What do you do when your instructor says something that's wrong?

DrParasite

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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I'm taking a public safety instructor class, and the instructor starting discussing legal and ethical issues involving taking photos at emergency scenes, as well as whether or not you need the owner's permission to use said photos.

Now, he said (and the class agreed) that if you are on the emergency vehicle, you shouldn't be taking photos on putting them on social networking sites, or giving to the press. If you do, you can be held civil liable and sued in court.

He then went on to say if you were off duty, but were still certified, you are not permitted to take photos of a scene, because "you will be held to the same standard as an emergency responder." As someone who has taken photos of incidents that have been published in the paper, as well as person who was told by the State Police's PIO that the public can take all photos they want as long a they don't interfere, I knew this was 100% wrong. Just because you are educated in a certain area doesn't mean you lose your rights as a public citizen.

In a situation like this, what would you do? Would you correct him? Or would you keep quiet and let everyone else in class assume that what he says is correct when in fact he was wrong?

I know this is a pretty specific example, but I know there are other examples of where you are in a class and the instructor says something that is wrong, what do you do?
 
I probably wouldn't say anything. It might keep the whackers from showing up and taking pictures at my scenes.
 
Buddy isn't saying anything that's going to harm anyone. I say don't sweat it.
 
DrParasite said:
I'm taking a public safety instructor class, and the instructor starting discussing legal and ethical issues involving taking photos at emergency scenes, as well as whether or not you need the owner's permission to use said photos.

Now, he said (and the class agreed) that if you are on the emergency vehicle, you shouldn't be taking photos on putting them on social networking sites, or giving to the press. If you do, you can be held civil liable and sued in court.

He then went on to say if you were off duty, but were still certified, you are not permitted to take photos of a scene, because "you will be held to the same standard as an emergency responder." As someone who has taken photos of incidents that have been published in the paper, as well as person who was told by the State Police's PIO that the public can take all photos they want as long a they don't interfere, I knew this was 100% wrong. Just because you are educated in a certain area doesn't mean you lose your rights as a public citizen.

In a situation like this, what would you do? Would you correct him? Or would you keep quiet and let everyone else in class assume that what he says is correct when in fact he was wrong?

I know this is a pretty specific example, but I know there are other examples of where you are in a class and the instructor says something that is wrong, what do you do?
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Actually hes not entirely wrong.

An emergency scene can be controlled and restricted to public. Photos can become the property of the jurisdiction and they can confiscate your camera.

When I got my Private Investigators license I had to test on the privacy laws. They are a lot more complex than most people think. However I don't think your instructor was referring to privacy laws perse'.

Emergency services is a pretty small world. I don't know everyone but I do recognize their faces. If you are recognized then you will be held to a high standard. You may not even know you have been recognized. It is professional courtesy at a minimum to not take photos of a scene. As a professional you should know better.

I agree with your instructor. There is no reason for you to be taking pics of a scene unless you are somehow involved.
 
leoemt said:
Actually hes not entirely wrong.

An emergency scene can be controlled and restricted to public. Photos can become the property of the jurisdiction and they can confiscate your camera.

When I got my Private Investigators license I had to test on the privacy laws. They are a lot more complex than most people think. However I don't think your instructor was referring to privacy laws perse'.

Emergency services is a pretty small world. I don't know everyone but I do recognize their faces. If you are recognized then you will be held to a high standard. You may not even know you have been recognized. It is professional courtesy at a minimum to not take photos of a scene. As a professional you should know better.

I agree with your instructor. There is no reason for you to be taking pics of a scene unless you are somehow involved.
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As usual, post a citation to said law.

Also, you're camera would need to be taken as evidence. The AHJ cannot force you to delete the photos or anything of that nature.

And what if I work as an EMT and a stringer on the side, because as a professional I should know better not to take photos of a newsworthy (or not) despite being well within my rights?
 
Here we go into another EMTLIFE black hole

OP was should she or he say something when he or she thinks the instructor is wrong?

The answer is to ask a clarifying question, or stay after and ask a clarifying question. Make sure the instructor IS wrong. If so, then the question is, do you think the issue is worth a hooraw to make sure the instruction is retracted and corrected?

And on the black hole of taking photos of an accident scene, my feeling is that off the clock you are not held to on the clock work rules, but your ethical judgement might be called into question.
 
leoemt said:
An emergency scene can be controlled and restricted to public. Photos can become the property of the jurisdiction and they can confiscate your camera.
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while it is true that a scene can be controlled and restricted to the public, if you are on public property, you can photograph any scene you want. the News crews do it all the time.
leoemt said:
You may not even know you have been recognized. It is professional courtesy at a minimum to not take photos of a scene. As a professional you should know better.

I agree with your instructor. There is no reason for you to be taking pics of a scene unless you are somehow involved.
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I know quite a few fire buffs who will go to NYC to photograph FDNY in action. also a some who sell photos to the local papers. If they catch them working on a rescue assignment or MVA, it's still newsworthy.
mycrofft said:
And on the black hole of taking photos of an accident scene, my feeling is that off the clock you are not held to on the clock work rules, but your ethical judgement might be called into question.
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actually, the incident in question was of a house fire, and how he said you couldn't take pictures without the owners permission. He then went on a tangent to MVAs. Legally, I am confident he was wrong and gave him the PIO's contact number so he could contact the expert; ethically, it's much more of a grey area.
 
In my experience, the instructor is usually closed minded, won't accept what you are saying eveb if you get proof, and everyone will laugh at you for it. Because the only change is what people think of you and not what they believe or will do, it's not worth it; I wouldn't do it.
 
If you're really set on saying something and are 100% sure you're right, talk to them in private about it.

Otherwise just leave it alone.
 
nvrob said:
if you're really set on saying something and are 100% sure you're right, talk to them in private about it.

Otherwise just leave it alone.
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10-4
 
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