New Photography Rules for NYC?

If your involved in photography you might want to check this out:

The NYC Mayor's Office of Film , Theater and Broadcasting are considering some new rules in regards to photography and filming in the city. As it is and has been for some time you do already need a permit for any photography and film shoots, in which a tripod/camera stands, lighting and rigging equipment will be used. What the Mayor's Office of Film , Theater and Broadcasting are trying to do is to formalize the existing policies in order to cope with large increase and often chaotic aspect of filming/photographic work taking place in NYC. The problem that alot of people are having in regards to these new rules however is with the vagueness of the way the rules are written.

The new rules that are being consider however are stating that any group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour need to get a city permit and insurance. The same requirements would apply to any group of five or more people who plan to use a tripod in a public location for more than 10 minutes, which includes the time it takes to set up the equipment. These new rules could in effect with the way they are currently worded, depending on whether a police officer or not wanted to enforce it, pertain to tourists, amateur photographers or some people just filming the next YouTube hit. So when a family of 4, visiting NYC for the first time stop in Times Square or Rockefeller Center to snap a few pictures could be in violation of the new rules.

You can read more about it here in a NY Times article and also on the NYCLU's web site.

There is also a petition you can sign if your against these new rules.

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