Good viewing spot for Scr/WB Intl. Airport

[kmacka]

I'm hoping that someone from my area can help me out. I am looking for a good viewing spot of the airport field/terminal. I am looking for a good spot that overlooks the airport, so that I can get some good pics when the President and/or military planes and helo's come in. I'm thinking there should be something on one of the mountain tops that run along the other side of 476 may offer something. Maybe worksntv, can help me out with a good spot he knows.

 

[srhuston]

My first thought on reading this was that I wouldn't mind knowing either. I like to watch planes take off and land.

Then you mention "some good pics when the President and/or military planes and helo's come in." My next thought is how long it might take before you're handcuffed and tossed into a van for getting a good vantage point to see the President's plane land

Sorry I don't have advice on where to look, but you might want to re-think that one anyway. I'm probably not the only one who thinks it'd be rediculous if you got yelled at for taking a photo, but then too you're not supposed to photograph trains or bridges in some areas either :roll: and it might be better to err on the side of caution.

 

[kmacka]

My first thought on reading this was that I wouldn't mind knowing either. I like to watch planes take off and land.

Then you mention "some good pics when the President and/or military planes and helo's come in." My next thought is how long it might take before you're handcuffed and tossed into a van for getting a good vantage point to see the President's plane land

Sorry I don't have advice on where to look, but you might want to re-think that one anyway. I'm probably not the only one who thinks it'd be rediculous if you got yelled at for taking a photo, but then too you're not supposed to photograph trains or bridges in some areas either :roll: and it might be better to err on the side of caution.

I personally don't believe this is an issue. Many, many people take pictures of Air Force 1, the President, and his motorcade everyday. I think if they were worried about a location that may be a security risk it would be manned by the secret service or someother local police department providing perimeter security. And also, what about the people that park at the movie theater? If you park on the side of the theater looking past the ballfield, I believe you may be able to look over the airport. I don't think that they would arrest/detain them from taking pics if air force 1 landed. I had worked for the airport a couple of years back doing security, and when President Bush came in there were onlookers and also passengers taking pictures right up against the fence, and nothing was said.

 

[HM1529]

My first thought on reading this was that I wouldn't mind knowing either. I like to watch planes take off and land.

Then you mention "some good pics when the President and/or military planes and helo's come in." My next thought is how long it might take before you're handcuffed and tossed into a van for getting a good vantage point to see the President's plane land

Sorry I don't have advice on where to look, but you might want to re-think that one anyway. I'm probably not the only one who thinks it'd be rediculous if you got yelled at for taking a photo, but then too you're not supposed to photograph trains or bridges in some areas either :roll: and it might be better to err on the side of caution.

Huh?

There is no law in this county against photographing Air Force One, Marine One, any of the Presidential Motorcade, and railroads or bridges provided you are photographing this stuff from public property.

I've got a photo I took when the President visited Limerick a few years ago of a group of police and hazmat personnel assigned to the detail all lined up photographing the motorcade as it cruised down Ridge Pike. I Was there as part of the detail and I was taking pictures, too.

During that event, the Secret Service did get antsy when a girl entered what had been established as a restricted security area along the airport fence line. They sent the local police over to escort the girl back to the other side of the highway where everyone was free to photograph every car in the motorcade (including all the Secret Service vehicles, even the HAMMER Team) and Marine One as it arrived and departed the airport.

When I had more spare time, I took plenty of pictures of trains and there is absolutely no law against said activity provided you are not trespassing on railroad property to get the photos. Some police and private security folks have different ideas and will be more than happy to violate your civil rights in the process of wielding their power unreasonably.
Luckily, many police understand citizens' rights.

 

[srhuston]

Some police and private security folks have different ideas and will be more than happy to violate your civil rights in the process of wielding their power unreasonably.
Luckily, many police understand citizens' rights.

And that's exactly what I was referring to. Regardless of what the law may say, or what your interpretation of it might be, there have been cases in recent past where people were arrested for photographing things such as bridges and railroads(*). I think it's stupid, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go looking for a high point that "overlooks [an] airport" where the President plans on landing because as much as I may or may not want a photograph of the man, I don't need some overzealous idiot jamming a shotgun up my rear thinking I'm in a prime spot to snipe someone. It could turn out just the opposite, and any security personnel there might suggest a better location. Not a day I feel like spending, myself.

*: 1, 2, and I know it's been talked about in NJ in the past because I remember thinking how rediculous it was that I could be arrested for taking a photo of the bridge on my way home.