poor guy from Virginia

Was this a silver Viper and the gentlemen, did he have short black hair and maybe 5' 7" tall?? If so, this is more than likely Robb and he is a great guy, new to our region, but has been nothing but great at all the events. Including letting a blinded vet named Michael Jernigan drive his Viper! Man, I hope they were easy on him!


Robert

 

It was Rob - I met him in the morning too. I wonder what has happened?

 

You mean like in "Scent of a Woman" when the colonel drives the Ferrari?

 

Maybe the cops didn't like that camera mounted to his hood. It didn't look like he was speeding. He did take a a little extra time to pull over though and maybe pissed the cops off so they probably held him there for a while.

 

And it is not looking to good for your Cowboys Ferraridude615.

 

And it isn't looking any better now.

 

NY can't be any worse than VA. Fu*kin' Va is absolutley the worst state to get caught speeding in. It is especially worse if you are a resident of the state of VA, then you get f**ked 10X harder . I got pinched in VA a few weeks ago, 85 in a 60 and got written up for reckless driving!! I also got a ticket for having a radar detector (although I claimed it was not in use to the officer.... ), and that's a $101 fine ($40 fine + $51 processing fees + $10 local fee = $101 total. Pretty fu**ed up math, huh??!!).

Sorry to hear about your buddy w/ the Viper, and hope that NY doesn't talk to VA about it!! That could really turn shi**y....

 

Hey guys,

First let me thank Hovik and everyone else for letting me be a part of the run on Sunday. It was an awesome 2 – 2 ½ minutes on the road with you all! I apologize that I didn’t get to chat/meet with everyone as much as I would have liked, as I spent most of my time at the Starbucks setting up my equipment/taking pictures and soaking in all the machinery. I was going to make it a point to introduce myself, chat it up and get everyone a round of beers at the lunch stop after the run, unfortunately my friends wound up buying me a few rounds that night to drown my sorrows..

In short:
The LEO was not happy at all with our camera equipment. He was already upset with the external video mount, but upon looking in the car and seeing the passenger holding an HD Cam and an SLR, and the canon on my lap, he grew – well, lets just say more.. “agitated.”

The first words out of his mouth were, ‘”Did you know it is illegal to film on a highway?” and “What are you all doing with all these cameras?” We told him we honestly had no idea it was illegal, and when asked why/how, his response was “Sept 11th”. He instructed us to bag the cameras and put them in the trunk, grabbed our ID’s and left.

We were more than courteous, apologized profusely, and complied thoroughly with all the officer’s requests.

He returned after an eternity, and then said “I’m giving you two tickets. One for filming on the highway, and one for speeding 90 in a 55", and left.

In length - But first a disclaimer:
I have no issue manning up to a mistake, and having served in the military myself I have nothing but respect for all the guys out there in the armed forces, and all positions of public service including police officers, so I’m not out here to bash any LEO, or cry about my stop. With all my past tickets I have owned up when I knew I was in the wrong and called it a day, but with this one I do have a few particular issues and I will call it out as I see it:

There was absolutely NO WAY I was speeding, much less doing 90 when we saw that LEO. The ticket states the method of speed detection was “Paced”, not Radar, Not Laser. We saw the officer to our right very early on. I was following the vehicle in front of me at the speed limit, flowing with traffic when we watched the officer suddenley speed up and fly past us on the right. I remember telling my buddy “dam this guy is looking to get somewhere in a hurry.” I did'nt realize it would be me! If we were going the speed limit, then this guy was doing at least 100 + mph on the other side of the hwy with no lights or sirens on, but that’s neither here nor there. He then merged onto the road we were on, slipped behind me and then tailgated behind me for what seemed like 2-3 miles. As soon as he flashed his lights, we pulled over. How exactly was I paced at 90!?

I’m not even sure how to react to the “filming on highway” ticket. At first he was going to give my buddy a ticket as well for having cameras on his person, but then backed out and said he was letting him slide because he didn’t actually see/catch him in the act of taking any photos.

