DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Agree with what I did?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 33, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 10/30/2008 09:29:41 PM · #1
I got home today and heard from my wife that our neighbor saw a car stop and the driver took a picture of our girl and boy (4 and 2) who had been playing in the driveway. Our neighbor thought it was suspicious, and took down the plate number. I first thought I didn't want to make a big deal of it after reading of photographers getting hassled just for shooting pictures in public, but I'd ask parents before taking pics of their kids. Also, we live in a gated community, although it's not very secure (and I'd be fine to have no gate).

So, I called the non-emergency number for the police and reported it. The woman taking the report asked why I had waited 40 minutes to call, and that the person could be miles away already (it was almost quitting time, so my wife waited until I got home, and then I talked to the neighbor, and looked up the non-emerg phone number).

So, what do you guys think?
 10/30/2008 09:33:02 PM · #2
I would've been concerned as well. This is not harrasment. This is questionable behavior on the part of the driver.
 10/30/2008 09:38:02 PM · #3
suspicious to say the least

There is a fine line that can be drawn here. If someone raises your neighbours heckles enough to be a little freaked out then go with the gut feeling. It is not right

Message edited by author 2008-10-30 21:38:56.
 10/30/2008 10:01:32 PM · #4
There is a difference between grabbing a hip shot of a street scene (for example) and photographing small children playing in their own yard. Might be different in a playground setting with approval of a parent, bit this could be a violation of privacy at a minimum, but possibly someone with somewhat more questionable motives.
 10/30/2008 11:25:31 PM · #5
If it made you uncomfortable, then you were right to call. It's up to the police and the justice system to discern if a crime was being committed. But it's also their job to keep you feeling safe!

As an early childhood educator, I'm constantly on the lookout for strange behavior....cars that loiter too long or "random" strangers lurking on sidewalks near playgrounds. If a neighbor thought it was odd enough to take the plate number down, then I think I would have called police as well.
 10/30/2008 11:33:26 PM · #6
Thanks for the replies!
 10/30/2008 11:39:14 PM · #7
I see varying shades of grey and can't make a clear call in the matter. When this happens, I'd follow my instinct and prefer to err on the side of caution. The safety of my kids, especially at that age, come before any notions of liberty I may carry.
 10/30/2008 11:43:44 PM · #8
That sort of thing does worry me. That is odd behaviour. I am a little paranoid because I have been burgled more than my fair share. Perhaps the photographer wasn't actually photographing your children but was in fact photographing your property & the children just happened to get in the way. Either way, it was a good idea to get that license plate number.
10/30/2008 11:55:55 PM · #9
I think you did the right thing and I applaud your neighbor for taking the tag number. Under most community and city laws doesn't a gated community become private property including the streets within? If so, he/she was taking photographs of children without parental consent on private property. That would make his/her action illegal, am I right?
 10/31/2008 01:04:07 AM · #10
I am learning a different perspective.

We live in Asia where our gorgeous, blond, blue-eyed daughter is striking. Complete strangers attempt to photograph, touch and even lift her, most weeks. The culture over here is different - young children really are regarded as communal/public property (especially by older women). I do see the value in this - young children are full of life and vitality, and definitely add to a community. It would be wonderful if they could be shared without fear. Most people out here are not aware of the paedophile concerns prevalent in the west.

That said I do put my foot down whenever anyone tries to take her off to show their friends - taking her out of our sight is not an option. Especially in places such as Thailand and Vietnam where child-trafficking does take place. And I always step in whenever I see someone being furtive about taking a shot.
 10/31/2008 01:22:26 AM · #11
You absolutly made the right call. Law enforcement will be able to run a records check on the vehicle and the registered owner. This may lead to nothing but it may also lead in any sort of a direction. Most agencies have a data base which stores suspicious information on persons/vehicles. They may have similar calls on the vehicle which may seal a case they are currently working or lead to a future case.

Most likely its a big nothing but it never hurts to call. Son of am was caught because of a parking violation.
 10/31/2008 01:24:12 AM · #12
Originally posted by ShutterHack:
Son of am was caught because of a parking violation.


and Son of pm was caught stealing from 7-11.

(sorry, I couldn't resist)
 10/31/2008 01:52:06 AM · #13
That's really disturbing. I'd say you're really lucky to have an observant, consciencious neighbour like that; if it feels wrong to you, it probably is. If I wanted to photo some kids playing, I'd want to be on the street beside them and take my time getting a good shot, preferably asking their parents if it's Ok; not shadily snapping a few shots from inside a passing car. It's the countless stories like this that make me terrified at the idea of having kids of my own, which is just sad.
 10/31/2008 01:57:23 AM · #14
Sigh.

I wish I stayed in a country where we could phone the police about things like that.
 10/31/2008 03:28:00 AM · #15
first of all, i tend to agree with what you did, and being careful of the children.

you know, but if that person in the car had been a photographer from DPC, and he Rants about being harassed for taking photos of some grass on your lawn (where your children had been near) - we'd probably be seeing another different perspective altogether here. people are funny beings!
 11/02/2008 02:36:05 PM · #16
Originally posted by crayon:
first of all, i tend to agree with what you did, and being careful of the children.

you know, but if that person in the car had been a photographer from DPC, and he Rants about being harassed for taking photos of some grass on your lawn (where your children had been near) - we'd probably be seeing another different perspective altogether here. people are funny beings!


Yeah, that kind of thing is what I meant in my post. But I figure the photog should have asked about taking the pic; at least, I would have preferred that.
 11/02/2008 02:49:39 PM · #17
Originally posted by dahved:
Originally posted by crayon:
first of all, i tend to agree with what you did, and being careful of the children.

you know, but if that person in the car had been a photographer from DPC, and he Rants about being harassed for taking photos of some grass on your lawn (where your children had been near) - we'd probably be seeing another different perspective altogether here. people are funny beings!


