Florida: Proposed Legislation Would Make Photographing a Farm Without Permission a Felony

March 10th, 2011

Via: New York Times:

Photographers — perhaps including some ghosts from Farm Security Administration days — are astir at news of a bill introduced by State Senator Jim Norman of Florida that would make it a felony to take a picture of a farm without the owner’s permission:

A person who photographs, video records or otherwise produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree.

Reader JM sent this in.

Via: Photo Radar:

Introduced by State Senator Jim Norman, a Republican, the bill is intended to curb the activities of animal rights activists, who take photos and videos of farms for campaign purposes. The bill would apply to all photographers.

PhotoRadar searched Florida public records and found that Sen. Norman received $195,297 in donations during his 2010 election campaign, with agricultural, agri-chemical, construction and real estate firms among the top contributors.

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