something that came into my FB Feed from "Photography Tips" site: Interesting food for thought. 

Important Legislation!!!

New Vermont Bill Would Make it Illegal to Photograph Anyone Without Consent?

A short form bill was recently introduced into the Vermont House of Representatives that ought to have photographers curious, if not worried. That’s because this particular bill seeks to “make it illegal to [photograph] a person without his or her consent … and distribute it,” essentially outlawing most forms of public photography. The bill was proposed by House representative Betty Nuovo in February, and just yesterday began making the rounds on Reddit thanks to user Archers Test910.
At this point in the process, the bill has been read once and sent to the House Judiciary committee, with Vermont’s Chief Legislative Attorney Luke Martland listed as the bill’s legal staff. From here, the committee will have to draft a full version of the bill, complete with the exceptions it would require if it is ever to be signed into law. Given the number of exceptions that would need to be introduced into the bill in order to make it remotely realistic (e.g. What about security cameras? Traffic cameras? What would event photographers do?) the first draft will probably look nothing like the short form bill above.

Let us hope the final bill does not look like this. :( Or better yet, just get dropped all together!!

My heart bleeds for the press!

Update: Mickey H. Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), emailed Representative Bill Lippert of the House of Representatives to voice concern about the bill. Here’s what Lippert responded with:

The House Judiciary Committee, of which I am Chair, has no plans to take up this bill for consideration.

 

http://petapixel.com/2013/04/12/vermont-introduces-bill-that-would-make-it-illegal-to-photograph-a-person-without-consent/

Kokabeel. 

Thank you for taking the time to update on this.  

Np! I saw it posted and thought you might want an update!! :D

It's a First amendment issue IMHO

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

The courts have always ruled based on "a reasonable expectation of privacy"

If something like this was passed, **surveillance ** would be against the law..The government doesn't want that..

This country is so paranoid! It's ridiculous to think you must have permissions of everyone in a photo! What would happen at a ballgame? Auto race? a beach? weddings? And who would this law protect?

Too many laws in this country!