Re: QR and photographers

["Roy Wilke" <3891@bit.net.au>]

WhaleOilBeefHooked <daproc@spambait.umpires.com> wrote in message
L8Uo3.22$F11.436072@news0.optus.net.au">news:L8Uo3.22$F11.436072@news0.optus.net.au...
> Roy Wilke <3891@bit.net.au> wrote in message
<37a3e74b@news.ausmail.com>...
>
> >I think you will find that QR do have the right - and can enforce it
> >legally. ISTR that a railway station platform is not  universally
> accessible
> >to the public, and the SM can prevent access to whoever he wishes to
> prevent
> >access to.
>
> Not if they have a valid rail ticket. They need legislation or regulation
to
> be able to do otherwise. They CANNOT prevent me from taking photos whilst
> waiting for a train, UNLESS it is the law. Unlike a private company, a
> government body cannot do what they like when they like.

There is legislation in place. As for the valid rail ticket, I think you
will find that it allows you to wait for and catch a train (an activity
which the original poster apparently wasn't planning on doing). It doesn't
give you permission to do other things. Certainly, you can take snapshots
while waiting for a train. But I think our original poster was intending on
doing rather more than taking snapshots.

> >Getting back to Roma Street, the original poster could stand on Countess
> >Street or in Albert Park and  take photos without having to ask for
> >permission.

> >However, it would probably be best to contact the SM at Roma Street - he
> >might be lucky enough to get the staff on a good day and so gain access
to
> >places even better for photography than the passenger platforms.

> True - but if all he wanted was photos of trains in platforms, or
> approaching platforms, he would be quite entitled to request the legal
basis
> under which the station staff were denying him access.

I  just phoned Roma Street to inquire, and was told that someone who set  up
a camera and tripod on a platform without arranging for permission would be
moved off before he got a chance to take a photo. Requesting the legal basis
under which station staff are denying you access is not of much use when the
police are leading you off to the station and your camera's been impounded.

Remember, a main commuter station is there to move thousands of people
quickly and safely - it is not provided as a photo-point for gunzels. The
station staff aren't there for the gunzel's benefit, either. They have their
own jobs to do and don't need obnoxious camera-toters to distract them from
their work.

And it really doesn't take all that much effort to pick up the telephone,
ring Roma Street station and ask the SM if you can come and take some
pictures.  Being able to show anyone who asks that you do have all the
necessary clearances to do what you're doing there is much better than being
muscled off the premises.