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On my way into work this afternoon, I was sitting on an N train when I heard the following announcement over the PA:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a message from New York City Transit. For your security, flash photography, digital photography, and video photography are prohibited aboard trains. Thank you."

(I believe the wording is verbatim, but I'm not certain; I was furiously taking notes.)  This was an announcement by the conductor, and not an automated pre-recorded announcement, by the way.

If "digital photography" (film's okay?) is prohibited, this is an unannounced policy change on behalf of New York City Transit.  Section 1050.9(c) of the system's official rules explicitly permit photography:

Photography, filming or video recording in any facility or conveyance is permitted except that ancillary equipment such as lights, reflectors or tripods may not be used. Members of the press holding valid identification issued by the New York City Police Department are hereby authorized to use necessary ancillary equipment. All photographic activity must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

(The proposed subway photography ban was dropped in 2005, though apparently the police sporadically "enforce" it, and they've questioned me twice at subway stations.)

I've sent an e-mail to the MTA, and they say they'll respond within 15 business days.  It'd be nice to know if they've quietly banned photography aboard subway trains.  It'd be even nicer to have their employees not announcing nonexistent rules.

UPDATE:  That was fast.  I just got a response from the MTA:

We truly appreciate your interest in New York City Transit. Recreational use of cameras in public areas, such as station platforms, mezzanines, and on trains, is allowed within the New York City Transit system. However, the use of ancillary equipment such as lights, reflectors or tripods is prohibited. Professional photography requests, on the other hand, must be arranged through the Film & Special Events Unit in our Public Affairs Division. We expect that NYPD officers will continue to use their discretion in dealing with photography, filming or video recording within the system.

We have forwarded your e-mail to supervision in our Department of Subways for their review. They will take the opportunity to remind all conductors that recreational photography is no longer prohibited in the subway.

We hope this information is helpful.

So: Good for them. Hopefully they'll follow through and the message will get through to the conductors, police, and everyone else who interprets photography as a nebulous threat.

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