Well, didn't think that hobby can be so dangerous

[Gintaras B.]

Today I drove to Bayswaters Park a little after noon...no one else was there...later, some other airplane spotter came...we didn't talk...I was taking photos and videos...Another guy was taking photos of aircrafts as well...So, he left, and I was alone...about 4pm..or so...I saw that Aero Mexico was taxiing for take-off and deceided to wait for...
Next thing, I see a couple police officers coming right at me and asking: "what are doing here"...
Me: "I'm taking photos of airplanes"...I must looked very suspicious, my Radio Shack scanner was next to me...

Blah, blah, blah...they took me outside park, there were 2 police cars with lights flashing..another guy, who was at park taking photos, was there already questioned by police...
We been held on Mott Ave for another 1/2 hour while one police officer was on the phone...
After...me and another guy were hand-cuffed, and taken in 101 precint, that's on same Mott Ave...
After some waiting and some questioning, police officers did apologize and drove us to our parked cars next to Bayswater Park...

I'm sure, I'll remember that old-fart paranoid guy with a wife and a dog...who did call police because of his sickness - paranoia...
Next time I'm @ Baywaters and I see that same guy...I might call police - guy need medical attention...

Detectives and other police officers were very nice to us, except, little policemen - one police woman was so dumb, she was telling that taking pictures of aircrafts - against Federal Law....
When I told her: "I heard, that LAX - Los Angeles Airport has a deck for aircraft spotters", She told me: "well, Los Angeles isn't New Your..." Then...I told her: "What do you now about FEDERAL LAWS?...If it's in NYC against "The Federal Law", it's NOT against in LA ...

[yankees368]

That is all pretty insane. I have had nothing but good encounters with the NYPD. So sorry this had to go down the way it did. Unreal.

[Gintaras B.]

That is all pretty insane. I have had nothing but good encounters with the NYPD. So sorry this had to go down the way it did. Unreal.

It wasn't a fun when they put hand-cuffs on me...

I'm more sorry for another guy - who was taken to 101 precint with me - he was very first time @ Bayswaters Park...and as he said - maybe last time...And he told me that found that location from this site - NYC Aviation...And he told me, that has some pics on Airliners.net...

I'm not afraid going to Bayswaters again...And I won't forget that old ******* with wife and dog...who called police...He was watching on the street while cops walked me away from the park...
Next time that old-fart with his old slut and a dog walks into park, I'll call police....

[gonzalu]

Even when the president was in town and we got kicked out of the park for the first time ever, I actually was a bit pushy asking why, and even as the PO got a bit impatient in telling "you just have to go, OK!!" and still nothing of the sort.

You MUST be told why you are being detained or arrested. And technically it is a State Park so I would have called the State Park or regular State Police and reported the incident. Also, you should re-visit that same precinct and ask to speak to a supervisor and report the fact that you were told it is against federal law to take pictures of airplanes from a public park. Make sure you let them know that you know the law and your rights.

Once again, NEVER been arrested ever, and I have done far worse than take pictures of planes in my life to warrant some handcuffs and always ended up with nothing more than a stern warning or heated argument with the officers.

Remember to ALWAYS ask if you can go about your business and if not, you must ask why you are being held against your will. A Police Officer has the right to hold you without charging you or arresting you in the State of New York. A Peace Officer MUST make an arrest through and through. NO ONE can hold you against your will unless they make a Citizen's Arrest ... only a Police Officer can do so. And even then they have limited time in which to question you, charge you with a crime or crimes or let you go.

I would not let this just go away without knowing full well why you were detained.

[gonzalu]

BTW, in case this wasn't obvious... in general, we are in someone's neighborhood and we must behave accordingly... respectful of people's privacy and right to a quiet peaceful living in their homes and neighborhood. So, while in the area and inside the park, even though it is a public place, we should and must behave accordingly.

