Taking Photographs of Cars

mountainyman

Is it legal for a private citizen to photograph cars? Particularly the reg plates. I imagine someone who is concerned about bvoy racers in her neighborhood.

MM

maidhc

mountainyman wrote: »

Is it legal for a private citizen to photograph cars? Particularly the reg plates. I imagine someone who is concerned about bvoy racers in her neighborhood.

MM

What are they doing with the photos?

mountainyman

she might if she were real plan to show them to the police to show that people are meeting in her estate to go racing and beeping their horns at each other and such.

seamus

It is perfectly legal to photopgraph anyone or anything in a public place.

maidhc

seamus wrote: »

It is perfectly legal to photopgraph anyone or anything in a public place.

? humm...

Campbell v. MGN?

seamus

Although it's an English case, it's probably a bit of a freak - it's a very specific set of circumstances and to me doesn't seem to form any kind of major precedent. I haven't read much into it, but from what I gather, the bulk of the case was that the photographs by virtue of being published, revealed information which would otherwise be private (i.e. the location of a meeting). It is a very specific thing, but you're right, my sweeping statement isn't 100% correct.

However, it doesn't seem to make any judgement on the actual taking of the photographs, only in the publication of them. Now, I've only skimmed over the top of it, having never heard of it before (IANAL), but that's what it seems to me.

From the POV of the OP, it's a well-known "method" of trying to get rid of groups of kids hanging around outside your house - you walk up to them, take a few photos, say nothing and go back inside.

Sangre

Didn't they concede in Campbell they were entitled to take the photos in public when appealled to the HOL but they couldn't publish information that revealed the location/people in an anonymous meeting for drugs users.

Although there is also the ECHR Princess case.

Tom Young

Are we not off point?

Victor

maidhc wrote: »

? humm...

Campbell v. MGN?

I think you'll find that the photography was legal, but the behaviour was not (stalking people at medical clinics) and while it might have been newsworthy, it wasn't in the public interest to dissuade drug users from seeking help.

jimmycrackcorm

seamus wrote: »

It is perfectly legal to photopgraph anyone or anything in a public place.

I once photographed petrol pumps on a forecourt ( for use in a software project ). The manager became very irate and demanded I delete my digital photos. Was it actually illegal?

smelltheglove

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I once photographed petrol pumps on a forecourt ( for use in a software project ). The manager became very irate and demanded I delete my digital photos. Was it actually illegal?

As far as I am aware it is perfectly legal to photograph in a public place, in a private place it is up to management discression. However if you had requested permission the manager probably would have been ok.

Over in the photography forum there has been many threads on the issue in the past so you can do a little search of that forum to find the correct legallities.

challengemaster

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I once photographed petrol pumps on a forecourt ( for use in a software project ). The manager became very irate and demanded I delete my digital photos. Was it actually illegal?

From what I know, nobody, not even Gardaí can demand that you delete any photos you've taken. They can tell you to stop taking photos, but unless there's anything to say 'no photography allowed' - you can take as many pictures as you like.

If anyone/anything is in the public domain, you can take a photo of it. If they dont want their/its photo taken, then don't be in public - thats how that works.

Also AFAIK, if something is visible on private property, from public property, then you can take a photo of it. I'm not 100% sure on that though.

Johnny Utah

mountainyman wrote: »

Is it legal for a private citizen to photograph cars? Particularly the reg plates. I imagine someone who is concerned about bvoy racers in her neighborhood.

MM

I don't think that would be legal. If a person was found in possession of a stack of photographs all of different car number plates, then it would look very suspicious. Could be construed as gathering evidence in preparation for a burglary!

However, if the reg plate is incidental in the photo (ie. just happens to be in the background of a photo of O'Connell St) and you only have one photo, then I don't think there would be a problem.



[Also, people definitely shouldn't be posting up other people's car number plates on the net, particularly if it's an expensive car- it happens a fair bit on the motors forum. There is a danger that the (1) the number plate could be duplicated, or (2) it could lead to confidetial info such as name + address falling into the wrong hands.]

NUTLEY BOY

I think that the general proposition must be that people and property in plain public view are fair game for a photograph. I see nothining to say otherwise.

However, context may matter. If the circumstances constituted harassment (e.g. S. 10 Non-fatal Offences against the Person Act ?) that would be a different matter.

In relation to Campbell (Sp?) et al there were privacy issues turning around their celebrity status. These considerations are not really applicable to the common pleb to be found on the 46A omnibus to Dun Laoghaire. Before the PC mob gather I include myself in this ............:D.

Victor

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

In relation to Campbell (Sp?) et al there were privacy issues turning around their celebrity status. These considerations are not really applicable to the common pleb to be found on the 46A omnibus to Dun Laoghaire. Before the PC mob gather I include myself in this ............:D.

Wasn't the core of the case that she was essentially a medical patient at the time? That it was against public policy to discourage people from seeking medical help.

Victor

Johnny Utah wrote: »

I don't think that would be legal. If a person was found in possession of a stack of photographs all of different car number plates, then it would look very suspicious. Could be construed as gathering evidence in preparation for a burglary!

You had better not take your car out in public then.

I have many photos, some posted here on boards.ie of vehicles on public roads. I'm not going to steal any of them - well, to be honest, I can't drive.





I am sending the Special Branch around to your place as you have pictures of Brian Cowen and are probably planning on stealing him.