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I live in Las Cruces, New Mexico, about 40 miles north of the Mexico border. This is a beautiful place to live; it's quiet with relatively low-crime. I'm an avid photographer, so with today being warm and sunny I went on a walking tour around the old industrial area of the city, and my husband and housemate came with me. We walked along railroad tracks, took pictures of junkyards and old cotton gin facilities, and stopped at the old rail depot to look at a big mural on the side of a building. I was taking some photos when I noticed a police car slowly cruise by just a block north of us, and about a minute later he came from around the block and pulled into the rail depot parking lot near where we were standing .
"Here we go", I thought, as he called out to us and motioned for the three of us to walk toward his car. He asked what we were doing and where we had been, so we answered that we had just been walking around the dirt lots and railroad tracks taking pictures. He then said he was following up on a complaint from the neighborhood "over there where all the old houses are" - and he gestured in the opposite direction where we hadn't been - that apparently a female was seen taking pictures of people's houses and they thought it was weird, so the police were called. Whether or not this was true, I have no idea, so I told the police officer it wasn't us. He said there was nothing illegal about taking pictures, then asked the three of us for ID, and that's when everything changed.
My husband and housemate obediently whipped out their ID; however, I am not that easy. "Why do I have to show you my ID for taking a walk and shooting pictures?" I asked. He got all excited and stammered something about having to verify that he spoke to us and he started scratching some notes in a little notepad. It didn't really answer my question, so I asked again "But why do you need to see my ID?" He laughed and said to me "What, do you have warrants out on you or something?" and I replied no. He again asked me for ID, and I wasn't sure what to do at this point and I did not feel good about it, but I gave him my ID. Instead of just writing our names in his little notebook, he immediately hopped into his car and called in our names over the radio - then made a bunch of bull**** small talk with my husband while we were being "checked out". I was fuming inside as I heard our names come over the radio, all fine and clear, of course. He gave us back our IDs and said we were free to go - I just turned and walked away quickly and he sped off in his car.
Obviously I am perturbed about this event and I'm curious if anyone has feedback about how to handle scenes like this. Was there really a "weird female" taking photos of people's houses causing someone to call the police and I was just in the same place at the wrong time? Was the police officer just bored and saw us as an easy target to check out? And why - because we look different than most folks? Because my housemate is Nepalese and is frequently mistaken for Mexican? Do I have the right to refuse to present ID in a situation like this? I just wasn't sure what to do, and I'm pissed.
Sure, it's no big deal, get over it, right. This is becoming a nation of fear and oppression, and now I can't take a Saturday stroll with a camera without being eyeballed and suspected by the local police.
Does anyone have similar stories? I'd like to hear them.
Original poster here. I do appreciate all the comments and that most of you seem to get my point. The few that don't get it...well, you're just part of the 97% of the "mindless, blind 'the law is the law and it's right because it's the law and it's the law because it's right' population that dominates this country.
As for what I was REALLY doing? Running drugs from Mexico through the rail yard and rounding up children for kiddie porn using my fun little camera and lily-white husband as decoys, of course! Too bad the police officer didn't search my handbag - he would have gotten an award for Evildoer Crimebuster of the Year.
Original poster here. I do appreciate all the comments and that most of you seem to get my point. The few that don't get it...well, you're just part of the 97% of the "mindless, blind 'the law is the law and it's right because it's the law and it's the law because it's right' population that dominates this country.
As for what I was REALLY doing? Running drugs from Mexico through the rail yard and rounding up children for kiddie porn using my fun little camera and lily-white husband as decoys, of course! Too bad the police officer didn't search my handbag - he would have gotten an award for Evildoer Crimebuster of the Year.
Right.
We knew with a little pressure you'd crack and confess!!!!
Glad we didn't have to resort to waterboarding....the next step.....
Me personally I would have shown him my ID and been grateful he was doing his job instead of counting calories by the thousand in some dounut shop but thats me.
The other side of the coin? If some bad folks were taking a stroll scouting for victims and the police didn't pounce on them we would be hearing how usless the cops in what ever town are. I mean can't they just tell by looking at them?
Now had he stopped the bad folks and got ID they may change their minds about violating someone. OR maybe they still will do the deed but based on a description the cop can say okay I know who they are.
If the stop bothered me I would show my ID and in turn ask for his name and badge number. Write down the number on his patrol car note the time and make some inquiries.
But thats me.
Your tax payer dollars at work. Dunkin Donuts must have been closed at that time.
