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He was not arrested, he was detained. Here is a better article: http://www.lbpost.com/life/greggory/12188

Oil refinery photo: no aesthtic value:
http://boxofjack.com/files/blade-runner-los-angeles.jpg

If you're detained, technically you are under arrest. You're just not charged with anything.

@Crammer

Reminds me of Bladerunner.

In Saudi Arabia, signs are posted on the highways near refineries in Arabic and English stating "NO PHOTOGRAPHY". Perhaps they should consider following their example in Long Beach.

Photography is not a crime... if a terrorist wanted to take photos of a refinery for planning an act of violence they could easily use a hidden camera or just go on google street! Why would a terrorist spent a lot of money on expensive camera gear when a cellphone can do the job? I wish people would get their heads out of their @sses because this sort of thing is happening way too much....

@ lonewolfe13
Amen brother.

My thoughts:

We as a people HAVE to stand up and fight for our rights. We are moving very quickly into a police state. Think the old adage:

First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

They will continue to erode our rights little by little until we have nothing. Our fore fathers are spinning in their graves.

Also put this in your camera bag and carry it on your person if you need to.

http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

>> "We are moving very quickly into a police state."

Moving? I would say you're already there.

The funny thing (not really) is that most are so brainwashed with patriotism or fear of terrorism that you don't realize it.

Saw this article about the recent earthquake: "The earth trembled for 40 seconds."

Second sentence: "Could it be a terrorist attack?"

lol @ coming for the trade unionists.

This is a good illustration on why I hate cops

I know that refinery well, as my corp. offices used to be right next to it, and my hotel was across the highway from it. I've been tempted many times to take photos of it, and will do so at my next earliest opportunity.

it's completely ridiculous to be arrested or detained for taking a photo like that. there are plenty of great industrial buildings that make great photo subjects, and just because one person doesn't see artistic value in it doesn't mean other people don't. i've had two friends hassled for this exact same thing (one was taking photos of an oil refinery, one was taking photos of old smokestacks at a power plant). neither was arrested or even ticketed, but they were given a strong talking-to by the police and forced to leave (despite the fact that neither had been trespassing on private property).

i suppose i understand the need for security around certain places, but like another poster said, it only takes about a minute to find photos of these places on Google Earth. not only that, but i would imagine someone that REALLY wanted to take photos for a nefarious purpose wouldn't be out doing it in broad daylight with a tripod and a bag full of various camera equipment and lenses. somehow i doubt a terrorist would bother using a light meter....or a $5000 camera.

@dev I don't know about US law, but in English law (upon which US law is based) detained is effectively a polite way of saying arrested. The only way the police can detain you is to arrest you. Or to put it another way if you're not arrested you can leave whenever you like, so you are not detained.

"No aesthetic value??"

Oooh, I am so busted!

If the police did not allow him to leave when he wanted to go, he was arrested.