Photographing a traffic warden

Ailega

I was issued a ticket for a reason I could not understand, as the warden had just finished issuing I asked him starting with excuse me and he just ignored me.


after asking him several times with same lack of response, I got my phone out and was going to record my attempt to ask again, where I was told that it was illegal to photograph a traffic officer.


I couldn't actually work out how to make my phone video mode instead of camera, so no photography or videoing took place but I was wondering what the legal position on is.


thanks

bazster

It's perfectly legal to photograph anyone in a public place.

Ailega

bazster wrote: »

It's perfectly legal to photograph anyone in a public place.

Thanks for your reply bazster. Is videoing the same? because I wanted to show that I was being ignored when asking in a civil way.

TrickyWicky

It's legal to take photos of virtually anything or anyone except where there are children involved or the person requests you do not take their photo.

In this case if an officer of the council or police tells you not to take their photo and you do so, it's classed as harrassment and the police can be called in to deal with you.

I used to be a CEO / TW and have faced this situation many times. What I would say is that perhaps you should post the details of your ticket here and we will try to help.

bazster

TrickyWicky wrote: »

It's legal to take photos of virtually anything or anyone except where there are children involved or the person requests you do not take their photo.

In this case if an officer of the council or police tells you not to take their photo and you do so, it's classed as harrassment and the police can be called in to deal with you.

Absolute nonsense.

It is legal to photograph anyone in a public place: police officers, CEO's, council officers, children, you, me, anyone.

Your actions would need to be persistent and/or aggressive to constitute harassment. Just taking a photo of someone, regardless of whether they asked you not to, is not harassment!

Here's what the Met came up with when finally forced to admit that they did NOT have a blanket right to stop photographers snapping them in the street: http://content.met.police.uk/Site/photographyadvice

"Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel."

Stills or video, it's all OK.

TrickyWicky

Different police forces interpret things differently and i've been out of the parking enforcement game for 4-5 years so things may have changed since then.

Either way using the term absolute nonsense is designed to wind someone up and cause trouble.

bazster

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Different police forces interpret things differently

The law is what it is. The Met were forced to come up with that guidance after they were shown to be have been interpreting the law WRONGLY - and as far as I'm aware the law in London is no different to the law in the rest of England and Wales.

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Either way using the term absolute nonsense is designed to wind someone up and cause trouble.

It's designed to describe absolute nonsense.

pogofish

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Different police forces interpret things differently and i've been out of the parking enforcement game for 4-5 years so things may have changed since then.

Either way using the term absolute nonsense is designed to wind someone up and cause trouble.

ACPO also issued very similar guidance that applied to all forces in England and Wales - nothing has changed since. So long as it is not active obstruction/harrssment - its fine to photograh anyone in a public place.

Stroma

As a Swansea Council CEO has discovered when someone filmed him refusing to ticket his boss's vehicle that was parked I think obstructing on double yellow lines. He also said the same thing you said Tricky , it hasn't stopped the local press though has it ?

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/VIDEO-s-boss-s-car-Swansea-traffic-warden-refused/story-21133464-detail/story.html

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Council-won-t-reveal-warden-row-results/story-22711293-detail/story.html

bazster

I wouldn't be surprised if councils peddle this nonsense to their CEO's.

blobbydoodaah

never ever let anyone tell you that you can't photograph or video in a public place

They all do it to us!