Hi, Frantisek, I really can't remember who started this thread, with his post about photographing an arrest! Seems the thread has evolved (devolved?) into a "who killed Lady Di" thing. Anyway, I should add here that I was commenting on that particular situation.
If a PJ (or anyone else) actually photographed a crime (as opposed to the aftermath - the arrest), he would actually have evidence that an officer would have the right to sieze immediately. It would be the same thing as if a passerby broke up a knife fight, and had the knife in his hand when the police arrived. Obviously, the police would take the knife as evidence. But for the police to break cameras, snap cards, destroy film - well, that's just illegal and wrong - at least here in Canada, and most likely in Prague as well. regards, frank Frantisek Vlcek wrote: > with the demonstrations surrounding 2000 IMF/WB meeting in Prague, many PJs > were abundant. A friend photographed some suspicious person > agitating for violence who turned out to be a policeman in > disguise... (tells you something about police). He was later > apprehended by this policeman in vicinity of about 20 armoured > police and the man asked him to give him the film (he was shooting > digital, though)... having no other option he turned out the 64mb CF > card, which the policeman quickly snapped in half. It was a pity he > didn't have a camera with two CF slots, he could have given him the > other card :( > > Even if the PJ had every right to photograph the policeman, the > atmosphere was such that he would have been probably beaten and his > camera stamped upon had he refused to give over the CF card with the > provocateur's photos. You know, a 21 policeman to 1 PJ is not good > evidence in court on his side... > > So even if you have rights, it still depends who is stronger. And > that is in a civilised, "democratic", NATO-member country... > > Frantisek > > P.S> there were quite many similar stories... -- "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
