Can we be sued for taking a picture of Skywalker Ranch?

Question

While we were on vacation in the San Francisco area, my friend thought it would be really cool to see Skywalker Ranch, so we drove all the way up there in the late afternoon, but it was already closed when we got there.

Since we had already driven so far out of the way, we at least wanted to bring back a picture of the site. We had just parked the car to take a picture of the gate when a security guard challenged us over the loudspeaker about trespassing. We apologized and immediately drove away.

We didn't think much about if until we got home and our family told us that there was a license plate on the front of the car and that California has some very tough laws regarding trespassing. Is there any way possible that the security guard could have obtained a picture of the license plate on our rental car and forwarded it to the police, and if so, will they prosecute us or ban us from coming back to California again?

Answer 1

(1) COULD they have gotten your license plate and charged you with trespassing? Perhaps. The technology exists.
(2) Can they ban you from going back to California. No. They can issue a citation and a warrant if you're discovered in Caifornia, but they can't say "never come back to california again."
(3) All of this is VERY unlikely... the security guard was just trying to be macho, exercise his authority, and scare you from dawdling. He did that.
(4) As far as the picturetaking... if you were on private property, perhaps you could be sued... but this is a corporate/tourist site.... it would be very difficult for them to prove that you'd "invaded" their "privacy" by taking a picture when the place was closed.

Answer 2

It sounds like you did not go past the gate and you left when asked. No action will be taken against you.

Answer 3

Probably nothing to worry about, Lucas is too busy writting bad screenplays and counting money.

Answer 4

Yes, totally. You're lucky if you don't get shipped off to Alcatraz.