Yesterday, I stopped at the store and was getting my son out of the car and thought I heard a camera clicking. I turned around and saw two men taking pictues of me from a car (i was parked on the street and their car pulled up alongside). I confronted them and asked what they were doing and the passenger kept taking pictures! I reacted by raising my voice and putting my hand up to block the camrea. At that point, he put the camera down and made a very lewd comment and they just drove off!!
I wrote the license plate number down. I want to go to the police but I'm very embarrased. Do I have a case here? Isn't this against the law?! Will the police do anything with this? I'm scared that the pictures will wind up online. I don't think they got anything bad but I was helping my son out of the car at the time and any mom knows what you have to go through to get kids out of the car sometims. I'm very worried about this.
2007-09-02 08:01:38 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
First of all, thank you to everyone who replied. I thought about this and decided to report it to the police. They took my statement and then the officer looked at me and said, "there is really nothing we can do". She said that if it was indoors, they may have been able to pursue it but that would have been a long shot too. I wasn't completely shocked because of all the replies I got here, but I started crying. It's just so frustrating! I've been thinking about it since it happened and imagining that i may be a part of some perverts fantasy makes me nauseous. I can't even wear a skirt anymore because it makes me feel uncomfortable.
I hope I get over this but I want something positive to come from this so I wrote my congressman and senator. Maybe they can introduce a bill to make this illiegal. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
2007-09-03 07:12:33 · update #1
I think if they were taking pictures of you AND your child you could make it known that these people were photographing a child which in my opinion is probably cause for further investigation by the police. If they were not doing anything harmful, taking pictures of something that had some photographic appeal or something, I think they reacted rather odd to your questioning. I would definitely call the cops. Nothing to be embarrassed about, you did nothing wrong from what you say.
Better safe than sorry, call the cops.
I mean, come on, tapping your feet in a bathroom is considered probably cause anymore I can hardly see how taking pictures of someone without their consent wouldn't also be. But you know, laws are meant to protect criminals so, who knows anymore.
2007-09-02 08:09:55 · answer #1 · answered by eldude 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
For those of you who think taking pics of others in public places is legal, why do people get in trouble all the time for upskirt shots taken in public places? Why do these perv's pay hefty fines as well as spend time in jail?
As for you miss caught on camera, You have the plate number, as well as a very good description of the driver and passenger. You can pray that these two dont turn their camera twards little girls, or you can do something about it. Your choice
Good choice on reporting it. Now go to your local paper, take out a full page add and let the whole town know what these people did to you. You have filed the police report, so I dont think there is any legal action that can be taken against you. But you may wish to contact an attourney first. You do have the freedom of speech and press, so that may help, just in case.
2007-09-02 18:13:44 · answer #2 · answered by Dj_Ez 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Pobept K you are VERY VERY wrong.
If a person does not give written permission to use an image of themselves, whether it was in public or a private studio , the photographer can not benefit from it, financially or otherwise. The only exception to this are images of celebrities and politicians since they stand out in the public eye already.
Almost1979, you need to make a report of suspicious activities to the local police. Unfortunately, taking unauthorized pictures of another person is not illegal, unless you can prove they are profiting from them. But, if they continue and set a pattern of surveillance like this, then they can be charged with stalking.
2007-09-02 08:48:07 · answer #3 · answered by Charlie Fingers 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Those men were pretty rude and it's possible the cops might be willing to talk to them just to see what they're up to, but they did absolutely nothing illegal. They were clearly in a public area. In the U.S., you can take photographs of anything and anybody you want as long as you and your camera are in a place where you are legally allowed to be.
2007-09-02 15:07:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely call the police. I was at the park with my son and noticed some pervert hiding in his car filming the kids on the playground!!! I grabbed my phone to call 911, but he saw me and sped off before I got his plate number. But, the dispatcher took it very seriously and told me to call back if I ever saw him again. It's a sick feeling, I know. I hope they catch him!
2007-09-02 08:10:11 · answer #5 · answered by Melody 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
By all means report this to the police. Maybe nothing can be done at this point, but at least their license plate # will be on file for future reference. No reason to be embarrassed as far as I can tell. Do it. It may be important to an ongoing or future investigation re: these individuals.
2007-09-02 09:31:28 · answer #6 · answered by poolplayer 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know where you live, but in NC it is perfectly legal to take pictures of people in public places without their consent or knowledge. It's not right but that's the law.
2007-09-02 08:06:21 · answer #7 · answered by Tater1966 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Turn the situation into the police. You could be being stalked. The police, should, at least find out why they were taking your picture. If it was an "embarrassing" position or showing of "unmentionables" and it ends up online (with your face shown) it is illegal without your signed permission.
2007-09-02 08:23:52 · answer #8 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I dont know what the law is, but if someone is that messed up to install hidden cameras in someones home, he is not concerned with the law
2016-05-19 05:16:41 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How strange.
Don't feel embarassed, and report it to the police and see what they say. You have no reason to feel shame at all.
I don't know if it is illegal though because celebs go through this all the time.
2007-09-02 08:10:49 · answer #10 · answered by DeAnna 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