Pictures are Allowed on Metro, Right?
Yes, you can take photos on the Metro. (Borderstan file photo)
By Michelle Lancaster. You can follow her and let her know your news on Twitter @MichLancaster. Email her at michellel[AT]borderstan.com.
The law states you can take still photographs on WMATA Metro cars and at stations, so long as you do not have a tripod, special lighting, a film crew, etc. It seems clear the rule is set up to discourage amateur movie shoots or a flash mob runway show near the tunnels. But as TBD notes, plenty of people are getting grief for taking pictures in the stations or of trains while observing the letter of the law.
WMATA says it’s totally legal (except at Pentagon) so snap away! The number of complaints in the piece seem to indicate that more than a few WMATA employees may be unaware of the legality of photography; hopefully the attention this piece drew will lead to formal or informal training of said employees. For those that like to stir the pot, I challenge you to (without a tripod!) take photos this week in Metro stations. If you get any grief, tell me when, where and what was said. Post the pics in the Flickr pool and we’ll even pick a winner for a lovely prize!
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