Cops suck

1. Rob Grauert
   Post Production Host

   

    So today I was hassled big time by the cops and entered into a federal database listed as someone who could be a potential threat to the country. Why? For shooting video of an oil refinery in south Philadelphia without permission. I was even told by a Sunoco worker that they had called the cops but I was still free to leave since I wasn't doing anything illegal. By the end of my annoying ordeal, I realized I should have just left instead of waiting around and trying to be polite.

    What is the point of a cop being nothing more than a pain in the ass to someone on "highly secure property" when I looked for a location to shoot using Google Maps?! I mean, certainly a terrorist could look for a target in the U.S. without ever stepping foot in the country. 

    And cops wonder why they're so disliked... 

   Rob Grauert, Jr
   http://www.robgrauert.com
   http://command-r.tumblr.com

   Posted 3 years ago #

2. Johnboy
   Member

   

   I can sympathize with your plight, but you have to remember, especially in the times we live now, you need to obtain a release and/or permission especially when shooting near things of high national security importance such as refineries or military bases.

   John

   Posted 3 years ago #

3. birdcat
   Moderator

   

   Be glad you weren't in Area 51

   

   Bruce Paul
   7Squared Productions
   http://www.7squared.com

   Posted 3 years ago #

4. Don
   Member

   

    get a lawyer.

   If your names on a list, you could find yourself on a no fly list, or subjected to unreasonable (up to and including body cavity) searches, and worst of all forced to check all your camera gear (kiss it good-bye, unless of course you know some baggage handlers that'll steal some camera gear, back for you)..... when you travel... or you might find in the future, while filming, the officers responding will taser you first, have a good laugh, and not bother asking any questions... as they confiscate your camera, and discretely place in the trunk of thier cruiser, where you'll never see it again...(unless you know a cop who'll steal you some new gear at his next drug bust).

   Posted 3 years ago #

5. domineaux
   Member

   

   First unless you are a dissenter you should contact and get approval before going on private property.  Actually, that is common courtesy.

   If you are a dissenter you should have a lawyer that knows what you are up to and let him/her help you plan your dissenting areas of interest, especially if you are trespassing or violating someone else's rights.

   I doubt you'll go on a no fly list of get cavity searched.  LOL

   Getting your gear stolen, if you check it is always a high possibility.

   We haven't arrived as a nazi country yet, but there are undertones of it.

    

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   Posted 3 years ago #

6. Rob Grauert
   Post Production Host

   

    you need to obtain a release and/or permission especially when shooting near things of high national security importance such as refineries or military bases.

    

    I understand that and I have no problem getting permission when I need to. What I do have a problem with is people saying areas like military bases and refineries are of "high national security" when anyone in the world can go on Google maps and look for these "highly secure areas." I have a problem with police officers still viewing me as a threat when I provide ample proof that I'm nothing more than a student working on a school project. I have a problem being treated rudely by an officer on a power trip when I agreed to stay and cooperate over my actions that weren't illegal to begin with. 

    The fact that this authorities in the country think they can do something to make this country completely safe is ridiculous. No one can be completely safe. The only thing someone can do is create the illusion of complete safety. 

    

   D0n...what you said is a good point. I never even thought of the crap I may deal with at an airport. Airport security is bad enough. I certainly don't need this hanging over my head.  

   Posted 3 years ago #

7. Rob Grauert
   Post Production Host

   

    Demineaux,

    I wasn't on private property. I was in a public location. It's not violating anyone's rights when I video tape something in plain site from a public vantage point. 

   Posted 3 years ago #

8. Don
   Member

   

    always the possibility he was just screwing with your head. Nobody likes to do paperwork. But I'd find out, and get my name off the list if it was an abuse of power.

   Posted 3 years ago #

9. domineaux
   Member

   

   Hey... I'm on your side. 

   Remember this and you'll have an easier life.  Cops and Sheriffs are cops and sheriffs, because they like to muscle people around and give them a hard time. Don't even buy into that protect and serve bit, that is the secondary part of their fun.

