Taking pictures at parks?

Is it allowed?

Does it violate a "copyright" in anyway?

Reason I ask is because someone told me that taking pictures inside a park is against a copyright and they can take your camera. Also because someone I know got pulled over and the cops took his camera because he was taking pictures of SFWoA from GL Road.

Can they do this?

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-Xtreme Theme
http://xt.thrillzing.net

No, I don't think taking pictures violate copyright laws because I know that Kings Island has those "Kodak Picture Shots" at good locations to take pictures of the rollercoasters.  If youn would be violating any laws, then the park would not post signs stating where the good places to take pictures of the rides are
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Try Flight of Fear version 2.0: It's great!

Think about it.If it wasn't allowed then you wouldn't even be permitted to bring your camera into the park in the first place.I've taken plenty of pic's at SFA and PKD and was never told by park staff not to.

I've been stopped and "questioned" by cops a couple times taking pictures from outside the gates of closed parks...never really hassled, usually they just shake their heads and laugh.  KW, PGA, HP come to mind...the security guard at Knoebels was the least "amused", but it was LATE at night...
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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

It's against the law (and stupid) to take pictures on the rides.
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Kenton's Cove Keelboat Canal 1973-2000 :(

I don't think it's against the law (at least in GA) to take pics on the rides, but it is a safety issue and is frowned upon by most parks, if not all.

A copyright on picture taking in parks?  Is this a joke?

1. taking pics while on a ride is stupid... and isnt allowed because yer few pound camera going 70 some miles a hour crashing into a persons head because you just had to get a cool pic of the drop on a coaster... thats also why you are told to secure all loose articles

2. you guys talking about people getting there cameras takin away... there are 2 sides to every story... you... just walking by... not hearing the whole deal "omg why are they taking his camera away he was only takin pics of coasters" or whatever... i've delt with people takin pics of younger females (just one example) and that whole deal... i have never heard of a person getting there camera taken away i'd just evict from property for a long period of time...

3. rollergator said 'I've been stopped and "questioned" by cops a couple times taking pictures from outside the gates of closed parks"... well yea... what the heck you doin there for? hehe... you may be a coaster enthusiast takin pics of a coaster or someone trying to think of a way to tresspass onto property... ya never know untill ya talk to em...

my2 cents *edit... darn formating*

*** This post was edited by Funkytones on 12/23/2001. ***

I am the one who got pulled over & had my pictures deleted today. Offseason pictures taken from the window of my own vehicle.

sooooooooo... you could be sitting on the hood or poking yer head outta the trunk taking pictures and it wouldnt change things

it would look pretty funny though..lol

*** This post was edited by Funkytones on 12/23/2001. ***

One reason I especially like SRM is they allow pictures on The Raven and The Legend. If you take them before it gets dark, you can get some really amazing ones!  
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It's his turn to feast, when you ride the Son of Beast.

So funkytones, your saying that you hate people taking pics at parks?
Are you a cop by any chance?(IMO I think cops should tone some crap down,like what your saying for example,its a harmless pic,whos it gonna hurt? )

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What in the world is in that bag?Watch u got in that bag!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I must admit I haven't done this since Sept. 11, but the day after PGA closed for the season, we got SOME pics of Stealth, Demon, etc. from various roads and parking lots in the area.  HP was closed, there's a Qwik-E-Mart right next door with a little hill, and surrounding roads provided a couple spots...the KW "incident" was around 2 am, pulled into their lot (across from the park), the cops REALLY thought I was a piece of work when they pulled up and saw me taking pics of the Phantom...they got a good laugh...I realize that people, including cops, are understandably more...suspicious now.
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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I don't see at all why it should be illegal, it is just a roller coaster.  I can see the whole not being able to take pictures on the ride thing, because if it is a roller coaster that goes over the line, it could really hurt somebody. But this is news to me of being stopped for taking pictures inside or out of the park.  I don't think it violates the copy-right, the only reason it would is if you planned to make a profit off of them.  But like Batwing said, why would they let you take the camera in if it is illegal, people can be stupid, but not that stupid. 

