The mayor of NYC is proposing a vague set of rules governing the use of video cameras on public property, including sidewalks. The rules would require many "filmmakers" (including kids videoing each other in line for a movie or anyone else using a camera for more than five minutes within a 100-foot square of city property) to get $1,000,000 in liability insurance and a city permit. The ACLU warns that these rules are designed to be selectively enforced, and selective enforcement is most often aimed at brown people, protestors, and other people who face discrimination in everyday life.
"Your everyday person out there with a camcorder is never going to know about the rules," Mr. Dunn said. "It completely opens the door to discriminatory enforcement of the permit requirements, and that is of enormous concern to us because the people who are going to get pointed out are the people who have dark skin or who are shooting in certain locations."
The rules were promulgated as a result of just such a case, Mr. Dunn said.
In May 2005, Rakesh Sharma, an Indian documentary filmmaker, was using a hand-held video camera in Midtown Manhattan when he was detained for several hours and questioned by police.
During his detention, Mr. Sharma was told he was required to have a permit to film on city property. According to a lawsuit, Mr. Sharma sought information about how permits were granted and who was required to have one but found there were no written guidelines. Nonetheless, the film office told him he was required to have a permit, but when he applied, the office refused to grant him one and would not give him a written explanation of its refusal.
Update: Michael sez, "In case your readers want to express their opinions right to the
source; there is an e-mail form on the nyc.gov web site specifically
for the Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting."
