Has it come to this?

[recycled sixtie]

Was recently in the Palm Springs area hiking with my wife in suburbia in a nice area.
It was midday and I have a backpack on me with water in it etc. We are walking along the street which is a public right of way.

A paranoid home owner sneakily comes out of his house and with a telescopic lens on his camera takes a pic of us. He thought he was being stealthy but not so coz I noticed him. I took no action(could have given him the finger or made my right hand into a gun but I have more class than that!).

Now the question in these days of crime, breakins etc does he have the right to take a pic of us. I am assuming this is unusual?!
G

[craigster59]

Only if you are on his roof.

[kach22i]

Everyone's is super paranoid these days, don't let the crazies get to you.

Many years ago when they were first putting cameras in cell phones I was at an outdoor event. Some little girl screamed with joy which made me smile (and other's nearby), when I turned to my left some teen-aged girl was taking a cell phone picture of me like I was a perv or something.

I was really offended, felt like I was accused of something and robbed of enjoying a life moment .

Some people are just poised with terrible thoughts, walk away let them stew in their misery.

[Shifter]

He probably just wanted proof of Justin Beiber and Celine Deon walking past his house.

[dan88911]

I am guessing it seemed odd to you and it sounds odd.
However, these days people use their phones to photograph everything. (You Tube) WTF
And of course security cameras are every were. When I am out I assume there is camera some were is picking up my image as I go about my business. F...ing world we live in now.

[John Rogers]

In CA it is legal to take pictures and/or video of things or people in public places generally meaning the street or park or sitting in their car on a public street. I have done that probably a dozen times in the 30+ years we have lived in the house we have which is a very low crime area. If nothing else it gives me something to use in case a crime occurs or other weird happenings. In all cases, as soon as the person noticed me, they started their car and left so I also got a plate number too.

[speeder]

He probably just took a massive hit of crack and needed photographic proof that Bigfoot was walking past his house.

[74-911]

Just be glad it wasn't a gun and he didn't feel "threatened"...

[Gogar]

I think he needs to get a model release for that.

[Gogar]

Seriously, though: were you "In the Street", or were you "Along the Street?"

[intakexhaust]

Why is it illegal in some states to video cops if pulled over?

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by 74-911

Just be glad it wasn't a gun and he didn't feel "threatened"...

Actually, when any of these a$$ hole come out with a camera, I ask them if they like to have my friends Smith & Wesson in the pictures???

Once they see "their" butt they leave in an orderly fashion...

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Now the question in these days of crime, breakins etc does he have the right to take a pic of us. I am assuming this is unusual?!
G

Who is the more paranoid person here?

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Who is the more paranoid person here?

+1.


Again: Were you "In the Street?"

Or were you "Near the Street?"

For some folks, "Near the street" = "On My Lawn."

[pavulon]

were you hiking in an airport community?

[craigster59]

Look at the bright side. you might be featured on the cover of Palm Springs Weekender magazine!

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Only if you are on his roof.

no stealth!

[gchappel]

Basically, if you are in a public place you have no right to privacy- yes anyone can take your picture.
They can also publish that picture for "artistic" purposes- no they can not use it commercially without a release.
I used to do a lot of street photography- not so much anymore. Everyone is paranoid.
But again, he had every right to take your picture if you were in a public area without any expectation of privacy. You of coarse also had the right to take his picture.
Public places like bathrooms are different- there is an enforceable expectation of privacy there.
Gary

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by gchappel

Basically, if you are in a public place you have no right to privacy- yes anyone can take your picture.
They can also publish that picture for "artistic" purposes- no they can not use it commercially without a release.
I used to do a lot of street photography- not so much anymore. Everyone is paranoid.
But again, he had every right to take your picture if you were in a public area without any expectation of privacy. You of coarse also had the right to take his picture.
Public places like bathrooms are different- there is an enforceable expectation of privacy there.
Gary

In most places it is also against the law to take pictures of a personal nature (not sure of what the actually legal description is). IE a camera in the toe of shoe designed to photograph up.

[doug_porsche]

This is my understanding, and ymmv

Summary from. https://ssd.eff.org/your-computer/govt/privacy


Public places. It may sound obvious, but you have little to no privacy when you are in public. When you are in a public place — whether walking down the sidewalk, shopping in a store, sitting in a restaurant or in the park — your actions, movements, and conversations are knowingly exposed to the public. That means the police can follow you around in public and observe your activities, see what you are carrying or to whom you are talking, sit next to you or behind you and listen to your conversations — all without a warrant. You cannot necessarily expect Fourth Amendment protection when you’re in a public place, even if you think you are alone. Fourth Amendment challenges have been unsuccessfully brought against police officers using monitoring beepers to track a suspect’s location in a public place, but it is unclear how those cases might apply to more pervasive remote monitoring, like using GPS or other cell phone location information to track a suspect’s physical location.



So, unless he uses your picture in an advertisement... It's league.