This info is from an email I received from the NPPA urging me to voice my opinion against the photography ban in NYC subways I have plagiarized the email here because I believe all photographers, all Americans, and anybody who wants freedom should stand up against a true threat from the terrorists, taking away the first amendment. Yes this does relate to us photographers south of NYC, first this ban WILL travel south, second if any of us travel to the rotten Apple we could get more than just parking tickets. A web address is listed below where you can voice your opinion, please do so. thanks jeff

New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority has revived its earlier effort to ban
photography from New York's subways and buses and the National Press Photographers
Association is asking all journalists to join in the fight against this proposed ban
by submitting public comments.

The change in MTA policy would make photography on the historic subway system
punishable by a $25 fine and/or up to 10 days in prison. Other banned activities
include smoking, jumping turnstiles and putting one's feet on the seat. This effort
to criminalize photography is presented as necessary in order to increase security
on the transportation lines and to prevent terrorism, although it would continue to
be legal to carry a licensed, concealed gun on the subway.

While the proposed regulations contains an exception for journalists with NYPD press
credentials, the NPPA supports right to free expression for all photographers, not
just photojournalists. We also believe that no government entity has the
Constitutional right to determine who is, or who is not, a journalist with First
Amendment protections.

In addition, because of the availability of hidden cameras and camera telephones,
this proposed ban will merely result in police wasting valuable time harassing
innocent photographers and tourists with visible cameras.

The photography ban, which NPPA has opposed since we first learned of the plan in
May 2004, was posted in the New York State Register on November 24. The official
public comment period has begun but it will end shortly, on January 10, 2005.

We encourage all of our members and other interested parties to submit comments as
soon as possible here:

mta.info/nyct/rules/proposed.htm

According to the MTA Web site, comments that have already been submitted will be
reviewed and considered along with the any new comments submitted during the
official comment period.

The NPPA believes this proposal represents a part of a larger, ongoing trend in the
United States and that it is important for all NPPA members to take action,
regardless of if they are a New York resident or not. Under the umbrella of
"fighting terrorism" we have seen government officials nationwide moving to limit
free expression, free speech, and free press. While such rights may often be
inconvenient for the government, we believe that they are essential to ensuring the
liberty and freedom that we enjoy in this nation.