Gintaras, did you have any interaction with the folks you are referring to? We have a lot of people call the cops on us and we have NEVER had any more than a friendly exchange with the officers that respond. So I am curious as to what exactly happened between you and the couple and dog.

[NIKV69]

Cuffs? Taken to precinct. Insane.

[Gintaras B.]

BTW, in case this wasn't obvious... in general, we are in someone's neighborhood and we must behave accordingly... respectful of people's privacy and right to a quiet peaceful living in their homes and neighborhood. So, while in the area and inside the park, even though it is a public place, we should and must behave accordingly.

Gintaras, did you have any interaction with the folks you are referring to? We have a lot of people call the cops on us and we have NEVER had any more than a friendly exchange with the officers that respond. So I am curious as to what exactly happened between you and the couple and dog.

Manny,
Guy with a woman and a dog came to me, looked at me - what I was doing and said: "Hi". I said: "hi" and that's all it was...

[PhilDernerJr]

This disgusts me. They stomped all over your rights and violated the law themselves. You were arrested with no probably cause or crime having been committed.

I have been detained once by the 101st Pct before, also from Bayswater, but we were not cuffed. We cooperated because they said that there were no detectives on the street and asked/forced us to go with them in a police van to meet and speak with them.

My own personal suggestion would be for you to pursue this, to go back to them and get some answers. IT's completely ridiculous that this could happen here.

[disco stu]

Detectives and other police officers were very nice to us, except, little policemen - one police woman was so dumb, she was telling that taking pictures of aircrafts - against Federal Law....
When I told her: "I heard, that LAX - Los Angeles Airport has a deck for aircraft spotters", She told me: "well, Los Angeles isn't New Your..." Then...I told her: "What do you now about FEDERAL LAWS?...If it's in NYC against "The Federal Law", it's NOT against in LA ...

Always pretty disturbing when you're at the mercy of someone with such ignorance that has a gun and a badge. Sorry about your experience.

[gonzalu]

Always pretty disturbing when you're at the mercy of someone with such ignorance that has a gun and a badge. Sorry about your experience.

Well we don't really know the whole story... we only have one side and it seems to have three sides, perhaps more. This is why we encourage folks to not be intimidated and go about the situation in a very professional and always respectful way but definitely get answers.

I used to get stopped by CBP every single time I re-entered the US at any port of entry in the US and get set to a back room and always allowed to leave after a lot of keys were pressed and NEVER an answer as to why. I then slowly pursued this with every possible avenue available to me and I finally got some information. It took a lot of letters and a lot of phone calls. My name is an alias to at least two individuals (one from Dominican Republic, the other from Mexico) who are on various lists and such which meant ANYONE would be stopped with a similar alias. I eventually had my answers and also an opportunity to voice my opinion that the policy of NOT telling the person who is NOT the guilty party yet being questioned and detained is not acceptable. I did vow to take this as high as I had to to bring out the information at least to me. Ultimately the solution was to enroll in Global Entry / SENTRI / NEXUS and I no longer face scrutiny as I have been pre-screened.

It did not resolve the issue of me having knowledge of what exactly is contained in their files about me personally, but at least I don't scare the hell out of my family when I am taken away from them at the airport for :30 minutes ...

Find out, inquire, tell. The same way they tell you "if you see something, say something" it applies just as well the other way. It may uncover wrongdoing that would normally be hidden because most people are afraid of the law.

[Gintaras B.]

Always pretty disturbing when you're at the mercy of someone with such ignorance that has a gun and a badge. Sorry about your experience.

Thanks,

I'm really sorry about AeroMexico I saw taxiing for take off...I was thinking - take photos of aircraft and I'm done for today(well, yesterday)...

Another thing, there was a guy hand-cuffed and brought to 101, he wasn't even taking photos - prolly a friend of a guy that was taking photos at Bayswaters...
Imagine, I do drive a friend who likes to take photos of aircrafts and get arrested together...



