A video which I have bookmarked is "Railfans and Police Don't Mix." Often railfans might feel that way. I have been confronted about a half dozen times. A couple of times, the confrontation was by Yard Masters. One was to stop me from taking pictures of the yard. He gave me the old post 9/11 reason. I did ask if he wanted me to leave and he said I could not take pictures but I could stay but put my camera away. Another yardmaster may not have wanted me to leave but the dialogue was a bit odd. I was at the throat of the yard. I could not be seen from the office, he did stop as he left. I was first asked, where did I park my car. I had parked back off of the yard but thought that his concern was my trespassing so I asked where the RR property line was. The confrontation was friendly, not accusative.
While in Cleveland, while watching the light rail, I was just beginning to watch at a particular station. I had talked to one policeman who was with a dog, more about the dog. I had not yet taken out the camera, at that point. After talking to him, a very friendly conversation, and he moved on, I took out my camera. Soon, I saw transit police, two officers. They approached and said they had a call about me taking picture. I corrected them that I was mostly taking video. We had a very friendly conversation, some jokes told. Note that this conversation came as a result of a call they gotten and were checking it out.
I was in Newark, NJ, after the morning in Trenton, NJ, watching light rail. I got off the light rail was beginning to look for a good place to watch the light rail, as well as getting a feel of the setting, as a tourist would. I stopped in the station to check the battery on my recorder, while looking at the setting. I crossed the track and moved to a place to sit, I was confronted by someone complaining about me taking pictures of him (I did not take any, at that point, much less of him). He called the police who came soon after. the local police and I had a nice conversation and than they went their way. I did show my only video that I had taken, which was not much and early in the day. At that point, my camera in my camera bag, so it was out of courtesy that I let her see what I had.
First to be noted that police will only get involved if a complaint or call is received. They might stop to investigate if we are in a sensitive location. By that, I mean, not a normal place. One video shows the police reacting to a night video party, on railroad property. That would be unusual, at the least. It was local police that confronted the railfans. Railroad managers would be concerned about safety. Plus to protect the company from liability.
As railfans, there should be things to remember when approached by those question us. Don't be argumentative and defensive. Never give more details than needed. For instance do describe yourself as involve in the hobby of railfanning. Be truthful but not too much. Another employee gives you permissions, but don't bring that up.
The oddest confrontation with police came in Washington, DC. I had chosen a location after the tunnel into Union Station. I took the subway from Alexandria. Instead of bringing everything, I just took a 6" tripod. The camcorder was hanging around the next while traveling, with the tripod not open, When I got to the location I set the camcorder down using the tripod, but not setting up for recording. A security officer came up and was to that I could take picture, but I could not use the tripod (even as small as it was).
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