I don�t think so!

 

����������� After the September 11 terrorist attacks, many bus and transit fans have been harassed for taking photographs when usually, they aren�t doing anything wrong. I am no exception.

 

����������� It is perfectly legal to photograph trains and buses from public property. In Canada, photography is covered under the Canadian Charter of Freedoms. In the United States, photography is covered under the 1^st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In both countries, people don�t have the right to make you delete your pictures without a court order.

 

����������� However, some people think they�re above the law. This page shows pictures I have taken in which someone wanted me to delete the pictures, but I refused.

 

����������� This shot shows TTC class T-1 subway car #5352 with an advertisement wrap ad for Rogers. I photographed the car at Finch after I got off because I liked the ad because it reminded me of my favourite TTC subway cars; the Gloucesters.

 

����������� However, one passenger said he didn�t give me permission to use his image. He was the guy with the jean shorts and the two bags in his left hand. I ignored him after I took two more photos and then I got on the escalator and told him I was photographing the train. He said, �Erase it.� I told him I wouldn�t. He muttered something, and I stood firm as he walked away.

 

 

����������� Here are two more pictures of T-1 #5352 taken at the same time.

 

 

 

����������� {Sigh}, when will these people ever learn? The photos below are from my most recent run-in with anti-photography bus drivers of YRT�s Newmarket division covered by First Student. Since August of 2008, I have been harassed by THREE drivers; two women and one man. Two of the drivers, I argued back and won.

 

����������� This driver wanted me to delete the photo just because she was in it. You can�t see her, and I was on public property. She didn�t listen when I told her I wouldn�t delete the photo because she had no right to make me delete it. She wouldn�t let me on the bus unless I deleted the photo, so I stayed off.

 

����������� This happened exactly one year after I fought back and won against another First Student driver after I had crossed paths with her on multiple occasions and because that victory was important to me, I wanted to mark it one year later; and this happens!

 

 

 

����������� A few minutes after I took the other photo, I called YRT and complained. I was as mad as I was at that Cleveland taxi company that made me miss the Lakeshore Limited on my Washington-Cleveland trip. A week later YRT responded saying that had talked with the driver and told her the situation. However, I had asked them to bring disciplinary action against her; which they didn�t. I feel all she got was a slap on the wrist.

 

����������� I also went back one week later and got to recreate the ride which I did a year plus one week ago. I also informed the Canadian Civil Liberty Association about First Student because of the constant problems other bus fans and I have had with their drivers. They responded thanking me for bringing this to their attention and would be drafting a letter to them.

 

2012 update:�� Following a transit strike in 2011-2012 involving First Student and two of the three other contractors that provide YRT/VIVA service, YRT canceled their contract with First Student leaving those drivers unemployed. GOOD RIDDENS! (The other contractors soon settled with YRT.)

 

����������� During my trip to Montreal for the TTS�s 2010 Transportation Weekend, I went out in search of RTL�s oldest Classics. I photographed #6012; one of the oldest Classics in the fleet at Montmorency Metro station. The Montmorency bus terminal is owned by AMT. When I photographed 6012, an AMT security guard told me to delete it. I told him he had no right to. He then told me that I needed a permit and photography wasn�t allowed. I asked him where, and he pointed out a sheet of bylaws in French. It didn�t appear to say anything about photography.

 

 

����������� What�s really frustrating is that this guard wasn�t doing ANYTHING about people smoking when smoking is clearly against AMT�s bylaws. I later checked and sure enough, AMT�s bylaws say NOTHING about photography. The morning after, I phoned AMT to complain.

 

����������� When my friend Larry and I went out TTC subway work car fanning, we�ve been trying to get a video of H-4 work train RT-9 and RT-10 since it was the only Hawker work car train I don�t have a good video of. When we�ve tried, the crew hassled us because they can�t understand that we are allowed to take pictures without a permit.

 

����������� On September 16, 2014 we had a great chance as we got to Eglinton. We got into position and as we were filming, a subway janitor told us we weren�t supposed to be filming and to delete the video. We were able to convince him we were in the right, but by then RT-9 and RT-10 had slipped away leaving us annoyed and discouraged, but we resolved we would get it eventually.

 

 

����������� About a week later, Larry and I went back and successfully got a video of RT-9 and RT-10.

 

����������� Almost 18 months to the day of the last instance on TTC, I photographed TTC New Flyer D40LF #7309 as the 1999 vintage D40LFs are now the oldest buses in service on the TTC. The driver asked why I was taking a picture. I told him I was taking a picture of the BUS. He said that since he was in the picture to delete it. I told him I was not going to delete it and rode the bus back to the Dundas West subway station as I intended.

 

 

����������� After getting my second COVID vaccination in 2021, I started going out fanning at least once a week to make up for lost time. One of the things I was going for was to photograph all 28 cars assigned to Line #3 the Scarborough RT. While riding the line on two occasions I was lucky to get off a train at the south platform at McCowen station. Since trains usually only use the north platform to prevent rider confusion so going on the south platform was a rare treat.

 

����������� On the second time after getting off the train and going to the north platform I photographed and filmed the train I had gotten off when a teenager told me to delete the photo because he thought that minors can�t be photographed in public; (they can). After a little while, he must have realized this and he apologized to me to his credit. This was obviously not an act because nothing came of this.

 

 

 

����������� I will be adding to this page every time someone illegally wants me to delete a photo I took when they don�t have the right. Hopefully I won�t be updating this page too often!