I'm not really mad at cops...The Guy - some redneck paranoid, who called cops - really pisses me off...I do remember him...Would like to see him next time I'm @ Bayswater, to walk him into park...
I wouldn't say him a word, but I would try to make him experience the same...I do know, 2 bads don't make One Good, but I'd like to make this guy to forget his way to Bayswaters Park....

And, if there were 10-15 guys taking photos of aircrafts, we, sure, could make it happen....

[Gintaras B.]

Well we don't really know the whole story... we only have one side and it seems to have three sides, perhaps more. This is why we encourage folks to not be intimidated and go about the situation in a very professional and always respectful way but definitely get answers.



Find out, inquire, tell. The same way they tell you "if you see something, say something" it applies just as well the other way. It may uncover wrongdoing that would normally be hidden because most people are afraid of the law.

Manny, you could go to 101 to find out rest of the story...
I have nothing to hide...
And I do believe, another guy was just another Plane Spotter just like me...

"If You See Something, Say Something" - TV ad that makes some people paranoid..

In a History, many millions of people were killed or murdered in Gulags , because of: "If You See Something, Say Something"...

When: "If You See Something, Say Something"...You have to be very responsible about, VERY RESPONSIBLE....Otherwise, you can send innocent people to jail or prison...

Manny, I think, I saw you a couple times Brookville location...You didn't look like a terrorist and didn't look like you were hidding bazooka to get launched from you camera lense...

[gonzalu]

YEah, I meant for your sake and ours. I can't do it on your behalf :) My point being, don't let it just be that way (if you care about the why of course) it seems you don;t have closure and therefore neither do we. Lots of folks other than us here read these forums quietly and silently and will use the information here for themselves. It would be a shame if folks are scared off y secret police practices. That would be a terrible way for things to turn out.

I personally have no issues and will hold my head up high and do what I am allowed to do in public places legally. And I never said you have anything to hide :smile: but there is a cloud over the story from the point of view of we have no clue what or why it happened. You said you were never told why you were being arrested. Were your rights ever read to you?

Intersting you say about the bazooka ... in KMIA one year I was rolled on full cherries by about 10 marked and unmarked Sheriff and Airport police officers after taking out my 200-400mm f/4 and standing on a rock by the Furniture Store location. Apparently the Tower called me in as holding a suspicious object. The best part is how the officers handled it... one of them came up to me (I was pretty shaken up by the instant show of force of course but never afraid) and was so apologetic for scaring me and for "bothering me" I was so impressed by their professionalism... He immediately came over, shook hands, introduced himself... behind him were two SWAT type guys armed and armored to the teeth.. and after verifying my lens was indeed a lens, we chatted for about 15 minutes about photography and airplanes. One of the officers was dying to handle [my weapon] and I jokingly said if he let me shoot a few rounds with his Heckler & Koch MP5. I let him shoot a few frames with the camera and he was not impressed by the weight... anyway... bottom line is, it is all relative to how both you AND the police officers deal with the situation. We only have your side and it seems not even you have their side of the story. My point is, if you care about why it happened to you the way it did, I would urge you to pursue it.. .that's all :) I don't need to know any further for myself.

[megatop412]

Gintaras, you do what you want, but if it were me...I would go in that precinct and read them the riot act. I would demand an actual supervisor to speak with, and then I would file a complaint against the officers in question. They knew they did not have to detain you, much less bring you in. People can say all they want 'they were just doing their jobs'. Well, you know what? Part of that job is to exercise appropriate discretion, and if what you say is EXACTLY what happened(notice my emphasis on your having been 100%, and I mean 100% truthful with us here), what happened was a completely inappropriate response to the situation they encountered. You have every right to make a complaint that will go into those officer's records. It isn't any different than if I have a customer complain about me to my boss and it goes in my folder. Threaten to use legal action if you need to get them to listen. Hell, some people do that for a lot less. They certainly infringed upon your rights as a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen, and knuckles should be rapped for it.

