Bus goons try to intimidate me, police called.

On September 5, 2011, I was at Chrystie Street recording a short video clip of a Chinatown bus double parked on the street loading up passengers. I was non-obtrusive, and was not impeding the flow of traffic.

While filming, I was approached by agents of the bus company demanding to see my identification, and to view the images, and footage stored in my camera. Because it is within my right not to answer their questions, I walk away. In doing so, the owner of the bus company—and his associates—physically blocked my path down the sidewalk by grabbing my arm, and standing in front of me. They also called the police. I began filming the altercation soon after they grabbed my arm.

While waiting for the police, a photographer and part-time bus ticket seller for the company show up in an attempt to diffuse the situation; he was successful in releasing me, but not explaining to them what they did was illegal. An officer from NYPD 05 Precinct does show up to explain that THEY have "No reason to call the police, and no reason to stop and hold (me)" and "(I) didn't need to give (them) a reason" why I was filming. The bus company owner—still insisting I was the bad guy—was clearly not satisfied with this answer rolling his eyes in disgust as he left.

What really gets to me is one of them claims to be an American, but he's not from any America I know. Also watch the video as the photographer and part-time bus ticket seller berates me as not-a-real-photographer because of my "cheap ass" camera equipment (canon elph).

This leads me to ask..... If people don't know the basics of democracy, and the laws of this land, why would you risk your life riding a bus not knowing if a bus company has followed--or remotely aware of--all rules and regulations governing the operation of a motor vehicle, and the safety of passengers?

Closed Caption added. hassled harassment harass photography is legal video

Category:

Education

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[Mindcrime121]

So, other than the vid for youtube of a bunch of pissed off asians, what was the original goal of shooting this again? What did you hope to get out of it? Yes, we have the LEGAL RIGHT to shoot anything in public, but c'mon people, how about showing a little respect for the people we point a camera at, ESPECIALLY when there is nothing happening worth pointing it at in the first place. If you had a shot in mind, a goal in this other than pissing ppl off, great, but I don't see what it was.

[NewYorkRawVideos]

@Mindcrime121

Document my experience being harassed. and how about their respect in pointing their (cell phone) cameras at me? I only started recording AFTER they start recording me, and I realized, damn, they may use that video against me, so I have my own video recorded as counterpoint.  and also to PROVE to people that it is legal to shoot on in public, who cares fi they are pissed, or not pissed. the law is the law, don't try and strawman this argument.

[Mindcrime121]

@NewYorkRawVideos "strawman", is that your "political spin word of the day"? And the first 40 secs of your vid doesn't show anyone pointing cell cams at you, just people looking at you with an expression that CLEARLY says "Dude... WTF are you doing filming ME? Get that out of my face!" before anyone starts pointing cameras BACK at you, so if your goal was to "Document my experience being harassed" your goal was to GET harassed, and you are making photographers look bad to the public.

[NewYorkRawVideos]

@Mindcrime121

you are obviously entitled to your opinion. if you ever looked at my other videos--bus videos--i was there to videograph the buses, people boarding, etc. that was my original purpose of filming at this location, but then somebody objected to me filming. you probably did not read my description of this video, nor did you look at my other video. bye bye. blocked.

[NewYorkRawVideos]

@Mindcrime121

...plus the fact that the bus was double parked, and idling, loading up passengers was important to the (original) story idea. In nyc, there are several groups, cb1 chinatown working group, cb3, etc who are working on studies and possible rules regarding curbside bus pickup. there are already rules on the books regarding idling buses. just wanted to document this, but the original idea was hijacked by ppl who objected to my filming.

[NewYorkRawVideos]

@Mindcrime121

and I TOO AM A PISSED OFF ASIAN.

[328DLCR]

Love the "photographer" with the entry level DSLR

[Ken4Pyro]

I've come back to this again, New York Raw. I think the photographer is more enraging than the bus guys. He strikes me as the kind of idiot who would rant and scream about Ansel Adams having used inferior equipment, and never would understand the glory of the art has nothing to do with the equipment.

It would do well for this puke to memorize the words and intent of the old song "Inch Worm". Stop and see how beautiful the marigolds are, hot dog.

Bravo to you for standing up.

Cheers!

[mi6QBranch]

Time to Take Our Country back from people who refuse to assimilate to our ways and Our LAWS! 

[GTVAlfaMan]

These stupid Asians are taking over the USA. As a photographer you do not need to explain why you are filming or answer any of their questions. The dumb Asian guys should be arrested for illegally detaining you.

[Killjoy7492]

I'm sorry but I must agree with MindCrime, and since you blocked him, you will probably block me too lol. Yes I read your description and yes you were recording a bus that was double parked but dude come on...how many buses and cars in NYC don't double park these days, you gona record all of them too? I'm sorry but it does seem to me that sometimes you just are looking for trouble. And yes I have seen some of your other videos and many of them made way more sense to record than this.