As I have said in previous posts I was to shoot a "Peace Action" today. Well I can tell you that a hightened state of alert is an expensive proposition. At the site today I wanted to get a unique perspective of the people with their signs. I saw a dog walking across a Trolly trestle and was going to try to get the dog and maybe get a shot while I was up there. I walked up the trestle and saw no signs stating I couldn't go up there (the sigens are at the stop, I never got to a stop). Once up there the dog went to the other end as a police officer exited the district court across the street. All he sees is some guy on the trestle with cameras hanging around his neck. When I came down to talk to him he promptly cited me for "Criminal Trespassing". Cost, $417(US). Never got the dog or the shot. I did get this one with the digital just litterly shooting from the hip as I was walking down to meet the officer. The dog finally came down and dashed across the street never to be found. Be careful, tolerance is very low. Magick Michael PS I am taking donations to assist this poor unemployed photographer in paying the fine.

I took this one from ground level (as were all the others I took afterwards). Just after this I spilled hot chocolate all over my leg and called it a day before I broke a lens or something. I have had better days.

The days that don't work out so well make the days even better when you get that perfect shot. Hang in there!

Dude........can't you fight it and force it into court? No jury in their right minds would allow that charge to stand. Even if it's a closed court (me not knowing US legal systems) you'd get the chance to put across a reasonable argument. Damn, I'd really have argued the toss with the copper..... I would have took pics of the trestle (scaffolding?) as evidence of no signs and when the time comes to pay the fine not done it and forced a court appearance. And I'm a law-abiding citizen! Blimey, that's a LOT of dosh for the 'crime'....... (",)

Like Jordy says, go back with a video camera and extensively document that from the way you went there was no signs stating it was illegal to go up on the trestle. Then take it to court and very respectfully tell the judge, getting directly to the point and not turning it into a 2 hour drama and explaining that you have a videotape showing it. Get attitude and you've got no chance. It's not like you did anything extremely dangerous to yourself or the public. More than likely he'll just toss it out. The high fine on that one makes me think that someone (probably more than once) did something very stupid off that trestle in the past. -=>Donald

trestle tresspassing? hot chocolate disaster? i imagine that dastardly dog was snickering all the way home sympathy