[Gerard]

I have been detained once by the 101st Pct before, also from Bayswater, but we were not cuffed. We cooperated because they said that there were no detectives on the street and asked/forced us to go with them in a police van to meet and speak with them.
.

What Pct is The Mounds? 103? 113? Maybe the Rockaway boys can take a lesson from them!!
And still wondering if there is more here though.

[fk6065]

The mounds are in the confines of the 105 Pct.

[Gintaras B.]

Were your rights ever read to you?



In fact, no...

[RWB]

In fact, no...
Jackpot!
http://diederichlaw.leads.com/index_files/civil_rights_liberties.htm

[moose135]

If he wasn't read his rights, he likely wasn't placed under arrest, simply detained for further questioning. There is a very real legal distinction between the two.

[RWB]

If he wasn't read his rights, he likely wasn't placed under arrest, simply detained for further questioning. There is a very real legal distinction between the two.
I agree 100%, I've been detained while the Officer 'conducted his investigation' but never placed in cuffs and hauled off someplace. I wasn't there with Gintaras but just talking to a lawyer who specializes in civil rights couldn't hurt. I emailed all the details of my event and got an email back the next day, I didn't feel making his house payment with retainer fees was worth it. :smile:

[gonzalu]

If he wasn't read his rights, he likely wasn't placed under arrest, simply detained for further questioning. There is a very real legal distinction between the two.

Agreed Moose, but, for cuffs to be placed, the bar must be set pretty high. Example: I am accused of spitting in public (illegal yes) and officers show up... if while they investigate they find they have to detain me, there is no real reason I need to be placed in cuffs and hauled off for a detective to question me. So to me, there must have been a much higher threat for the detention to warrant cuffs. Either someone called them in as suspect for something much bigger than taking pictures of the airport or airplanes or something else like trespassing, harassment or something.

[Gerard]

Agreed Moose, but, for cuffs to be placed, the bar must be set pretty high. Example: I am accused of spitting in public (illegal yes) and officers show up... if while they investigate they find they have to detain me, there is no real reason I need to be placed in cuffs and hauled off for a detective to question me. So to me, there must have been a much higher threat for the detention to warrant cuffs. Either someone called them in as suspect for something much bigger than taking pictures of the airport or airplanes or something else like trespassing, harassment or something.

It is possible the complainant exaggerated the facts to the 911 operator thus the cuffs. But they should have informed him of the charges when they took him away or at the very least at the station house!!

[PhilDernerJr]

While right about being under arrest versus being questioned, it is still very illegal to forcibly detain someone without suspicion of a clear crime. There was no law implied or specified that may have been broken, so there seems to have been no grounds for questioning to the point of being handcuffed.

[gonzalu]

While right about being under arrest versus being questioned, it is still very illegal to forcibly detain someone without suspicion of a clear crime. There was no law implied or specified that may have been broken, so there seems to have been no grounds for questioning to the point of being handcuffed.

...well, from a point of view of planespotting. Who knows what else may have sparked the call to the police. Gintaras only knows of the older couple and dog but maybe other factors were at play?

[PhilDernerJr]

Yes, you're correct, but I was leaning toward it being illegal or baseless since one officer did cite a law that does't exist.

[gonzalu]

Famous Statements by Police to Spotters:

"Don't you know what's going on?"
"It is against the law to take pictures of planes"
"It is against Federal Law to take pictures of planes"
"I am sorry but just not today, OK?"
"Look, you HAVE TO LEAVE NOW!!!!" (deep stare as to intimidate me and another spotter while being kicked out of Bayswater during UN Week due to AF1)
"You can't take pictures of planes" (Oh I am perfectly capable of it, you may mean I may not which is also not correct LOL)
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" (at EWR while shooting from a not so great location. Not illegal, but dangerous nonetheless :tongue:)
"What are those for?" (I was stopped for speeding on Nassau Expwy by N hangar Rd. Two cameras with long lenses on the right front seat... I was held for over :30 minutes while NYPD got Port PD to come over and read me the riot act. But in exchange, the NYPD officer got a civic lesson from PAPD officer abotu our hobby. It was quite interesting to watch the NYPD officer drop his jaw when the port officer and I exchanged bits on the best spots to shoot from without infringing on the property LOL)

_INSERT YOUR FAVES HERE_

Disclaimer: BTW, the above exchanges ALL ended up with me moving from the current location AT WORST!

