Video Taping AND scanners at Toronto Pearson Airport

[multisync]

I left for Germany last week out of Pearson Airport and had two incidents. While waiting outside the security checkpoint I noticed a guy take a picture of his family as they entered the security screening area, as soon as the picture was taken a security person approached the guy, took his camera, and made him erase the picture.

I entered and I was video taping my parents entering the screening area only to be approached by security personal and told to erase the tape. Being the smart ass that I am I asked "well lets see how long this will take". Then I asked "is it posted reguarding video taping? The response, "no". So I had to tape over the previous video and while doing so I stated the date, time, my name...by that time wannabe ran away and didn't say a word. No where at Pearson does it say cameras or video is prohibited. Is video and camera's now illegal in Canada??

Then...I board my flight with my Uniden BC 246T on my lap. Just before take off the attendants walk the isle. The one attendant stops and asks me to remove my headphones. She pauses and sees the scanner and say's "What is that"? I said a radio. She then says "transmitters arn't allowed to be used". I said, "It's NOT a transmitter, but reather a receiver". She say nothing and walks away. She returns 10 mintues later and sternly says, Sir, I am going to have to ask you not to use that aboard the flight, I checked with another person regarding this". I complied. The way she was talking to me I thought she was going to seize my scanner.

Computer generate more RFI then a scanner but I suppose if they banned lap tops the airline while suffer big time....

Obviously the attendants need better education on electronic devices.

Like I said 20 years ago, Canada is going to be a police state soon. Actually there's more freedoms here in Germany. I have a BMW rental and have rarely driven it below 200km/h. You can drink beer anywhere and I love the male/ female change rooms at the spas! I've been playing the lottery here hopfully I win and won't have return to the banana republic of Canada.

It's amazing how a couple world wars can change government policies.

 

[ke5fgc]

You are not allowed to operate a receiver of any kind while on an airplane. This rule is not anything new and will likely not change any time soon. Its not the flight attendants knowledge or lack of, she is just doing what she is told. I am not sure about Canadian planes, but US planes include this information on the safety information card (located in the seat pocket in front of you ) and some specifically state radio scanners as being prohibited.

-josh

 

[rdale]

...and some specifically state they are okay, so check with your carrier first.

 

[acosell]

I believe it is specifically mentioned in the safety briefing that use of any device that either sends or receives signals is strictly prohibited.

Scanner falls under receiving.

 

[nova1010]

Canada is going to be a police state soon.

I dont think that'll happen anytime soon.

I've been playing the lottery here hopfully I win and won't have return to the banana republic of Canada..

Good luck to you and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out

It's amazing how a couple world wars can change government policies.

Yes it is considering how Germany was.

 

[clammydog]

Like I said 20 years ago, Canada is going to be a police state soon. Actually there's more freedoms here in Germany. I have a BMW rental and have rarely driven it below 200km/h. You can drink beer anywhere and I love the male/ female change rooms at the spas! I've been playing the lottery here hopfully I win and won't have return to the banana republic of Canada.

It's amazing how a couple world wars can change government policies.

Banana Republic?? Why? Because you can't take pictures of your relatives at the airport? Because you can drive like a maniac on the highway? Because you can't drink beer where you want? Because you can't expose yourself in front of the ladies at the spa? If that's what you call freedom, then please stay in Germany.

 

[rdale]

I believe it is specifically mentioned in the safety briefing that use of any device that either sends or receives signals is strictly prohibited.

Scanner falls under receiving.

Again - it depends on your airline. Some specifically mention that scanners are acceptable above 10000ft.

 

[yorkphotog]

On a very recent trip to NYC, I programmed a bunch of their stuff into my scanner but also wanted to take my 246t on the plane just to hear some of the air traffic control chatter. I decided not to carry it on because I didn't want the security hassle. Being a news guy, I can tell you that as I far as I know, you can absolutely videotape in the airport. There are no signs saying otherwise. Furthermore, security is not allowed to demand you to delete photos/videos. In the news biz if I go on to someone's driveway and shoot, they can kick me off, but they can't tell me to delete the stuff I already shot.

I think that there is a huge unknown amongst the public when it comes to scanners and cameras. I get asked all the time whether it's legal to have scanners. I was at a home invasion last week and the homeowner came out and starting yelling at me saying that I needed a permit to shoot video from the street. Thankfully the cops dealt with him quickly, but that's just proof that cameras and scanners can create a lot of fuss for people who don't know a thing about the items and laws. Heck, even the cops try to kick me out of places that I'm completely allowed to be at. This type of thing happens to every single news photographer in the world.

Unless there is a specific need, I won't usually bring my 246t to places where I might get questioned, merely because I don't want to have to explain my rights 100 times a day.

 

[va3css]

I don't understand the need to rip an entire country over a couple of airline security policies.

 

[yorkphotog]

Yeah, good question!

