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Zee Munawar NYPD Officer Zee Munawar Illegaly Stopped MTA Subway Rider Brooklyn, New York
On Thursday, April 21st 2011 I have witnessed that the NYPD officer Zee Munawar has illegally stopped a subway rider who was taking photos with an SLR camera thru the subway car's window. NYPD officer Munawar and his partner have entered into the subway car #6141 of the MTA A-train on the Broadway Junction station. Shortly after the A-train departed, the C-train followed it on the parallel line and the subway rider took out his SLR camera and started to take photos of the gaining C-train thru the window. At this time NYPD officer Munawar broke-off the conversation with his NYPD partner and approached the subway rider. He then began to question the subway rider for the next 5 or some minutes. I was not able not hear the whole conversation from my seat but I heard the NYPD officer Munawar ask the rider for identification and I also heard the officer telling the subway rider that it is illegal to take photos in the subway. During the conversation with the subway rider, NYPD officer Munawar was taking notes of some kind that I was not able to see from my seat. NYPD officer Munawar then left the scared subway rider alone and went back to chat to his NYPD partner. Couple of minutes later they exited the subway car #6141 on the HoytSchermerhorn and went up the stairs. The subway rider who seemed very scared and concerned after this incident. When the NYPD office Munawar was done questioning the subway rider, I quickly wrote down his information. Later when I got home, I did an internet researched and it confirmed that NYPD officer Zee Munawar was the same officer who illegally stopped the innocent subway rider.
As a photographer I know that this information is not true and that anyone can take photos in the MTA subway. I checked the MTA rules of conduct and this is what the MTA rules of conduct say:
"Section 1050.9 - Restricted areas and activities.
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."
Since the subway rider only used his SLR camera and did not use any ancillary equipment, including a built-in pop-up flash, then he should have not been illegally stopped by the NYPD officer. I believe that the NYPD officer Zee Munawar has acted very un-professionally and has intimidated and scared an innocent person.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Nicholas Baptiste
Easton,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Its Funny I Was On This Same Train That Day
#6General Comment
Wed, February 15, 2012
The only difference to the person who wrote this article was that I was next to the officer as this situation too place, the officer was actually nice for a NYPD cop too... Shockingly!
What I over heard that day was the officer letting the young guy know that its dangerous to take pictures in between the subway car, as well as riding in-between is also illegal, he further went on to ask the guy what kind of camera it was, and how long he's been doing photography, then the person replied a Canon Rebel EOS DSLR camera which then the officer took out a piece of paper and began to write down the information the young man give him about his camera.
It sucks to see someone from a distance speak of something on a situation they wasn't even 100% sure of, which the writer states many times in his article. I don't even know how I came across this article but its really amazing that i did.. God Bless this Officer and I'm happy to share my view.
Nicholas Baptiste
Gmarsh21
Newark,New Jersey,
United States of America
Thank You
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, January 24, 2012
Thank You Stacey. A lot of people take our freedom for granted. They don't think about who or what was sacrificed to reach where we are.
Also another question for the author... I once read that taking pictures of nyc subway tunnels and infrastructure is illegal. As far as conveyance is concerned...
Taken from MTA website...
e. Conveyance includes any subway or rapid transit car or train, locomotive, omnibus or other vehicle previously used or held for use by the Authority as a means of transportation of passengers.
This statement is as irrelevant as your report but... Could it be that the officer(s) in question were watching the individuals for a period of time from another train car? They approached the individual(s) when they had enough evidence? Maybe they were taking pictures of the tunnels, the officers saw them doing so and approached them? (again, you were sitting at a distance, you couldn't hear what they were really talking about, how do you know what they (the officers) saw?
Why don't you go and keep taking pictures of whatever it is that you take pictures of and let the cops do their jobs.
Stacey
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Well said
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, January 24, 2012
Gmarsh and that you for your service to this country - you are a hero.
Gmarsh21
Newark,New Jersey,
United States of America
Minding your own business?
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, January 24, 2012
To the author: How did that officer's interaction affect your life in any way? You said it yourself that you didn't catch the entire conversation. How do you know that the officer ILLEGALLY STOPPED the person. Maybe the officer was asking questions about the persons camera because he might also have interest in photography and was offering some insight about the laws governing Camera use in the subway system.
You stated that you couldn't hear the entire conversation from your seat. Maybe the officer was telling them that it is illegal to take photographs if you are using a tripod.
Maybe the officer was writing down the model number of the camera? Maybe the person was doing something that you are not trained to detect and the officer is and acted on that training. I served 3 tours in Iraq, I was trained to detect suspicious activity. There are things that would seem perfectly normal to you but I know that something is wrong.
The person wasn't issued a summons, arrested, detained, or beaten. If there was criminality don't you think the officer would have taken some sort of police related action? In a society like today where we cannot take any threat lightly, I would want any Police Officer to question any suspicious activity.
Didn't Nazibullah Zazi plead GUILTY to planning an attack on the NYC Subway system in 2010?
I live in NJ but travel to NY and utilize the subway system with my family. I want the officers to do everything they possibly could to ensure that my family and I have a safe ride, the same way I did back in Iraq to make sure we life safely here.
If the Officer didn't approach you why do you care??? If the Officer dragged the person off of the train and beat him/her then you have a valid complaint. Go find something better to do with your life.
center of attention
Malibu,California,
USA
You are a champion of justice.
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, November 30, 2011
Even if the officer was wrong in saying that it was illegal to take pictures in the subway, why are you horning in on the situation? So the officer talked to the person with the camera.. Who cares? He wasn't arrested, beaten, or tortured now was he?