air hostess, I though it was cool to take pictures off the surroundings from where I got off, but one of the officers nearby started shouting that I couldn't take pictures and it was a federal offence. I got about 5 shots, then I left when I heard him.

EDIT: This was at Boston Logan International on a flight from Ronald Reagan DC

Last edited by photoleet; 10-28-2011 at 01:20 PM.

**Dma110** · 10-28-2011, 12:33 PM

Afaik it is ok to shoot pics there. The cop was misinformed. To many cops and security guards are trying to trample on our rights.

freddykrueger · 10-28-2011, 12:40 PM

I don't think so. I took a lot of pictures in several countries in Europe after getting off a plane and nobody ever complained. Sure, the US laws are a bit different, but I think they are even more loose than here. You should be fine until you start taking pictures of something "secret".

Francis · 10-28-2011, 12:49 PM

Different airports/airlines will have different rules. Sometimes they like to get people inside quickly, to prevent congestion, or delays to the maintenance crews. Had similar experiences in Amsterdam but not really a "not allowed". More a "hurry up". Thing is that if everyone with a camera started taking pics, it would be a delaying factor...

RioRico · 10-28-2011, 12:54 PM

OP,
Which airport, what city?

photoleet · 10-28-2011, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

OP,
Which airport, what city?

Boston Logan, OP updated

The Jannie · 10-28-2011, 01:33 PM

In the UK it could be seen, as in shopping centres, as photography on private property, which requires the owner's permission. Photography in a public place, no matter what some jumped-up jobsworth might try to tell you, is free and the ACPO have issued guidelines clarifying that to those in their organisations who can read. Key is that the prevention of terrorism legislation is NOT to be used to restrict that freedom and they'd better have a damned good reason for bringing it up.

BFN
David

jogiba · 10-28-2011, 02:10 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome to the world without common sense, or the world were the cops get their cookies by busting your balls to show who is boss.

Bob from Aus · 10-28-2011, 02:36 PM

In Australia I have been prevented from taking photos in Shipping Ports (for an industry related job). This is post 9/11. The yanks have imposed rules on foreign ports if they want to trade with them.

In Aus the basic rule applies
1. It is legal to photograph almost anything unless it is unwillingly rude ie I don't want to have this reply deleted by using the wrong word
2. Any owner or any kind of land manager or person representing a land manager can tell you to leave and you must leave.

So you can't be told you can't photograph in a shopping centre, you can be told to leave and you must - I would think taking more photos is equivalent of not leaving. Same would be true on public land being managed eg a national park.

Interesting a commercial photo would be a photo on the cover of a book or on advertising, but not inside a book.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-28-2011, 03:02 PM

it may not be illegal, as I believe any illegality etc.. is a function of whether or not you show details of security installations etc. BUT as a weekly traveller, I can tell you that you are definitely disobeying the policy of not using electronic equipment until you are inside the terminal building. THat policy is very clearly restated on every flight I take.

Bob from Aus · 10-28-2011, 03:33 PM

I forgot to mention the Bob rule

Don't take or stop taking photos if someone gets upset. Be over the top apologetic.

However I carry my SLR dangling from my hand down by my leg on wide angle and snap police and military and the odd bouncer. i haven't had my head kicked in yet as I look the other way when I snap. Also do the camera around the neck trick holding the camera to my chest and finger on the button also on wide angle. (that rule is look unobtrusive, the other way and don't get caught.)

wlachan · 10-28-2011, 08:56 PM - **1 Like**

How about photograph whoever shouted at you and post their faces online if they were wrong? If photography weren't allowed, put up some signs and let people know. Threatening people afterward is not good.

**Sakura** · 10-29-2011, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by Bob from Aus

I forgot to mention the Bob rule

Don't take or stop taking photos if someone gets upset. Be over the top apologetic.

However I carry my SLR dangling from my hand down by my leg on wide angle and snap police and military and the odd bouncer. i haven't had my head kicked in yet as I look the other way when I snap. Also do the camera around the neck trick holding the camera to my chest and finger on the button also on wide angle. (that rule is look unobtrusive, the other way and don't get caught.)