[Landing Lights]

Gintaras, I'm sorry that this happened to you. Like many of the others, I would strongly encourage you to follow up on this with a supervisor at the 101st precinct. To me, there is a clear overstepping of authority here, and the only way that future occurrences will be prevented is if you speak out about what happened. We do share a respectful and understanding relationship with most of the NYPD, PAPD, and NCPD precincts around JFK, so hopefully this may add one more to the list.

I would caution against you taking any action against the individuals you believe called you in in the future. They likely live in the area, and spotters starting any sort of confrontation with those who live in the neighborhoods we visit (even if its just calling the cops on them) would not be in our best interest. Once the police are all aware that what we are doing is a-ok, the worst that will happen is that the cops will come by to check us out and move on when they see we're up to no harm. The sad fact is that while we can work to change peoples attitudes about spotters, we will never change them all. However, if they see that their calls are only resulting in the cops not taking any action, they will eventually stop calling.

[Delta777LR]

One of the things I would have maybe done
PO: Can I see your ID please?
Citizen: Am i being detained?
PO: Yes you are.
Citizen: For what? What laws have i broken?
PO: Can I just see your ID please
Citizen: I would like to know what I did that was Illegal?

thats just an example: Kidding aside.. I always say not to make things worse.

Gintaras im very sorry for what happened to you there. thats very harsh.. As Manny and all the others said, i would go back to the 101 pct to solve this problem. They had no reason what so ever to even slap cuffs on you. Thats BS. There are gonna be many that will never get the picture that airplane photography from public places are legal. And as for those couple with the dog, that sounds familiar to me, but i will not get detailed about it. In fact back in Sept i was at a public park spotting and I had one guy came up to me asking "Why are you taking pictures of airplanes?" My response "It's my hobby and thats what I enjoy" with a smile on my face. then he takes out his cell phone taking photos of me, and i asked why was he doing that? as he walked away. I did see a NCPD car parked by the LIRR station and i went to them and I told them i was being harassed because I was taking pictures of airplanes, and they said they dont understand why the guy did that but i was allowed to be there to plane spot.. right there I win.

Gintaras. Just go back to the 101 pct and fight this crap.. We dont need this happening to another one of us here

[Gintaras B.]

Ok guys,

I got in touch with one of friends I knew, who happened to work for NYPD Internal Affairs and told her The Whole Story...
She didn't suggest to do anything...It goes by precinct - some cops are like @ Bayswaters, some - like @ Brookville Mounds pct...
I believe her, she worked a long time @ Internal Affairs and she does know something about cops...
She did tell that cops @ Bayswater OF COURSE over-reacted - just to protect themselves in case something serious has happened...

Some of conversation I wouldn't want even to post here...for obvious reasons...

I would go again to Bayswaters, as before...I hope, I wouldn't be bothered and harassed by cops once again....If it happens again...I would get really pissed-off...
But...If I see some redneck - like guy on saturday walking into park, I might call police myself...I'm 100% sure that that paranoid ******* called police...
I been there several times without any problems...and all people there, besides aviation hobbyists I met there, fishermen are nice guys too...I did sometimes asked them: "Did you catch anything"...

I don't want to go about "hot-blooded"...need to cool down and think, what to do next...Like some russian expression: "In the morning you're wiser than in the evening" - kinda...

So, I'll think about... And I'm not afraid to go there again...

[Gintaras B.]

