|
Posted by
BMTLines
on Wed May 27 15:32:47 2009
edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Details here
The text of MetroRail's response:
From: Kapoor, Harpal (MDT
Sent: Tue 5/26/09 11:25 AM
To: newshawk@gmail.com
Cc: Muntan, Eric (MDT); Chen, Hugh (MDT); Forbes, Clinton (MDT)
Thank you for your electronic correspondence in which you advised Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) that you would like clarification as to whether or not individuals are allowed to take photographs of the Metrorail system. In your correspondence, you indicate that you were told that you could not photograph unless you possessed a permit.
MDT regrets any inconvenience or embarrassment this incident may have caused you. MDT is not aware of any federal, state, or local law which would prohibit personal photography at our facilities. The incident that you experienced appears to have been the result of the misinterpretation of local county law, specifically Miami-Dade County Code 30(B), which requires permits for commercial photography. MDT also requires permitting for photography when it involves equipment other than a hand-held camera (i.e. tripods, cables/wires, screens, etc.), which could pose a potential safety hazard to other patrons. Although not prohibited, security personnel and/or any MDT employee are encouraged to inquire as to what objects/images a patron is photographing. This is done not with the intent of harassing patrons or station occupants, but rather as a means of ensuring the security of our infrastructure and the general public and ensuring that commercial activity is not being performed.
Miami-Dade Transit certainly acknowledges the efforts of your work. We have advised the MDT Office of Safety and Security and our security contractor, The Wackenhut Corporation, that there are no prohibitions against taking photographs for personal purposes and that the public should not be prohibited from doing so, as long as taking these photographs does not violate Miami-Dade County Code, Chapter 30B.
On behalf of MDT, I thank you for bringing your concern to our attention. Should you have additional questions or concerns about security on the MDT system, please call the MDT, Office of Safety and Security at 305-375-4240.
Harpal S. Kapoor
Director
Miami-Dade Transit
701 NW 1st Court, 17th Floor
Miami, Florida 33136
|