Is this a law that everyone in NY/NJ is aware of? If so, then I’m ignorant and will accept it for what it is. Funny thing is I saw at least 10 Red double Decker tour buses filled to the brim with tourists recording/taking photos in the city that weekend, not to mention all the tourists I saw recording in Times Square. Is that illegal as well?

Anyways, HUTCH91TR is absolutely right. Unfortunately VA is tough on drivers. Anything 20 over, up to a max of 80 (80 in a 65) is an automatic reckless, with the stiffest fines in the country. Something like $1500 on top of the fines, fees etc, plus there's always the prospect of jail time. All this in the addition of legal fees I suppose. If NJ transfers the charges/points over, then I’m fully expecting VA to try and pin me down like a burly 250lb escaped convict tanked up on Red Bull and giving it to me with his all..
I apologize if I disturbed anyone with that last mental image, that was pretty dam gross.

 

I am very sorry to hear that your day turned out like that - I was in the Orange Gallardo with Hovik and we were scratching our heads as well. I have heard that photography of any sort in a tunnel or on a bridge is completely banned but not the highway? I would seriously look into this?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I will see what I can locate on my end......

 

Never heard of it being illegal to film highways. Tunnels and bridges - yes, but not highways!
To be honest with you, the set-up you had on the fender made us all think its going to be trouble, but didn't expect anything serious.
Sorry to hear about the speeding ticket. I was told by the guys that were in your group that you weren't speeding at all and the cop paced you for miles before pulling you over. Total BS!

 

You were using a sticky pod. You can't go that fast!

NJ is the worst. At least if you were in NY, we could recommend a spectacular lawyer!

Welcome to NY...

 

LamboJoe

Just had to say that I find the title to this thread both appropriate, yet Hilarious!

Anyways, I'm glad you guys had a great time. I wish I could have had footage for you guys, the little that we had was coming out awesome in all it's 1080P goodness! =( Now that I think of it, I'm almost sure I have the first few minutes of the stop on video. Hope this is the case...

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles!! I never knew it was illegal to film/take pictures on highways in NY/NJ. I'm really interested to hear how this turns out so please keep us updated.

Btw Emil the R8 has done 130-140 with a mounted video camera

 

How can it be illegal to film on the highway ?? Im sure this wouldnt stand 2 mns in the court...

 

Never heard it's illigal to video a highway thats total BS.

Was the cop a trooper or a bridge tunnel cop?

 

Wow... That's a hell of the story but I am almost 100% thats a big BS about that filming ticket.

At November run Ed was pulled over with a passenger filming as well. The cop didn't mention anything about camera other then he wanted it to be turned off.

I'd say - lets do some research about that "new law" as well as about transferring points to VA. If there is no transfer then just pay tickets and forget, unless you have time to drive to NJ to fight it in a court.

 

I can't believe it is illegal to film on the highway. I'd like to learn more about that law and when it came into effect. Seems like just another reason to justify pulling someone over.

 

Interesting - Just checked out the "Filming on a HWY" Ticket. The Statute # is 19: 9-1.22

I found out what that was here: http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/TPREG.pdf

Which reads in it's entirety (Kindda long):