Just a thought...What if we could get some badges, let's say, from this site: NYC Aviation, that could be valid at any airport...that all cops would know and accept, just like drivers license?

Mayber Phil D. could think about?

Just like I was once talking to some guy @ Brookville location - there's a school - what if they would let us go and take photos of aircrafts from the roof of that building?

Do I live in a fantasy world or could be it's possible?

Something like:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/KrasAir_Ilyushin_Il-96_spotting_Mishin.jpg/800px-KrasAir_Ilyushin_Il-96_spotting_Mishin.jpg

[gonzalu]

Good I am glad you got advise from your lady friend.

[Gintaras B.]

Manny,

I want to cool down and get as many advises as possible...Then, I'll think, what to do next...
She did work for Internal Affairs many years and she does know something...But I do also listen to you guys too...

I don't want myself to get into situation like I got on saturday again, neither I want anyone of you get into similar situation...

As in russian expression: "Утро вечера мудренее" - "morning brings counsel", "tomorrow is a new day" or "take counsel of one's pillow"....

[megatop412]

The most ridiculous thing I ever heard from the cops while spotting(and from PAPD no less): "We have your information. You can expect a visit from us or the FBI if anything like TWA 800 happens around here." A few months later, Swissair 111 crashed and I sh*t my pants thinking they would really be coming to at least interrogate me. That was the worst I was ever intimidated, and I swore to never let it happen again.

Gintaras, you have a cooler head than me if you can let this slide without filing a complaint. You are a model of restraint that I could never achieve. You should at least ask your friend in internal affairs if she thinks the officers that arrested you should go without reprimand. There need to be consequences for folks who abuse the powers entrusted to them.

[Delta777LR]

I agree with William on that part Gintaras. at least u were able to talk to someone about the problem. As for you, and i would say to anyone, dont be afraid to go spotting from Bayswater again, there is really nothing to worry about, often times, it's normal that encounters happen, and we do know our rights. And as you mentioned about getting sort of badges showing we r from NYCA, that was talked about some time ago. not easy. We are just local spotters, if or whenever you get approach by NYPD, PAPD, NCPD etc always be straight honest of what you are doing. Yes some of us will take it that we can have a bad day because of an encounter, some have been in that category before. But hey, always keep the chin up and dont let those kind of things ruin the whole day, theres always tomorrow, theres always the next day and so on. In many ways that I think about it, we should be on the good side to the fact that many officers are pretty much understanding our hobby. surely but slowly, but things have been improving very well. Never let an encounter make you feel the world is gonna end.

[Gintaras B.]

There need to be consequences for folks who abuse the powers entrusted to them.

I just want to cool down and look at all possible options how to go...
She doesn't work anymore at internal affairs because of pension, but she would give me some advices...


There need to be consequences for folks who abuse the powers entrusted to them.

There should be consequences for folks, who entrusted people that got powers...Do you, people care who do you vote for?

Or do you think, Gintaras will solve all the problems?

Maybe I shouldn't have shared this to others...just to keep for myself..as a bad memories...

[Landing Lights]

Or do you think, Gintaras will solve all the problems?

Maybe I shouldn't have shared this to others...just to keep for myself..as a bad memories...

No one person will be able to solve all of these problems themselves, it must be done as a team effort. That means that any of us who run into a situation like this needs to follow up on it. Like Manny said, its not something that somebody else can do for you. It has to be followed up on by the person that was affected by it. That followup will, however, benefit the group as a whole. At any rate, you should follow up with the precinct because the officers involved crossed a well defined line with regards to when they are legally allowed to detain somebody in this manner.

I appreciate you sharing your experiences here. It really is valuable to the community as a whole to know when things like this happen.

[PhilDernerJr]

ID cards is an idea that gets brought up a lot, but it has two issues. One is that no airport would consider our ID cards to be of an value or proof that the person is a good guy. We would need to pay for background checks for each member, and even then, if that person decided to become bad or do something bad (not even terror related, but any crime), then it puts the entire organization at a liability.