This is harrassment. Im glad you stuck up for your rights and refusing to show your ID. You are not required to. Im disapointed you gave in. But I know we have no choice. He has the badge bought in the Dollar Store and the mighty gun and the law on his side, not yours.
We can play the game but our rights will be trampled on because they have the power. You can stand up for your rights but he can make your life very difficult for doing so. So we give in and feel like we were violated like you feel right now. It sucks.
On the other hand you can claim profiling and sue for a million dollars. Everyone else is winning those cases.
Im glad your all ok from that ordeal. Even if you were taking pictures of peoples homes, that is a very very serious crime. You are lucky the FBI and Home Land Security didn't show up too. You could have also been put on the Do-not-fly terrorist list. Taking pictures is a real bad thing. Hehehe.
One thing that struck me about your post was the mention of the railroad tracks AND the old depot. You may know, there's a considerable number of people who take a GREAT interest in all aspects of railroading as a subject of photography. It's an EXTREMELY popular field for "photo fans".
MANY of these folks have reported increasing hostility from the railroad companies, particularly since 9-11. That event, PLUS the huge increase in liability lawsuits, has made some railroads nearly paranoid about ANY trespassers, or even any unusual attention.
Las Cruces, I believe, is on the busy Union Pacific line from LA to El Paso. UP is one of the more 'aggressive' companies in enforcing a 'zero tolerance' policy toward ANY 'hanky panky' at ALL..even 'poking around'. "Hopping a freight" is a ticket straight to jail. (it used to be just 'winked at')
I don't know if this applies to your case, but UP does have a well-equipped, very aggressive Railroad Police force, who sometimes work closely with the local 'cops'.
MANY amateur photographers have reported very 'testy' run-ins with the railroad "bulls" in cases very similar to yours---even 'lingering' across the street from a rail yard can now bring on a 'visit'...I've even heard of them taking away people's film before allowing them to leave the area. Looks like, in some ways, the terrorists have "won". There's LOTS of mistrust out there now, and "innocent" things aren't so innocent anymore....
One thing that struck me about your post was the mention of the railroad tracks AND the old depot. You may know, there's a considerable number of people who take a GREAT interest in all aspects of railroading as a subject of photography. It's an EXTREMELY popular field for "photo fans".
MANY of these folks have reported increasing hostility from the railroad companies, particularly since 9-11. That event, PLUS the huge increase in liability lawsuits, has made some railroads nearly paranoid about ANY trespassers, or even any unusual attention.
Las Cruces, I believe, is on the busy Union Pacific line from LA to El Paso. UP is one of the more 'aggressive' companies in enforcing a 'zero tolerance' policy toward ANY 'hanky panky' at ALL..even 'poking around'. "Hopping a freight" is a ticket straight to jail. (it used to be just 'winked at')
I don't know if this applies to your case, but UP does have a well-equipped, very aggressive Railroad Police force, who sometimes work closely with the local 'cops'.
MANY amateur photographers have reported very 'testy' run-ins with the railroad "bulls" in cases very similar to yours---even 'lingering' across the street from a rail yard can now bring on a 'visit'...I've even heard of them taking away people's film before allowing them to leave the area. Looks like, in some ways, the terrorists have "won". There's LOTS of mistrust out there now, and "innocent" things aren't so innocent anymore....
Don't know if this fits your situation or not.
All this is so true today in America and yes, a LOT of it has to do with the events of 9/11........
along with illegal immigration and a "War on Drugs."
I hate to have to agree with some of the other posters here, but......thesedays it is best to just "go along" with what that policeman asked of you, be as polite about it as possible (even if you're cussin up a storm in your head)........and expedite the situation.
Sad it is though.......that once they have your ID in hand.......it's now time to run 'ya through their computers (NCIC/CBI) and "determine" whether or not YOU have the RIGHT to be "freely" walking down the street.
THIS........accounts for the basic fact that today's America IS a VERY PARANOID one, has EVERYTHING to do with FEAR.....including FEAR ITSELF and is a form of oppression......... and that, of what many a Police State is!
Yep, terrorists won and we have LOST.......and continue to lose a bit more each day.
But what 'ya gonna do about it?
Cops harassed me for walking down the street. It was always late at night, but I was alone, not running, just walking straight down the sidewalk. I wasn't carrying anything, or loitering.
I simply worked as a grocery stocker, and we got done whatever time we got done. I can remember getting off at 6 a.m. some days! That was when we were down to just ME and the two "management" people on the stock crew!
I can recall one time a cop asking for my license. I told him I didn't have one. He asked why, and I replied, "Am I driving?" I think them "checking people out" who are just minding their own business is a little over the top.
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Well said.....
