Occupancy of the sidewalk is not “Obstruction”
New York State’s highest court recently threw out the conviction of a man who was arrested for standing and not moving on a Times Square corner in June 2004. (Picture shown is not that man - this is some other guy with a camera on a narrow city sidewalk.)
The judge said, “Something more than a mere inconvenience of pedestrians is required (snip) Otherwise, any person who happens to stop on a sidewalk - whether to greet another, to seek directions or simply to regain one’s bearings - would be subject to prosecution under this statute.”
Read the NYT City Room blog on the ruling here.
PNY agrees with basing need for a shooting permit on whether a photographer actually causes an obstruction, but we’d like a clear statement that occupancy of the sidewalk by a person with a camera is not defacto obstruction - anything less is just asking for trouble, on the street and in the courts.
+ The MOFTB’s amended proposal for camera rules and a press release are up for review at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film. The time for public comment is NOW. You have until Thursday, December 13, 2007 to submit your comment to the city.
The public hearing on the regs is 10am, December 13, 2007.
photo credit: danielkrieger.com
- posted Wed., Dec 5, 2007 at 2:12pm
- filed in Press Coverage, About Us
- [2] Comments
December 11th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Absolutely need clarification of which conduct is exempt from permitting!
A specific mention should be made as to the individual photographers/filmmakers on the streets.
Time that a temporary inconvenience is imposed by such exempt activity should be stated to prevent abuse.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
[…] you noted the recent ruling about someone standing on the sidewalk who was arrested. New York State’s highest court threw out the conviction but it took a few […]