Years ago when on holliday in Russia (time when Brezhnev was still ruling the country) i managed to take a lot of pics of russian tanks passing by while we where sitting in a touring bus

I was sitting near the window, looking inside the bus. The fellow sitting beside me was looking outside and told me when to press the winder button on my Pentax MX.
I never have seen a tour operator running that fast from the front of the bus to where the winder sound was coming from, that is, my camera

séamuis · 10-29-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

it may not be illegal, as I believe any illegality etc.. is a function of whether or not you show details of security installations etc. BUT as a weekly traveller, I can tell you that you are definitely disobeying the policy of not using electronic equipment until you are inside the terminal building. THat policy is very clearly restated on every flight I take.

so if he had been carrying a completely mechanical SLR, it would be OK?

I personally have taken photos out on the tarmac here in savannah, in Houston, Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Narita (Tokyo), Seoul, Manila, and more inter-island philippine flights than I can count and have never been stopped or even ‘hurried along’.

I think most people ignore the warnings given, as I see most people turn on and start using their phones before they even get off the plane, actually pretty much as soon as we touch down, and I have never seen anyone in trouble for it.

im not a weekly traveler but I do my fair share, so I see it a lot.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-29-2011, 11:43 AM

Again, on the flights I am on they announce that it is ok to use your phone usually once the planed has finished the roll out on the main runway

10-28-2011, 12:20 PM	#1
photoleet Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: DMV Photos: Albums Posts: 431	Is it illegal to take pictures on Tarmac after getting off from plane ? So this happened to me this saturday when I got off a US Airwarys plane through the back door onto the tarmac. Since we we let out by the air hostess, I though it was cool to take pictures off the surroundings from where I got off, but one of the officers nearby started shouting that I couldn't take pictures and it was a federal offence. I got about 5 shots, then I left when I heard him. EDIT: This was at Boston Logan International on a flight from Ronald Reagan DC Last edited by photoleet; 10-28-2011 at 01:20 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Illegal to print images which are not yours?	pete_pf	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	55	08-07-2011 06:26 AM
Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist admits to being an Illegal Immigrant	MRRiley	General Talk	68	07-13-2011 09:07 AM
For Sale - Sold: k100d w/18-55mm, 50-200mm, af 360gz flash, tarmac velocity 7	buckethead	Sold Items	3	01-19-2011 06:11 AM
Montana GOP Policy: Make Homosexuality Illegal	deadwolfbones	General Talk	18	09-19-2010 10:51 AM
Selling your pictures to the Media - Plane Crash Hudson and other events ??	vievetrick	General Talk	6	01-16-2009 07:05 AM

10-28-2011, 12:33 PM	#2
Dma110 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Gilbert Arizona Posts: 559	Afaik it is ok to shoot pics there. The cop was misinformed. To many cops and security guards are trying to trample on our rights.

10-28-2011, 12:40 PM	#3
freddykrueger Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Czech Republic Photos: Gallery Posts: 80	I don't think so. I took a lot of pictures in several countries in Europe after getting off a plane and nobody ever complained. Sure, the US laws are a bit different, but I think they are even more loose than here. You should be fine until you start taking pictures of something "secret".

10-28-2011, 12:49 PM	#4
Francis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hilversum Photos: Gallery Posts: 215	Different airports/airlines will have different rules. Sometimes they like to get people inside quickly, to prevent congestion, or delays to the maintenance crews. Had similar experiences in Amsterdam but not really a "not allowed". More a "hurry up". Thing is that if everyone with a camera started taking pics, it would be a delaying factor...

10-28-2011, 12:54 PM	#5
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	OP, Which airport, what city?