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Nitro230 said:
Are you a cop by any chance?(IMO I think cops should tone some crap down

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Oh jeez...Ok, are you a cop? No. Do you know everything about being a cop? No. The cops were just doing their jobs, give them credit. Also, why would you want a cop to 'tone some crap down'? If they toned "it" down than you would probablly walk outside your door only to find hate crime and gangs running around. See cops are there to protect and serve (or is it the Army, oh hell same message) and to make a safe community for you and your family, I am not a cop, nor do I know one on a personal basis, but that attitude tword the people whom watch over you...well that's sick..

.-Who thinks he should whip out the book, The World doesn't revolve around coasters, nor you!

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Divorced From Dependence since 1987!

You can always say that you were taking a picture of the beautiful sky that happens to be directly behind the coaster.
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"You and me, baby, ain't nothin' but coaster enthusiasts;
So let's ride 'em like they ride on the Discovery Channel"

Ok my worl does revolve around coaster ok,and cops should tone down becasue look there taking away cameras from people yelling at people too get get on the sidewalk when there isnt one!,thinking they got a right too speed even when there not pursuing someone and giving there family members a right too speed,arresting people for just looking at girls and not even stalking them should I go on!?

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What in the world is in that bag?Watch u got in that bag!?!?!?!?!?!?!

i work Security at Valleyfair... so this is right in my alley...soo... here is another example... say you could be... bird watching or somthing... if you are on property when the park is closed... then there is some suspisious activity which needs to be checked out... i aint saying i hate it... i dont care if people do... but its my job to protect the parks assets... if that means going and talking to some one that is bird watching in their car on park property... i am all about that... or telling some one in a car taking pics of roller coasters to leave property because the park is closed and take pics from the highway or whatnot... i am all about that... and take it from there... i mean... there are many many scenerios... if ya wanna talk on ICQ about this ICQ me at 58691258 or email me at tones@mn.rr.com... i'll be happy to answer yer questions... but i just wanna leave this forum be... its starting to become a flame topic and i dont want to see that happen... so email me or somthing

Funkytones,

 Taking pictures while riding is allowed at many parks. If a park has a relaxed photo policy, then I am all for it. In my honest opinion, I don't find anything stupid about that and have taken advantage of it many times before.

 However, parks that don't allow cameras on ride have a good reason for that. Safety. I can easily see why a park would enforce such a rule. I have no problem with that.

 As for someone getting their camera taken away for 'just' taking pictures.....this does happen. Twice at SFWoA this past season I was asked to either stop taking pictures, or leave the park. On two occasions I was actually yelled at from an employee (in a P.A.) for taking pictures of a ride, while I was on a midway. One time a employee tried to grab my camera and told me to leave. I wasn't on a ride, in a line, nor was I in any restricted area. This was totally uncalled for and I did go to guest relations about it but didn't get any real answer to what I was asking about.

 Getting questioned by cops or "fake" park cops is resonable, and I don't see a problem with it unless the cop is just doing his job, and not throwing around some false power he thinks he has ("You CAN'T take pictures of the coasters because I wil kick your *** if you do so")  .  I do have a problem with parks that don't have a constant photo policy. In other words, sometimes they enforce one, other times they don't.  For the life of me I can't understand why one may not be able to shoot pictures inside a park that actually sells cameras in the gift shops........with the exception of trying to hork guests to by the cameras so they are "legally" allowed to shoot pictures.

When I went to guest relations the final time about my problems with employees telling me to stop shooting or leave, I was told that "Copying the Six Flags logo in any way is illegal".  Not once did I hear anything about not being able to take pictures, nor was I taking a picture of the Six Flags logo.

The bottom line is that it is up to the park to provide enough information to the guests regarding such a matter. 

 

-Sean  

...and to provide that SAME information to THEIR employees...
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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

To get back on topic:

It is not illegal to take photos while at parks. Some parks are very nice and encourage it while others I've heard horror stories about. The more professional you look the more interest you'll attract. Bigger parks with many trademarks and copyrights to protect (Disney, I'm looking in your direction) tend to frown upon being to professional looking. (tripod, nice camera, lenses, filters, etc) and I've actually heard stories about people being asked to quit taking photos. If you're just using a disposable camera or a point and shoot or even a basic SLR - you shouldn't have a problem 99% of the time if you follow the general park rules.

It all becomes unlawful when you attempt to do something with your photos from these parks that doesn't fall under "personal use". For the most part all you can legally do with all your wonderful park photos is look at them and maybe share them with others on the net or something.