Dont you hate it when...

You are taking photos, specifically outside the Staples center across the street from where you work, and when you are about done LAPD pulls up, ask's you to put your stuff on the grass, tell you to "Put your hands on your head, interlock your fingers and spread your legs".

They search you and you tell them your a graphic designer and your taking stock photographs for textures etc. And they hold you for 20 minutes, missing your train and getting home an extra hour late?

Sucks very much!!!!!

I've always been not scared but leary of going out to take photographs because people stear, or that same reason...being stopped by the police...and the day i decide to push it all to the back and not worry waaam!!!! LAPD grabs me...anyone have issues lately?

All they did was waiste my time...which i have not enough of. and humiliated me in front of the staples center. I find it humiliating when put in that situation by the way, hundreds of people walking to an even across the street, making me look like a thug or a bad person for that matter... im a 22 year old that has a profession and they mess with me... i don't look like no hooldom (at least anymore :P)

ok rant is over now.

they make you put you gear on the floor?
thats where i would have told him no, your gear is way to expensive to be put on the floor.
guess thats what you get for living in america these days

Stav
Happily living in Britain

Stavhp wrote in post #3571028
they make you put you gear on the floor?
thats where i would have told him no, your gear is way to expensive to be put on the floor.
guess thats what you get for living in america these days

Stav
Happily living in Britain

yea i told the lady cop while the man cop was doing his thing that it was an expensive piece of equipment if she could please put it in my bag... i told her the red ring around the lens meant it was expensive.. :P keeping the situation humorous.

: /

pakololo wrote in post #3571047
yea i told the lady cop while the man cop was doing his thing that it was an expensive piece of equipment if she could please put it in my bag... i told her the red ring around the lens meant it was expensive.. :P keeping the situation humorous.

: /

The "hands on the head" and "legs spread" part is way out of line... I would have asked "on what grounds" they were asking me to do this and if I was being charged with anything. A casual search doesn't need that...

Dont you hate it when...the subjest title is a tease

Yet another reason for me to not venture to the US of A

Ive never been stopped or questioned by anyone. I was out at the Port of Brisbane the other week and saw a port security guy drive up, thought he was going to tell me to move along. Nope, we stopped and had a chat about cameras, fishing, cars and a few other things. He kept going with his job and i kept taking photos.

timbernet wrote in post #3571052
The "hands on the head" and "legs spread" part is way out of line... I would have asked "on what grounds" they were asking me to do this and if I was being charged with anything. A casual search doesn't need that...

I couldnt do that. LAPD doesnt play i figured if i try to be a smart ass they'll just keep me longer...whats the solution? stop taking photos? wear flip flops a straw hat and a hawaiian shirt? :P

Palladium wrote in post #3571059
Dont you hate it when...the subjest title is a tease

What were you expecting??? This is the General Chat section.

Yet another reason not to visit the US. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

you know, if you go barefoot with really tight speedos i doubt they would ask to pat you down...

its an idea

Is the USA really such a police state? I just cannot imagine anything like that happening here. As for British police asking you to lie on the ground - never in a million years. There would be a public outcry.

Did you ask why they stopped you? If they didn't provide a reasonable explanation, did you follow-up with the local LAPD station Desk Sergeant and/or Watch Commander? In today's LAPD environment, you'd be amazed at how much emphasis is placed on "customer" service.

For whatever reason, the officers felt they had probable cause to stop and question you. The key phrase is "probable cause". If this was in the past few days, LAPD might be at a higher alert around the Staples center due to the Ringling Bros Circus performing shows there this week.

Your experience is unfortunate and a sign of the times. Arenas and stadium receive higher levels of police protection/surveillanc​e.

Sadly, I feel it's going to get worse.

Good luck

excessive and unfounded? ofcourse, but I wouldn't agrue with any cop, let alone LAPD. Remember as much as you can about the incident and file a formal complaint afterwards. Those beat cops don't give a crap, they're just doing what they're told.

Roy Mathers wrote in post #3572074
Is the USA really such a police state? I just cannot imagine anything like that happening here. As for British police asking you to lie on the ground - never in a million years. There would be a public outcry.

I have never had a policeman or anyone in a position of authority question me when I was out with my camera. I am not saying it doesn't happen. There have been too many reports of this kind of police activity to deny it, but I would say it is the exception rather than the rule.

Roy Mathers wrote in post #3572074
Is the USA really such a police state? I just cannot imagine anything like that happening here. As for British police asking you to lie on the ground - never in a million years. There would be a public outcry.

WHOA WHOA! talk about the telephone trick!... they didnt make me lie down did you read my first post?

Police state yes, thats almost everywere you just dont hear about all of it but the US they are cracking down on peoples rights, not to get into politics but there is laws that infrige peoples rights that dont seem too fair ie. The patriot act...

BeccaNH wrote in post #3572181
I have never had a policeman or anyone in a position of authority question me when I was out with my camera. I am not saying it doesn't happen. There have been too many reports of this kind of police activity to deny it, but I would say it is the exception rather than the rule.

Lucky you...it really slows you down! :P I'm in Los Angeles tho. things are a little bit different than New Hampshire (saw it on your profile)

Karl C wrote in post #3572143
Did you ask why they stopped you? If they didn't provide a reasonable explanation, did you follow-up with the local LAPD station Desk Sergeant and/or Watch Commander? In today's LAPD environment, you'd be amazed at how much emphasis is placed on "customer" service.

For whatever reason, the officers felt they had probable cause to stop and question you. The key phrase is "probable cause". If this was in the past few days, LAPD might be at a higher alert around the Staples center due to the Ringling Bros Circus performing shows there this week.

Your experience is unfortunate and a sign of the times. Arenas and stadium receive higher levels of police protection/surveillanc​e.

Sadly, I feel it's going to get worse.

Good luck

Yea your right that circus thing was going on...they said someone "CALLED IN" which i find hard to beleive...they were pretty mean until then they realized that i was a REAL photographer not a terrorist, and that i was a college graduate at 22 and that i worked across the street at a design firm... then it was just a waiting game... when they were calling in the station to check my name i told them they were waisting their time...they could be stopping "REAL CRIME" the lady cop was nicer than the dude... so we were exchanging words...

Bad thing is that i work across the streeeet!!! its ok tho i'll be back ill be out there taking more photos let them come...I spoke with my buddy who is an LAPD Officer and said to ask for his badge number and follow up with LAPD if it happens again... which im almost sure it will...


I'm over it now...till next time!