10-28-2011, 01:20 PM	#6
photoleet Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: DMV Photos: Albums Posts: 431 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico OP, Which airport, what city? Boston Logan, OP updated

10-28-2011, 01:33 PM	#7
The Jannie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Yorkshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 215	In the UK it could be seen, as in shopping centres, as photography on private property, which requires the owner's permission. Photography in a public place, no matter what some jumped-up jobsworth might try to tell you, is free and the ACPO have issued guidelines clarifying that to those in their organisations who can read. Key is that the prevention of terrorism legislation is NOT to be used to restrict that freedom and they'd better have a damned good reason for bringing it up. BFN David

10-28-2011, 02:10 PM - 1 Like	#8
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Welcome to the world without common sense, or the world were the cops get their cookies by busting your balls to show who is boss.

10-28-2011, 02:36 PM	#9
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	In Australia I have been prevented from taking photos in Shipping Ports (for an industry related job). This is post 9/11. The yanks have imposed rules on foreign ports if they want to trade with them. In Aus the basic rule applies 1. It is legal to photograph almost anything unless it is unwillingly rude ie I don't want to have this reply deleted by using the wrong word 2. Any owner or any kind of land manager or person representing a land manager can tell you to leave and you must leave. So you can't be told you can't photograph in a shopping centre, you can be told to leave and you must - I would think taking more photos is equivalent of not leaving. Same would be true on public land being managed eg a national park. Interesting a commercial photo would be a photo on the cover of a book or on advertising, but not inside a book.

10-28-2011, 03:02 PM	#10
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	it may not be illegal, as I believe any illegality etc.. is a function of whether or not you show details of security installations etc. BUT as a weekly traveller, I can tell you that you are definitely disobeying the policy of not using electronic equipment until you are inside the terminal building. THat policy is very clearly restated on every flight I take.

10-28-2011, 03:33 PM	#11
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	I forgot to mention the Bob rule Don't take or stop taking photos if someone gets upset. Be over the top apologetic. However I carry my SLR dangling from my hand down by my leg on wide angle and snap police and military and the odd bouncer. i haven't had my head kicked in yet as I look the other way when I snap. Also do the camera around the neck trick holding the camera to my chest and finger on the button also on wide angle. (that rule is look unobtrusive, the other way and don't get caught.)

10-28-2011, 08:56 PM - 1 Like	#12
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	How about photograph whoever shouted at you and post their faces online if they were wrong? If photography weren't allowed, put up some signs and let people know. Threatening people afterward is not good.

10-29-2011, 05:25 AM	#13
Sakura Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 438	Originally posted by Bob from Aus I forgot to mention the Bob rule Don't take or stop taking photos if someone gets upset. Be over the top apologetic. However I carry my SLR dangling from my hand down by my leg on wide angle and snap police and military and the odd bouncer. i haven't had my head kicked in yet as I look the other way when I snap. Also do the camera around the neck trick holding the camera to my chest and finger on the button also on wide angle. (that rule is look unobtrusive, the other way and don't get caught.) Years ago when on holliday in Russia (time when Brezhnev was still ruling the country) i managed to take a lot of pics of russian tanks passing by while we where sitting in a touring bus I was sitting near the window, looking inside the bus. The fellow sitting beside me was looking outside and told me when to press the winder button on my Pentax MX. I never have seen a tour operator running that fast from the front of the bus to where the winder sound was coming from, that is, my camera

10-29-2011, 11:25 AM	#14
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge it may not be illegal, as I believe any illegality etc.. is a function of whether or not you show details of security installations etc. BUT as a weekly traveller, I can tell you that you are definitely disobeying the policy of not using electronic equipment until you are inside the terminal building. THat policy is very clearly restated on every flight I take. so if he had been carrying a completely mechanical SLR, it would be OK? I personally have taken photos out on the tarmac here in savannah, in Houston, Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Narita (Tokyo), Seoul, Manila, and more inter-island philippine flights than I can count and have never been stopped or even ‘hurried along’. I think most people ignore the warnings given, as I see most people turn on and start using their phones before they even get off the plane, actually pretty much as soon as we touch down, and I have never seen anyone in trouble for it. im not a weekly traveler but I do my fair share, so I see it a lot.

10-29-2011, 11:43 AM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Again, on the flights I am on they announce that it is ok to use your phone usually once the planed has finished the roll out on the main runway