Legal pt for fanning ops on Raritan River in S. Amboy

[sixty-six]

Getting back to the original question, why doesn't anyone just use a boat? You can get as close to the bridge as you like without having to deal with private property restrictions. A canoe or ocean kayak would work fine and can often be rented for minimal cost.

Also, why don't railfans realize that if they insist on camping out they are probably going to run into trouble. If you don't want to play Cop Roulette and risk getting the one whose having a bad day you need to avoid persisting in any one location for longer than the typical police response time of 5-10 minutes. Never get caught in a gray area with your vehicle. Instead park in a public parking area so if you need to evade, you can circle back around to your vehicle. The best option is to go out with a lookout/driver that can watch your back.

Like they say in Japan, the nail that sticks up gets pounded down.

Because maybe people are inexperienced and dont want to risk losing an expensive piece of equipment in the water should something happen.

Jersey_Mike, are you suggesting railfans purposely evade police should they respond, or that it's ok to be in a "gray area" as long as you have a way to escape the police? I don't think thats condoned here on railroad.net. You shouldnt have to evade anyone, or have anybody to watch your back if you're photographing legally.

[Sirsonic]

I certainly hope that the individual escorted off River Draw by the NJT PD this evening was not a visitor to this forum...

[Kaback9]

I certainly hope that the individual escorted off River Draw by the NJT PD this evening was not a visitor to this forum...

Nope, but probably one of the "fisherman" I saw in the area this evening.

[ApproachMedium]

Humm, So Mike, when was the last time YOU took a camera out on a boat? Its not very easy to take pictures, esp with SLR cameras from a vessile thats on a moving and uneven surface. I know, Im often out in my boat with the family and its not easy to try and take pictures of a moving train from the boat.

[Jersey_Mike]

Humm, So Mike, when was the last time YOU took a camera out on a boat? Its not very easy to take pictures, esp with SLR cameras from a vessile thats on a moving and uneven surface. I know, Im often out in my boat with the family and its not easy to try and take pictures of a moving train from the boat.

I'm not kidding, a boat can really get one to some great locations for railfanning. Besides I thought some of the challenge in railfanning was not to take pictures that are easy, but ones that are hard. It's not like digital "film" costs anything Heck, if your boat is sufficiently tall you can get some nice video of the various movable bridges opening and closing

You shouldnt have to evade anyone, or have anybody to watch your back if you're photographing legally.

If if's and but's were cherries and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Facts on the ground are if they come and hassle you, they win. If they come and find nothing, you win.

[sullivan1985]

Its not very easy to take pictures, esp with SLR cameras from a vessile thats on a moving and uneven surface. I know, Im often out in my boat with the family and its not easy to try and take pictures of a moving train from the boat.

High ISO, f/2.8 or wider and you're in buisness!

It's not like digital "film" costs anything

I dunno.. I paid a few bucks for my 16GB and 32GB cards.

[ApproachMedium]

Good point, digital film doesnt cost much. Shooting video isnt a problem at all.

[sixty-six]

You shouldnt have to evade anyone, or have anybody to watch your back if you're photographing legally.

If if's and but's were cherries and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Facts on the ground are if they come and hassle you, they win. If they come and find nothing, you win.

OH MY GOD THE COPS ASKED WHAT I WAS DOING!!! THE TERRORISTS WIN!! OMG!!!!!!!!!

Give me a break.

[TheTroll]

Had a railfan the other day just west of Rare where the raritan interchange comes into track 1. He was between the water and track 2. if that isn't tresspessing I don't know what is. he almost fell in the water trying to climb over the rocks. And before anyone says I can be there.. NO! you can't. The only way to get there is to cross the tracks where there is no crossing, after walking along the ROW for half a mile.

[OportRailfan]

Had a railfan the other day just west of Rare where the raritan interchange comes into track 1. He was between the water and track 2. if that isn't tresspessing I don't know what is. he almost fell in the water trying to climb over the rocks. And before anyone says I can be there.. NO! you can't. The only way to get there is to cross the tracks where there is no crossing, after walking along the ROW for half a mile.

FAIL...and then when they drown in the water pit, the family sues NJT...

[Kaback9]

Had a railfan the other day just west of Rare where the raritan interchange comes into track 1. He was between the water and track 2. if that isn't tresspessing I don't know what is. he almost fell in the water trying to climb over the rocks. And before anyone says I can be there.. NO! you can't. The only way to get there is to cross the tracks where there is no crossing, after walking along the ROW for half a mile.

That would clearly be trespassing no arguments here.

[JC1076]

Honestly the entire trepassing thing is not what really bothers me its the fact that they brought the entire DHS thing into the mix.

A local PD officer citing "homeland security" as a reason to issue a citation??? As a CBP Officer (a DHS component agency), I would be impressed if the officer in question could cite exactly which "homeland security" statute was being violated. I've heard of way too many instances where "homeland security" is used as a premise for harassment (or worse in this case) of otherwise law-abiding individuals. Any officer who takes adverse action against a railfan (issuing a ticket, confiscation of film, etc) must be able to legally justify those actions; they legally cannot do so simply because "they've had a bad day" or they suspect that the railfan is "violating homeland security."
I don't think Mike has the right idea as far as evading the police, though. Evasive activity can only increase suspicion that you may be up to no good. If you are approached by police, be straightforward and cooperative with them... they have a job to do, and it's not necessarily harassment if they ask you a few questions.