police photography

when can the police photograph you? Recently I was detained in a bar I work in and was told it was a random I.D. check. The officers said I was not being charged with anything and then wanted my photo; when I refused they threatened to take me to jail so I let them take my picture -Dallas, Tx.

All I can offer is that the next time they threaten you with jail ask about the charge. They will bluff about taking you to jail. KCMOPD did it with me.

[JETX]

Don't rely on that idiot 'qadaq'!

You asked "when can the police photograph you? Recently I was detained in a bar I work in and was told it was a random I.D. check."

Since you were working in the bar, I am sure that you know what the police were there for (and it wasn't a 'random' ID check). In Texas, the police do NOT do 'random ID checks' in bars... unless brought in by the TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) on suspicion of afterhours or underage drinking.

So, what was this really... a TABC check, a 'solicitation' check, or what??

And generally, I would assume the following:
1) Either the officer thought you were cute and was using the 'need a picture' as an 'icebreaker' (unlikely since he threatened to take you in),
or
2) Thought you looked like a hooker and needed to have an ID for future 'needs',
or
3) Realized that the station didn't have enough photospread pictures 'of your type' and needed another,
or
4) wanted to get pictures of your tattoos and piercings for the next 'show and tell'
or
5) possible gang markings for ID purposes.

Please don't misunderstand, these are NOT meant to be insulting or derogatory.... these ARE some valid reasons for "photo'ing" someone in a bar.
So, I have to ask... your post just says you refused and were threatened with 'downtown'... what did the officer say when you asked 'why'???

Halket. Are you calling me a liar? Implying it? As for your answer, do you mean to say that all of those are valid reasons for a police officer to require a picture? He's right in threatening you with jail if you refuse in any of those cases?

[JETX]

Originally posted by qadaq
Halket. Are you calling me a liar? Implying it? As for your answer, do you mean to say that all of those are valid reasons for a police officer to require a picture? He's right in threatening you with jail if you refuse in any of those cases?

In the immortal words of Ronald Reagan.... "Well, there you go again!"

Obviously some of the reasons shown are included to show how ridiculous the issue of having your picture taken is. Police (and 'citizens') take pictures and video of all kinds of things; during arrests, searches, chases, crowd scenes, gang meetings, even funerals. Hell, if we barred 'police photos and videos', we would lose 10 hours a week of TV programs!!

And again, we very seldom hear the full and complete details of these posts at first. I am sure that there is more to this than just.... "A policeman walked into the bar where I work and threatened to arrest me if I didn't pose for him". Remember, there were several 'officers'. Police departments as a rule don't just send several officers to a local bar just 'for pictures'.

I think you'll find that in most if not all of those 10 hours a week of police footage the participants were not threatened with jail if they didn't cooperate with having their photos taken. djjefferyg, if you do decide to call their bluff, make sure a lot of people hear you. Don't scream, mind you but don't listen to the police requests that you keep your voice down either. Make sure whatever table you're serving hears it, in fact tell them that you'll get them another server if you can, call your boss over, tell him you're being arrested for not posing for them. Avoiding arrest in my experience is an audience participation sport.

I had been indirectly threatened with arrest for a similarly heinous crime of refusing to identify myself when I'd been stopped for briefly looking at the police station then walking on late at night. The police were following me in their cruiser. I was on foot they were about 15 feet behind me keeping pace. I walked past some people sitting on their porch and told them, "I went out for a walk and picked up a police escort, they say they're going to arrest me in five minutes." (Completely true. I had stopped to read a poster on the wall of the police station. I had told them this.) They actually said "hook him up" and it was to each other but I figured they weren't talking about installing cable. I walked past the people on the porch. I heard them ask the officers as they went by, "Don't you have anything better to do?". They said, "Not at the moment.". (Probably true. Small town.) I walked around the block making sure to stay on the sidewalk. As I was crossing the street where the people were they called me over to sit on the porch. The police stopped well back. They stayed there for a while then left. In short, cops don't like witnesses when they're exhibiting pork like qualities.

[JETX]

'Qadaq' you are truly a magician... just when I think that you are truly beyond imagination... out comes a rabbit and you prove to me that you are really just an idiot!

Oh, and thanks for your 'truth in advertising' closing line.