   They like hard-assing people, if you remember this your life will be easier.  Just be very respectful to cops and do all in your power to avoid any contact with them.  Whatever you do, do nothing to enable a cop to take any action against you. 

   I have a friend got a DUI and he hadn't had a drink for over 7 hours. The cop just got a whiff of it and took my friend to jail. My friend cooperated, blew in the machine and everything. No charges were dropped.  My friend won the case after 9 months of worry and over $10,000 in attorney and bond fees.  He won his case and he didn't lose his license or go to jail, but what did he win?  It cost the cop nothing, and the cop was paid to show up in court.

   I won't even drink a sip of wine and get into a vehicle as a driver... ever.  I've never had a DUI. I think you should think as I do... It wiser to learn from other peoples mistakes. We don't live long enough to get through everything by experiencing everything ourselves.   

   I won't even eat at a breakfast eatery where the cops hangout for breakfast.  They are always looking for a suspect and they're on a hair trigger with us civilians.  Think about all the killings by cops.  If they feel they're in danger they can waste you, with their 44 magnum. 

   How many times have you seen video of the cops wasting some dude and there were a half dozen cops standing around with guns.  All the crook had was a knife.  The taser is probably the best thing that ever happened for civilians, and it should save alot of lives.  The cops practice using their guns all the time, and they want to empty "rounds" into some dissenters torso.  Cops call bullets "rounds", civilians call bullets... bullets.  I've often wondered about that, except to say they want do downplay what bullets are or something.

     

   Posted 3 years ago #

10. domineaux
    Member

    

    After re-reading your originating posting.  I would say you weren't where you think you were taking your pictures. 

    Posted 3 years ago #

11. Rob Grauert
    Post Production Host

    

     Why do you think I wasn't where I think I was? There's one road to go to where I was shooting. It would be harder for me to go to the wrong location...

    Posted 3 years ago #

12. domineaux
    Member

    

    I said: After re-reading your originating posting.  I would say you weren't where you think you were taking your pictures. 

    You said : Why do you think I wasn't where I think I was? There's one road to go to where I was shooting. It would be harder for me to go to the wrong location...

    Because you said the Sonoco workers talked with you, which would indicate to me they know what is their property or not.  

    Posted 3 years ago #

13. Rob Grauert
    Post Production Host

    

     A Sunoco worker drove by me while I was on a public rode and noticed me pointing my camera in the direction of the smoke stack I was video taping. Throughout the whole incident, no one said anything about me trespassing or doing anything illegal.

    Posted 3 years ago #

14. Ryan3078
    Member

    

    Remember this and you'll have an easier life.  Cops and Sheriffs are cops and sheriffs, because they like to muscle people around and give them a hard time. Don't even buy into that protect and serve bit, that is the secondary part of their fun.

    They like hard-assing people, if you remember this your life will be easier.  Just be very respectful to cops and do all in your power to avoid any contact with them.

    I don't think that's true all the time. For example, I was filming a "24" type movie last Saturday, and needed an escort for the final scene.  City police lent me, free of charge, 3 cruisers who took complete direction from me for 2 hours.  All I had to do was call up Community Relations and Traffic Division.  They were a great help - but maybe that's just in Akron.

    

    

    The officer you dealt with was probably the exception, not the standard. I don't think we know what these guys go through on a daily basis, all the stuff they have to deal with.

    But the treatment you were given at the refinery is uncalled for, especially if you were polite.  If only you had put the camera down with the record button on so that you could have audio to support your case in the event that you have to prove your case again.

    Posted 3 years ago #

15. Rob Grauert
    Post Production Host

    

    I understand that not all police officers are jerks. In fact, I think I've encountered more polite police officers than rude ones. It's just hard to ignore the jerks because they take their jerk attitudes to a new level, which makes it easy for people to generalize police officers.

    Posted 3 years ago #

16. domineaux
    Member

    

    I think this thread is about done.. what do you think?

    Let's talk more about video 

    Posted 3 years ago #

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