19:9-1.22 Filming, photographing or videotaping on Authority property
prohibited, except as authorized
(a) To insure the health, safety and welfare of motorists, the general public and the
Authority, no person shall be permitted to park, stop, stand or travel at a slow speed in
violation of N.J.S.A. 27:23-27, for the purpose of taking photographs, videos or motion
pictures (hereinafter collectively "film") on the Roadway, except as provided in (b) below
or except as otherwise authorized pursuant to (c) or (d) below.
(b) Notwithstanding (a) above, persons, with prior written permission from the Executive
Director of the Authority, shall be permitted to take film in those portions of the service
areas of the Roadway under the Authority's control which are not used for the moving,
servicing or parking of vehicles, provided the taking of such film does not interfere with
or obstruct the movement or flow of vehicles and people lawfully on the Roadway. Such
interference or obstruction includes, without limitation, the taking of such film within 100
feet of any ramp or traveled roadway portion of the Roadway. Persons wishing to take
film in those portions of the Roadway which are not under the control of the Authority,
such as the buildings in the service areas which are under lease, shall contact the
appropriate party for approval.
(c) The Authority, through its Department of Communications or successor department,
Executive Director or designee, may grant a permit to take film on the portions of
Authority property not specified in (b) above, provided the person(s) requesting such
permit submits the following:
1. A written application to the Authority, at least two weeks prior to the date of
the filming, stating the date, time and location of the filming, names and addresses
of the applicants, the number of individuals and vehicles to be present at the
filming, the purpose of such filming and any other information the Authority may
deem necessary in order for it to make a determination that such filming can be
conducted without a 'risk to the safety, traffic security or movement of the
Roadway;
2. Certificates of liability insurance (indicating the New Jersey Turnpike
Authority as an insured under the policy) in an amount deemed by the Authority
to be acceptable given the nature and scope of the filming;
3. A copy of the motor vehicle insurance policy for each vehicle to be used in the
filming; and
4. An indemnification and hold harmless agreement signed by all persons
responsible for the filming, in a form provided by or acceptable to the Authority.
(d) The permittee shall comply with any Authority restrictions on the time, place and
manner of the filming imposed as a condition of the grant of a permit in order to ensure
the safety, traffic security or movement of the Roadway.
(e) The Authority shall grant such permit in accordance with (c) and (d) above, unless the
Authority determines that the time, location or nature of such filming would create a risk
to the safety, traffic security or movement of the Roadway and that such risk cannot be
adequately controlled.
(f) In the event that a bona fide representative of the news media requires immediate
permission to film an emergency situation on a portion of the Roadway not specified in
(b) above, the Authority may grant a permit to film over the telephone to the news media
representative, provided:
1. The applicant has previously obtained a valid press pass from the Authority;
2. The Authority has determined that such filming would not create an
unreasonable risk to the safety, traffic security or movement of the Roadway; and
3. The applicant agrees to abide by certain time, place and manner restrictions on
the filming which may be imposed by the Authority or the State Police to ensure
the safety, traffic security or movement of the Roadway.
New Rule, R.1997 d.82, effective February 18, 1997.
See: 28 N.J.R. 2518(a), 28 N.J.R. 3242(a), 29 N.J.R. 587(a). Amended by R.2005 d.23, effective January 3,
2005. See: 36 N.J.R. 4415(a). 37 N.J.R. 90(a).

Now I'm not an attorney, but if I'm reading this correctly: "To insure the health, safety and welfare of motorists, the general public and the Authority, no person shall be permitted to park, stop, stand or travel at a slow speed in violation of N.J.S.A. 27:23-27, for the purpose of taking photographs, videos or motion pictures (hereinafter collectively "film") on the Roadway"

I was not parked, stopped, standing or traveling at slow speed. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

Sure you wasn't driving slow since you got a ticket for speeding too... I wonder what traffic lawyers would say about that...

 

With a 3-suction sticky pod on legs at the base of the windshield?

 

Granted, you need to take what you find on the net with a grain of salt.
and be sure don't rub that salt into the wound of an officer who's telling you to stop.
But the consensus is, photography is not illegal. Not of bridges, tunnels, roads or subways.
But try it & it's like driving a red Ferrari on an interstate.....you must be up to no good.

http://www.photosecrets.com/law.take.html
http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2004/08/answers_from_nypd_meeting_for_rnc.html
http://www.connectedphotographer.com/issues/issue200610/00001856001.html

read these.
You may be in the right, but nobody who was involved in an altercation has claimed victory over the officer whom acted "in the public's best interest".

Found this a little later...
http://www.njfilm.org/roads.html

All about filming in NJ...you may want to call them.
New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission
153 Halsey Street - 5th Floor
P.O. Box 47023
Newark, New Jersey 07101

Phone: 973-648-6279
Fax: 973-648-7350
Email:[email protected]

 

Well I guess it cancels out one or the other ticket. Which was more expensive, speeding or video? Because you could claim you weren't speeding to get the video ticket, or that you were speeding and the video ticket won't count because you weren't going slowly.