Anyone ever get arrested using lights?

So, typically, just snapping some pics doesnt get you noticed a whole lot. However, when you start setting up lights and such, I would imagine you get noticed more or even gather a crowd. Has anyone ever went the "Easier to ask forgiveness than permission" route and not gotten forgiven?

Im always nervous to start dropping lights and stands in public places.

I've asked to leave a location many times but it's never gone further than that.

If it is public property, I don't hesitate to set up lights. Private property, either ask permission or be prepared to run with gear in hand.

Never had a problem, though if I'm shooting indoors obviously I'd get permission. Outdoors, never had an issue. That's one benefit of living in a large city, most people are already desensitized to unusual sights and are too busy to stop and see what's going on.

If I need lights on stands in public places, I draw a permit. No worries.

I havent yet, but i dont use Big lights, or lightstands.
i normally get either a friend or Journalist (depending on if im shooting for fun or work) to hold a PW Flexed speedlight for me.

zelseman wrote in post #12173359
If it is public property, I don't hesitate to set up lights. Private property, either ask permission or be prepared to run with gear in hand.

I don't known on Usa, but on Italy you can't because it is configured as an occupation of public land.
While there aren't problem is the light is handheld by assistants ...

Naturally i don't speak about events where, after you asked, you can shoot or not, with or without flash, etc.

canonphotog wrote in post #12173623
If I need lights on stands in public places, I draw a permit. No worries.

So I guess I want to know, though it seems obvious, that is a "public place"? A parking lot is a public place, yet its still owned by someone. What about the alleyway or sidewalk? Even public parks are still owned by someone.

I doubt anyones ever been arrested over just shooting in a public place but the permits brings up a good point. Anyone ever been fined?

Any public walking space will not even allow tripods where I am. Sure you may get away with it, but spend any amount of time in one place and you will get chased away.

The city doesn't want anyone tripping.

I've only been asked ( told ) to stop when shooting on private property (casino property in Vegas ).

But I did see and hear a conversation between a security guard and a photographer in downtown Kansas City a few years ago. The guy was shooting photos of the federal courthouse. He was standing a half block away on a city sidewalk shooting photos of the building. The guard told him he had to stop. Personally I think the guard was wrong, from a legal standpoint, but it's hard to say in the post 9-11 world. A lot of laws were passed in the name of homeland security that limit what you can do around public buildings. Whatever....a couple years after that, I spent the better part of a couple hours one sunday morning shooting photos of the new Federal Reserve Bank building, and no one said a thing to me. You can bet they were watching me on video cameras, and I was out there for quite a while waiting for the light to be right. Go figure.

I have also on a couple of occasions been questioned by security at a local shopping district. All of the property there is privately owned by the corporation. No surprise that the times I have been questioned were evenings when the weather was nice and the rent-a-cops felt like being out walking around. I've shot there on very cold winter days or evenings, and guess what.....not a guard to be seen. The times I have been questioned by them, I explained to them I was just shooting as a hobby, and I do not sell my photos. That is often hard to pull off though when you are standing there with a one series and a 300 2.8. The automatic assumption is that you are a working pro.

Although it may sound contradictory and unethical, I don't mind trying to shoot on "private property" that is owned by a corporation where I am spending money ( like the shopping district ), but I would never do the same on property belonging to an individual.
My take on it is that if I am on public property, I just go ahead and shoot, and then deal with it if confronted

JakAHearts wrote in post #12175352
So I guess I want to know, though it seems obvious, that is a "public place"? A parking lot is a public place, yet its still owned by someone. What about the alleyway or sidewalk? Even public parks are still owned by someone.

I doubt anyones ever been arrested over just shooting in a public place but the permits brings up a good point. Anyone ever been fined?

Just because the public is allowed to frequent somewhere, such as a parking lot, parking garage, etc., does not mean it is a public place. As you've pointed out, someone or some entity owns it.

The City of San Antonio has many "public" parks that it maintains, along with the tourist areas downtown. The city has a permit program which encompasses ENG, filming movies and professional photography. I have found this to be very photographer friendly.

In some places the city owns the sidewalks, in others the businesses own the sidewalks and the city ownership starts at the curb. Bear in mind, that just because you are standing on a publicly trafficked sidewalk, it doesn't mean you are standing on public property. It may still belong to the homeowner or business owner. Only the property plot and the deed can tell you for sure.

canonphotog wrote in post #12175739
Just because the public is allowed to frequent somewhere, such as a parking lot, parking garage, etc., does not mean it is a public place. As you've pointed out, someone or some entity owns it.

The City of San Antonio has many "public" parks that it maintains, along with the tourist areas downtown. The city has a permit program which encompasses ENG, filming movies and professional photography. I have found this to be very photographer friendly.

In some places the city owns the sidewalks, in others the businesses own the sidewalks and the city ownership starts at the curb. Bear in mind, that just because you are standing on a publicly trafficked sidewalk, it doesn't mean you are standing on public property. It may still belong to the homeowner or business owner. Only the property plot and the deed can tell you for sure.

Thankfully, Im not shooting professionally. All they would need to do is look at my images.

I've been kicked out of many places, but as long as you're respectful...generally​...you will be asked to leave and treated properly. Every now and then you get a dick rent-a-cop who tries to be all high and mighty, but I've never been arrested for it.

Taken from: http://www.krages.com/​phoright.htm
A good read for anyone who does photography outside their home or a studio situation
Note: This is for USA, be aware that laws are obviously different in other countries.

"Property owners may legally prohibit photography on their premises but have no right to prohibit others from photographing their property from other locations. Whether you need permission from property owners to take photographs while on their premises depends on the circumstances. In most places, you may reasonably assume that taking photographs is allowed and that you do not need explicit permission. However, this is a judgment call and you should request permission when the circumstances suggest that the owner is likely to object. In any case, when a property owner tells you not to take photographs while on the premises, you are legally obligated to honor the request."

I had some lights set up for a shoot in a public area in the Garden District. It was in a public median area off the tracks, so it definitely was not private property. Before the shoot even started, I was approached by local officials and asked to produce a permit. Since I didn't have one, they said I would have to remove all equipment, or I'd be cited.

I later learned that permits are required throughout most of Louisiana ANYWHERE on public property if it is considered a "commercial" endeavor.