The best bet is an Airport Watch program, which has been set in place in a couple cities around the US (PHX, ORD). This is not an option in NYC, as PANYNJ simply has no interest (I've been trying for many years).

[yankees368]

Can I just show them my Global Entry card? Surely that federal background check and interview would suffice!

[Mateo]

There need to be consequences for folks who abuse the powers entrusted to them.AHAHAHAHAHA. Thanks for the laugh!

[threeholerglory]

Check the forums....this has been mentioned, discussed, contemplated, and beaten to a bloody pulp using trophy tuna over the years.

[megatop412]

AHAHAHAHAHA. Thanks for the laugh!

I get your point, except in my world, people don't get a pass for their idiot behaviors.

[NIKV69]

Check the forums....this has been mentioned, discussed, contemplated, and beaten to a bloody pulp using trophy tuna over the years.

Exactly, every time this happens nobody follows up or files a complaint. I am still at a loss to why cuffs were needed. It sure sets back things years that is for sure.

As Phil mentioned Port will never allow a watch or official IDs. Not sure what that would accomplish. Airport watch is just a ruse for access anyway.

[Gintaras B.]

Guess what?
Today I took a day off from my work, about 9:30 I was @ Bayswaters(should I get scarred?)...later arrivals changed to 31R and I went to Costco Parking lot...later came another aircraft spotter, but he left early...

Later, with a camera taking photos, suddenly I do hear: "Hello" and I see Nassau PD car next to me...
Well, this time was a short- few minutes chat with these 2 nice cops, they asked my ID, scanned in a minute on their computer, gave my ID back to me and told me: "Have A nice Day"...and they drove off...

After "Hello", they told me, that they got a call from someone... their - cops words(with a smile) to me: "You made someone very nervous"...

It was totally different experience today than on saturday...I told cops today that I was saturday arrested @ Bayswater, they were very surprised...they couldn't believe...And these Nassau cops very well aware about our hobby - they did tell me that they do know very well about...

[Delta777LR]

NCPD officers are alot friendlier there, many know who we are. At many points they do get calls about us taking pictures from Costco, but remember that when you shoot from Costcos you are on their property and if u were asked to leave then it's a must. Best bet, at least purchase something from there to keep things on the good side. We dont ususally always be asked to leave but some might say you must. But im glad things got better

[Gintaras B.]

NCPD officers are alot friendlier there, many know who we are. At many points they do get calls about us taking pictures from Costco, but remember that when you shoot from Costcos you are on their property and if u were asked to leave then it's a must. Best bet, at least purchase something from there to keep things on the good side. We dont ususally always be asked to leave but some might say you must. But im glad things got better

Sergio,

I got very surprised that they did say nothing about what property I was, they just gave me my license back and told: "have a nice day"...
While on public property, they could put hand-cuffs on...

I got kinda nervous seeing cops a few days after I got arrested, a few minutes later - The whole World turned around - just like meeting best friends...:rolleyes::cool:

Go, figure out that...

[gonzalu]

Gintaras you have a special magnetic personality. It attracts the law :tongue:

[alberchico]

I would caution against you taking any action against the individuals you believe called you in in the future. They likely live in the area, and spotters starting any sort of confrontation with those who live in the neighborhoods we visit (even if its just calling the cops on them) would not be in our best interest.

I have to agree with this. Being nasty with anyone who confronts you about your spotting will lead to further problems in the future. Shame that planeview park near LGA is the only hassle free spotter location in the city.

[gonzalu]

... Shame that planeview park near LGA is the only hassle free spotter location in the city.

Not so fast... every time I am there, I have at least one individual who approaches me and tells me it is illegal to take pictures of the planes... one guy once actually told me to put the camera down as I proceeded to laugh and ignore him for the next hour or so until I left due to a RWY change. And he was illegally parked (he was a gypsy driver) while he smoked a cigarette or two all while harassing me. Too funny...