According to an article in the Philadelphia Daily News , Philadelphia police are looking for two photographers who were LEGALLY taking pictures in the subway.

According to the article the police themselves do not think it is an issue but want to harass question the photographers anyway:

“We don’t believe either one of these events are terrorism-related, or that there’s any connection to what’s been going on in New York,” said Homeland Security Chief Inspector Joseph Sullivan, alluding to an alleged terrorist plot there that had led to three arrests.

The first incident in the local subways occurred about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, when a bearded white man in his 20s apparently took pictures of the underground area at the Snyder Avenue stop in South Philadelphia, Sullivan said.
[...]
Investigators frequently respond to reports of people taking photos of trains and subways. “Usually, they just turn out to be art students or train buffs,” he said.

News reports like this are having a chilling effect on the hobby. Some railfans have given up their hobby because of repeated police harassment. Photography is LEGAL, it is not a crime and it should not be investigated as if it was a crime.

SHAME on the Philadelphia police and SEPTA for continuing their war against photography.

Perhaps this is what they mean by welcoming photographers? According to SEPTA’s website:

As one of the oldest and largest multi-modal transit systems in the world, the SEPTA system is graced with beautiful, historic and unique architecture and a wide variety of vehicles that attract the interest of visitors from the four corners of the globe – many of whom capture their visits in photographs or in sketch books.

SEPTA welcomes photographers and artists. In return, we simply request they use common sense and courtesy to others in pursuit of their pictures

Welcome – photograph our system – then we will hunt you down and harass you at will…. Some welcome indeed….

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