I like Banana Republic.

 

[Mark_Space]

Scanning on Aircraft

Long thread in the A/C Monitoring forum, on this subject:

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26008

I've used my scanner(s) on foreign, domestic and military flights, for years. All it takes is a little discretion. I follow some simple rules:

1. Window seat, whenever possible. With the tray down, and the scanner tucked between myself and the window, it's out-of-sight and out-of-mind;

2. A discreet, single earbud for listening, in the ear facing away from the aisle; and

3. When asked about my scanner while passing through security, I tell them them that I don't want to check an expensive piece of electronics, etc etc. CATSA employees are dumber than Mall Cops!

Keeping a low profile is key...if you look for an argument with a security screener or flight attendant, you'll get one...

 

[exkalibur]

I spoke with a friend of mine who is an Operations Manager at the airport. He told me that there aren't any signs posted with respect to video taping, however he said it is a rule they enforce, as it's a CATSA/Nav Canada regulation. It doesn't say on the highway that it's illegal to drink and drive but it doesn't mean they don't enforce it...

 

[clammydog]

On a very recent trip to NYC, I programmed a bunch of their stuff into my scanner but also wanted to take my 246t on the plane just to hear some of the air traffic control chatter. I decided not to carry it on because I didn't want the security hassle. Being a news guy, I can tell you that as I far as I know, you can absolutely videotape in the airport. There are no signs saying otherwise. Furthermore, security is not allowed to demand you to delete photos/videos. In the news biz if I go on to someone's driveway and shoot, they can kick me off, but they can't tell me to delete the stuff I already shot.

I think that there is a huge unknown amongst the public when it comes to scanners and cameras. I get asked all the time whether it's legal to have scanners. I was at a home invasion last week and the homeowner came out and starting yelling at me saying that I needed a permit to shoot video from the street. Thankfully the cops dealt with him quickly, but that's just proof that cameras and scanners can create a lot of fuss for people who don't know a thing about the items and laws. Heck, even the cops try to kick me out of places that I'm completely allowed to be at. This type of thing happens to every single news photographer in the world.

Unless there is a specific need, I won't usually bring my 246t to places where I might get questioned, merely because I don't want to have to explain my rights 100 times a day.

I'm a newsguy as well and every time I had to shoot at the airport we had to get permission from the GTAA ( Greater Toronto Airport Authority), or at the very least advise them we were there.

Technically the airport even though is a public place, it's still private property (at least that's what we were told). Taking pictures from the street is no problem. I've also had police called on me for taking pictures of a house. Police had the homeowner apologize to me for giving me a hard time. Mind you, he was drunk at the time!

That was a good call for not taking a scanner onboard an aircraft. I've been tempted to do so in the past many times. It's not so much a matter of legalities, it's more what are you intentions with this device on a aircraft.

 

[exkalibur]

The GTAA is not a public company, therefore it's private property. To think anyone (media included) can just walk on and take pictures without being harassed is a pretty bad way to think.

It would be the same as if I went onto your driveway and started taking pictures.

 

[yorkphotog]

Indeed, if I go to your driveway and take pictures you absolutely have the right to tell me to a hike. But you cannot exactly tell me to delete the pictures that I have already taken. However, if I for some reason had to shoot your house, I would do so from the street.

Clammydog, I agree; it was a good decision not to try and bring the scanner aboard the aircraft. There are often places I like to bring my 246 even when I'm not working but I don't like getting a public eye for having it. I tried to get a shorter antenna but was advised that would really worsen the signal quality. Oh well, I guess shoppers have to get used to me walking around Walmart with my scanner. If I am working at the time and make a stop somewhere, I'll usually plug earphones into the scanner so I don't bother people.

 

[rdale]

"But you cannot exactly tell me to delete the pictures that I have already taken. "

Yes you can. If the pictures were obtained illegally, it is illegal for you to keep them.

 

[exkalibur]

Well, not to go way off topic, but... You cannot be forced to delete pictures obtained illegally. That is, if you go onto a site and take pictures and anybody (including the Police) tell you to delete them, that is an unlawful request and you do NOT have to oblige. As soon as you take those pictures, they become copyright of you. Only yourself and a court order can delete them.

This is mostly US law, however almost all of it applies equally in Canada:

http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

 

[rdale]

Sorry - didn't mean to imply you could forcibly do it.

 

[yorkphotog]

Exkalibur is right.

"Yes you can. If the pictures were obtained illegally, it is illegal for you to keep them"

Trespassing isn't a crime until you are asked to leave a premises and you do not do so. Being on your driveway taking pictures isn't illegal until you ask to me leave and I don't.

 

[n4voxgill]

without discussing any of the above, if they requested it and you didn't comply they could pull whoever you were saying goodbye to and take them in for secondary screening which could last until they missed their plane. win a battle lose a war.