California photography laws

jakehinds

Senior Member
So I know(or like to think I know) about all the photography laws, but I'm interested in finding CA penal codes, or supreme court rulings on photography. Not only am I curious about reading into them, but I would like to have codes on hand, should someone(law enforcement or random person) try to prevent me from shooting. Penal Codes I am looking for say something like "people may photograph anything in public as long as there is no reasonable expectation of privacy" or supreme court rulings basically saying the same thing. Again, I know what I am allowed and not allowed to shoot, I just want proof if I have run-ins w/ the law or angry people. I tried being as clear as possible, but let me know if you need any more info
 

skene

Senior Member
People out in public are public domain.
However shooting pictures of people while they are in their homes is a different story. This is where an invasion of privacy can come into play.
There is also a fine line of what people find either acceptable or not. If you were taking pictures of children in a park (and the child/children are not yours), this may end up being something that is not acceptable.
 

jakehinds

Senior Member
People out in public are public domain.
However shooting pictures of people while they are in their homes is a different story. This is where an invasion of privacy can come into play.
There is also a fine line of what people find either acceptable or not. If you were taking pictures of children in a park (and the child/children are not yours), this may end up being something that is not acceptable.
thank you for responding, but you must not have read my post��
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I have read it and realize that you are looking for copies of the applicable codes/laws. My impression of California's laws, on anything, is that you might be legal on the north side of the street and illegal if you cross to the south side of the street. Ha! Saying that, I think you are looking for a briefcase full of statutes that may apply.
 

skene

Senior Member
thank you for responding, but you must not have read my post��

once again.... you must not have read my post....
Public Domain... If you mention that to any law enforcement authority, enough would be said if you are shooting in public space.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Just an observation but its my opinion you do nothing to help the cause of photography in public by quoting the law as in your words when faced with "angry people" again just my opinion but attempts to placate them rather than quoting the law is more help,i have the right to include adults in my pictures in public places,if they approached me and ask me to delete the image i would whilst apologizing,problem solved whether i knew the law or not.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Penal Codes I am looking for say something like "people may photograph anything in public as long as there is no reasonable expectation of privacy"...
That's now how penal codes are written.

Penal codes, by definition, catalog and delineate criminal offenses, what you CAN"T do; not what you can.
 

480sparky

Senior Member
......I am looking for say something like "people may photograph anything in public as long as there is no reasonable expectation of privacy" or supreme court rulings basically saying the same thing. ........

How about "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"?

It's called the First Amendment. There has been no Supreme Court ruling about photography being a constitutionally-protected form of free speech. But that's only because every single lower court ruling has affirmed this and SCOTUS has never had it brought before them.



.......,if they approached me and ask me to delete the image i would ......

.......... then I'd swap cards, keep on shooting, and recover the images from the card with file recovery software once I got home.

Simple tactic to shut the ignorant up and let me be.

Heck, even the police have deleted photos and videos from (illegally) confiscated cameras and phones, only to have them recovered for use is a lawsuit against them.

What amazes me is people somehow think that if you destroy the evidence that a crime that's been committed, somehow that's OK.
 
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