Yeah, that kind of thing is what I meant in my post. But I figure the photog should have asked about taking the pic; at least, I would have preferred that.

And regardless of perspective and the truth of the matter (the photographer may have had completely innocent intentions), any DPCers don't seem to be bent out of shape by people & even police checking on what they're doing. Rather, the real problems arise when an innocent photographer starts getting harassed despite being cooperative and clearly innocent of wrongdoing.

Having said that, I wonder what people think the next appropriate step would be. Should the police have pulled the photographer over if they saw the car or would that be a wrongful arrest? Or should the incident and plate# just be filed away? I'm not so sure the police have much they can actually do about it since the person didn't actually break any laws.
 11/02/2008 04:18:15 PM · #18
I suppose I should bow to the conventional wisdom here, but I have to say that your post and the follow-up posts make make me sad and a little annoyed. However, your peace of mind, and ultimately the safety of your children, obviously outweigh the annoyance felt by a stranger on your internet photography site.

I think there's already a thread on this topic, but I saw in the newspaper recently -- I think it was an Ann Landers column -- about a parent being upset because while Trick-or-Treating a homeowner took a photo of the child in his Halloween costume. That letter was on my mind Halloween night. I was at my mother's house (small town) and some pretty adorable kids showed up at the door. I would have loved to take their photos but didn't feel "right." My mom said her brother used to take photos of every trick-or-treater and then would post them by the door the following Halloween. Like they say, times have changed.
 11/02/2008 04:34:38 PM · #19
Originally posted by citymars:
I suppose I should bow to the conventional wisdom here, but I have to say that your post and the follow-up posts make make me sad and a little annoyed. However, your peace of mind, and ultimately the safety of your children, obviously outweigh the annoyance felt by a stranger on your internet photography site.

I think there's already a thread on this topic, but I saw in the newspaper recently -- I think it was an Ann Landers column -- about a parent being upset because while Trick-or-Treating a homeowner took a photo of the child in his Halloween costume. That letter was on my mind Halloween night. I was at my mother's house (small town) and some pretty adorable kids showed up at the door. I would have loved to take their photos but didn't feel "right." My mom said her brother used to take photos of every trick-or-treater and then would post them by the door the following Halloween. Like they say, times have changed.

LOL! Funny thing about that. My neighborhood gets inundated by kids from all over the area (gobs of candy, close houses, near freeway exit, ideal place for people who don't live here to visit) and kids & parents just line the sidewalks all night long. It struck me last night, a little too late, that I should have set up an area in my driveway to take pictures for anyone who wants them. I could have put them on small/cheap $1.00 SD cards which I could have sold to the parents for perhaps $3-5, or I could print the shots right there for another price. I may have to do this next year and see if I can pay for & profit from all the friggin' candy we get for the annual visitors.
 11/02/2008 04:36:56 PM · #20
With a complete plate number, it should be no problem for the authorities to run the plate and decide if there is an immediate issue. (e.g. the plate belongs to a known pedophile, or the plates are stolen.)

I'm assuming the neighbor was watching the kids, as in this part of the world, there is no way I would let a 4 year old and 2 year old play out front unattended. Personally I'd be somewhat concerned. Not frantic, but wary. Chances are it was some photography nut who saw a good shot. But it could have also been someone shopping, and taking pictures for a "client" interested in acquiring a child or two.
 11/02/2008 04:59:07 PM · #21
Originally posted by ambaker:
But it could have also been someone shopping, and taking pictures for a "client" interested in acquiring a child or two.

The possibilities of this being true seem remote in the extreme. Has this scenario ever been documented as happening (outside of a Lifetime movie or something)?

Message edited by author 2008-11-02 16:59:30.
 11/02/2008 05:02:43 PM · #22
Originally posted by ambaker:
I'm assuming the neighbor was watching the kids, as in this part of the world, there is no way I would let a 4 year old and 2 year old play out front unattended. Personally I'd be somewhat concerned.

Perhaps this was someone concerned about two tots being left to play unattended in a driveway, and was documenting the situation to report the parents to CPS ... :-(
 11/03/2008 08:52:27 AM · #23
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by ambaker:
I'm assuming the neighbor was watching the kids, as in this part of the world, there is no way I would let a 4 year old and 2 year old play out front unattended. Personally I'd be somewhat concerned.

Perhaps this was someone concerned about two tots being left to play unattended in a driveway, and was documenting the situation to report the parents to CPS ... :-(

I must be living in a dream world. I had no idea this would be considered irresponsible parenting. Sorry to sound the same old note, but times have really changed -- even more than I thought.
 11/04/2008 04:53:07 PM · #24
Originally posted by ambaker:
With a complete plate number, it should be no problem for the authorities to run the plate and decide if there is an immediate issue. (e.g. the plate belongs to a known pedophile, or the plates are stolen.)

I'm assuming the neighbor was watching the kids, as in this part of the world, there is no way I would let a 4 year old and 2 year old play out front unattended. Personally I'd be somewhat concerned. Not frantic, but wary. Chances are it was some photography nut who saw a good shot. But it could have also been someone shopping, and taking pictures for a "client" interested in acquiring a child or two.


To be clear, my wife was in the garage keeping an eye on the kids, but the car stopped closer to our neighbor's house, so she didn't see it from her angle. We don't let them play outside unattended, as they might forget they're supposed to stay out of the street...
 11/04/2008 05:01:10 PM · #25
been several days now, I am curious to know what happened? I.e. did police take any action?
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/13/2025 01:46:13 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/13/2025 01:46:13 AM EDT.