Last night, the Showboat Branson Belle, a floating theatre, ran aground on a Table Rock Lake, about 25 miles away from me. This morning, I went to photograph the evacuation for a website that I operating that deals in area tourism.

The boat was at the tip of a peninsula, and when I arrived, cars were parked along the roads for about 1/4 mile.  I headed across an empty yard, careful to avoid the apparent property line of the landowner who had put up a "no trespassing" sign in their flower bed, about 50' to get to the waterfront. The beach there was rocky, and I was easily 500 yards away from the boat, but I snapped a couple of shots.  I then began walking towards the boat, below the high waterline, careful to stay on public property.  I got to about 40' from the rescue operation, and got some good shots.  I then slung my camera, put my gloves back on, and stood at the waterline waiting to see if anything interesting would develop.

After 5 minutes of standing there, an county officer noticed me, and motioned for me to come to him.  I obliged, and he asked me who I was with.  I explained that I was an independent photographer, and that I run a site that was an editorial interest in the event.  He then threatened to arrest me for "impeding a police officer" if I did not leave.  I asked how far back he'd like me to move, and his response was "behind the police line".  Well, there was no police line on the waterfront, nor within sight of the waterfront - in fact, he was the first officer I'd seen this morning.  He told me the line was on the road - which was 1/4 mile away, over the hill and on the other side of the peninsula from my car.  

At this point, I simply stopped talking, turned around, and began walking back to my car along the waterfront.  Twice more on my way, I was stopped by officers who came over the top of the rise as I was walking, who summoned me and questioned me, and asked me to leave - even though I was obviously doing so.

This whole scene irks me.  I was on public land, I had walked overland to get where I was, and I was in no way impeding anyone.  I stayed 40' back from everyone the entire time, until summoned.

How far could I have pushed this?  I realize I could be arrested, but would it result in community service, or summary release, and apology, and perhaps a judgment in my favor after my lawyer got involved?

How far *should* I have pushed this?

In the past, I've made a living as a professional photographer. I've covered hundreds of accident scenes and events likes this and never been treated so poorly.  I was polite and professional throughout the exchange, and to be quite honest, I'm offended that I was treated like this. I was perfectly within my rights to be where I was, and I know that is the case.

Links to the photos I *did* get:

http://bransoninfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Branson_Belle01.jpg
http://bransoninfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Branson_Belle02.jpg
http://bransoninfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Branson_Belle03.jpg

The only thing that I can glean from this is that next time, I need to have my iPhone's voice recorder turned on on my belt.

Well, it sounds like you had every legal right to be there. I suppose you could contact your lawyer to see what can be done.

If this was a big incident then most of the media outlets call the agency and ask where the media are staging.

If that happened and the officers see some dude with a camera in another area they probably thought you were just ignoring what the rest of the media were doing and making your own rules.

Generally, the relationship between agencies and the media is well received and the media respects the officers need to do their job and the officers respect the media's need to cover the story.

The officer might not have been polite but if he directed you to where the police line was at for the media and you wanted to "push it" because you felt like you were in the right, you probably would have ended up in jail.

It was fairly big - there were almost 700 people on the boat, though they weren't in any real danger.

He threatened me before he even told me there was a police line.

The short of it - I got what I needed while I was there, but I feel like the police here weren't protecting the public, but trying to protect the interests of the people who own the Belle.  I don't think this was a case of "there's a guy too close, he's getting in the way", but a case of "there's someone getting good shots of something we don't want public".

That pisses me off, the more I think about it.

Get one of those day-glow green vest with the reflective tape on it. A hard hat and a clipboard.

Look like you belong there.

Do as you are told citizen

I do not usually defend the cops  when they are being pricks, but this time it sounds reasonable.

This was a pretty big deal around here and if you had pushed it you probably would of taken a ride

with no recourse. You did the right thing leaving.

Who knows? I doubt they were protecting the owners of the Belle. That has tin foil written all over it.... The same officer might have chased off two or three other photographers right before you got there and was fed up with it.

Give em the benefit of the doubt.

Either way, I really don't think you have been horribly wronged.

Looks like you got some good pics too.

It depends entirely on the laws of your state.

In my state if something is declared a disaster area, as wildfires and plane crashes often are, anyone who enters the disaster area can be arrested for both state and local charges. Its unfortunate that is necessary but the lookie-loos often cause problems either by getting in the way or ending up as additional victims.

I thought of that.  I think I'll do that in the future, I saw them at WalMart later in the day.

It would be tin foil if it were a commonly heard sentiment that the family that owns the Belle pretty much owns the town.  I've taken photos of fires and such at theatres not owned by them, and never had an issues getting as close as I normally do.

