Re: bad law -- or is it??

[Don Roberts <droberts@xxxxxxxx>]

lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Don,
>
> I found the bill  HB5692 on the legislature web page:
>
> http://www.michiganlegislature.org/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=2004-HB-5692
>
> Open the short PDF named "committee analysis"
>
> It's almost humorous.  I understand the concern for protecting people's privacy but the way it reads it seems
> overly troubled by underwear and nudity. Is it OK to photograph people in their personal space as long as they
> are "decent."  :-)
>
> Some kid gets caught in the girl's locker room with a cell phone cam and every state legislator has to swing
> into action passing laws. It's a "It must be true, I read it in the checkout line"  mentality.   There are all
> kinds of laws on the books protecting privacy that would cover voyeurism.  Same as there are for driving while
> impaired that would cover the use of cell phones BTW. 

> What difference does the kind of technology a person
> uses to break the law make?
Lawyers and loopholes, I would imagine.  Same as the cell phone and 
driving while impaired.  It makes sense to people like us but the legal 
profession is paid to find ways around it.  I agree that existing laws 
should be sufficient but maybe singling out one usage makes it a bigger 
issue in people's minds and they will be less likely to do it?  That may 
be a reach. 
It seems we have discovered morality all of a sudden and it is being 
beaten to death by legislators trying to ride it to election wins.  Just 
another swing of the pendulum.
Don

> AZ
>
> Build a Lookaround!
> The Lookaround Book, 2nd ed.
> NOW SHIPPING
> http://www.panoramacamera.us
>
>
>
>
>  
>
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: Re: bad law -- or is it??
> > From: "Don Roberts" <droberts@xxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Sun, May 09, 2004 11:22 am
> > To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students"
> > <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> > As I understand it, this law was designed to prohibit people from using
> >
> > camera phones to photograph others in locker rooms etc.  Has this now
> > been expanded to include all public spaces?  Existing law seems to
> > cover
> > the situation where you photograph someone you think looks like a dork
> >
> > and then air the photos.  As you know, you can't use those photos for
> > commercial purposes but you also can't use them to expose others to
> > ridicule, I believe.  These laws have always been hazy, hard to
> > interpret and even harder to enforce.  Any time freedom of expression
> > may be invoked the scene gets chaotic.  Would you repeat the wording of
> >
> > the law?  I'm not sure it was all that clear in the first post.
> > Don
> >
> > lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> >    
> >
> > > Gregory,
> > >
> > > I'm not sure of your point and my question wasn't intended to start a
> > >      
> > philosophical or political debate (much
> >    
> >
> > > as I love that sort of thing).  I'd just like to be armed with facts
> > >      
> > when confronted in public places taking
> >    
> >
> > > pictures of strangers or whatever. I know what the rules used to be
> > >      
> > but now I'm concerned that some security
> >    
> >
> > > person or paranoid will pester me. If fellow photographers see trends
> > >      
> > in public opinion about their rights
> >    
> >
> > > changing then that is worth discussing. Most things can be resolved
> > >      
> > with a little public awareness.
> >    
> >
> > > AZ
> > >
> > >
> > > Build a Lookaround!
> > > The Lookaround Book, 2nd ed.
> > > NOW SHIPPING
> > > http://www.panoramacamera.us
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >      
> > >
> > > > -------- Original Message --------
> > > > Subject: Re: bad law -- or is it??
> > > > From: "Gregory Stempel" <fyrframe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > Date: Sun, May 09, 2004 9:05 am
> > > > To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students"
> > > > <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > when you please is when you live alone on a rock in the middle of
> > > > nowhere.<<< Even that rock is probably owned by someone else.
> > > >
> > > > I am in constant amazement at how often we humans convert something
> > > > intended for good to something allowing us evil. Who are we exactly?
> > > >
> > > > Take care,
> > > > Gregory david Stempel
> > > > FIREFRAMEi m a g i n g
> > > > www.americanphotojournalist.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >        
> > >
> > >
> > >      
> > --
> > ============================================================
> >   Don Roberts * Bittersweet Productions * Iowa City, IA
> >   			   *                         *
> >  And the Devil whispered behind the leaves, "It's pretty,
> >  but is it Art?".   --  Rudyard Kipling
> > ============================================================
> >    
>
>
>  

--
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Don Roberts * Bittersweet Productions * Iowa City, Iowa
            *                        *                    
We have met the enemy and he is us. - Walt Kelly
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