The cop seemed genuinely surprised I was there, then went into "respect my authorita" mode.  I didn't see any other photographers, and the spray from the lake on the other side was killer.  I doubt anyone would have had the perseverance to walk that side, as it was 18 degrees out, and freezing lake spray isn't nice to cameras.

+1 to the part in red. What motivation would I, as a police officer, have for protecting the owners of a ship that ran aground from embarrassment? I am sure he had some other reason for asking you to move.



He may very well have been a dick or maybe he could have better explained to you why he wanted you to move but I wasn't there so I won't argue that point with you.



 

You got your photos. You didn't get arrested. What claim do you have?
Too bad you couldn't sell the exclusive pics before you posted them on the internet...

"In this post-9/11 world, we simply cannot afford to take chances."

In other words: "You did the right thing by leaving with your tail between your legs like a nice little docile sheep."

Welcome to the police state everyone.

Cops generally get off on intimidation, harassment, power, and control of others. It's psychological.

fixed





 

Herschend's own everything in the area, including the cops. There's a reason they call them the Branson mafia.

Free ride for breaking what law?

Hell, I thought we lived in a free country, instead of a police state.  Guess I was wrong.....  Papers please.


My point is:  Under any circumstance that is "declared" by the senior LE there. You lose all of your rights, to talk, walk, move, as you wish and are to do what you are told.   That my friends is a Police State.  

Anybody care to straighten me out on this....

40 feet?
That's like less than 14 yards!
That's knifing distance.
Plus, if you slipped on that wet mud, LAW SUIT! LAW SUIT!

I would have tazed you, Bro.
...for the safety of the other civil servants, of course.

    I think the cops were just containing the immediate area. Its obvious it wasn't just one cop being a dick, as you stated you were stopped by several and told to leave the area.



    If you were the only civilian in the area. There was probably a reason for that.

LIKE WHAT?  
Civilian LE are Civilians.....

font needs to be much biggar.

try and get some pics of the local cops doing something wrong.
send to the local newspaper.
smile.

Then he accomplished the opposite of what he was trying to do.  Had he not told you to leave, you likely would not have posted this on a national website.

I guess in these situations you see what you want to see.



It sounds as though you see all police officers as enforcing the will of the federal government and advancing the police state, so in this instance you will see the same thing. I on the other hand, believe that cops come from all different backgrounds and most don't "get off on controlling other people". So in this instance I am inclined to believe that one of two explanations are more plausible; 1) the situation may have been misinterpreted by the OP or 2) this officer may have been having a bad day or could just be an absolute dick in general. Neither of us was there so we don't really know, but in the absence of facts I am going to fall back on my experiences.
 

I've been arrested for "Interfering with government operations" for taking photographs on a public sidewalk at the specific distance one of the other officers had told me to stand from.  There were seven officers all crowded up around a guy that was leaving the bars and shouted "187 on a motherfucking cop" .  I was expecting him to get tased and thought it would make good for a couple photographs...  out of no where an officer bum rushes me, slams me against the hood of his car, and throws me in handcuffs, and off I go....  



Get to court and I find out they changed the charge to "Resisting arrest" and "Failure to disperse."  Judge said that they would drop the resisting, if I plead guilty to the failure to disperse....  WTF.  I didn't have the money to fight the case and ended up pleading to the failure to disperse.





With that said, if you're prepared to push the limits, make sure you're financially prepared to deal with the consequences.

Yea, you sure know what you are talking about.  A real subject matter expert it seems...

    Don't start that stupid shit with me.

    I use it as a description, nothing more.

"non-LE" works as a description just as well...  do you use "baby killer" as an accurate description for your EBR?



 

I have no sympathy for papparazzi.

This isn't a papparazzi case.  This is legitimate news.

 

Point taken.  

However: "Because I said so"  is not a Law.      

welcome to the police state.

right and so is Lindsey Lowhan getting out of rehab.

papparazzi is papparazzi

Good call.

You'll get no disagreement from me there.



 

"Pick up that can."

So, should we just disband all news agencies or do they just need to run it past you before they bring out their cameras?

There will be a penguin and a 4wd along shortly to straighten you out. Have your papers in order.

WTF? Was there someone famous on the boat he was trying to get pictures of?



I'm not convinced you understand the definition of paparazzi.



 

So they don't have the same right to be on public property the rest of us do ?

pretty sure the OP said he's a free lance photog. and runs his own website.

just maybe the local LE knows all about him and they didn't want him there for a reason.

     Wow, the stupid is strong in this thread.

     Are you guys really this bored?

     I guess I should have used the term "morons" instead. That way nobody would be offended.

So, we should arrest all stringers on sight and only allow media that the government approves of?