January 4th, 2010 | 
Author: The text of the policy which will be appearing on their website within the next two weeks reads as follows:
SFMTA Photography and Videography Guidelines
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates the
Municipal Railway (Muni), welcomes photography and videography on SFMTA
vehicles and publicly-accessible property subject to the following guidelines. All
photography and videography activities should be pursued safely and with respect for
all SFMTA customers and employees. SFMTA facilities and vehicles are for the
exclusive use of the SFMTA, its employees and its customers. Any and all
permission granted to photograph or take video in connection with these guidelines is
subordinate to the SFMTA’s obligations to its customers, employees and to the
general public.Non-commercial Photography and Videography
The general public is permitted to use personal, handheld photography and
videography equipment on all Muni in-service transit vehicles and on publicly accessible
SFMTA property, including Muni stations, as long as such activities do not
interfere with transit operations.
While on SFMTA property, all photographers and videographers must comply with
the following restrictions:
• Photography or videography activities cannot interfere with the safe operation
of any Muni vehicle as determined by the vehicle’s Operator or other SFMTA
personnel.
• Photography or videography activities cannot impede the safe movement of
Muni customers as they board or alight from transit vehicles or make their
way through Muni stations.
• Stairways, escalators, doors and aisles cannot be blocked by photographers
and videographers at any time.
• Photographers and videographers must fully and immediately comply with
any requests, directions or instructions from SFMTA personnel related to
safety concerns.
• Large cameras, photo or video equipment or ancillary equipment such as
lighting, tripods, cables, etc. are prohibited.
When using photography or videography equipment on SFMTA vehicles or property,
always be aware of your surroundings, including your proximity to moving transit
vehicles or the edges of Muni platforms.
All photographers and videographers are prohibited from entering, photographing, or
taking video in non-public areas of the SFMTA’s transit system.Questions about the SFMTA’s Photography and Videography Guidelines can be directed to judson.true@sfmta.com or 415.701.4500.
Posted in Photography and the Law
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How long until one of the Muni goons interprets “large camera” to mean a DSLR with (sharp intake of breath) a decent lens on it?
“• Photography or videography activities cannot interfere with the safe operation of any Muni vehicle as determined by the vehicle’s Operator or other SFMTA personnel.”
Well that gives them the authority to stop you for any reason what so ever – and I don’t see anyone winning an argument about safety.
I can see these SFMTA rules being used to stop photography where you are anywhere near people or machines, that pretty much covers everything but a shot of an empty building. — All anyone has to do is look at government’s recent attitude change towards photographers, to see the beginnings of institutional Facism in America.
But that said, for situations like this I have started using a Canon S90. It looks like a consumer camera but has full manual control and makes good raw files to ISO 1600, so it might work like a DSLR if it’s not too dark. Of course I would prefer my Nikon D3S and 35mm prime, but even with that small lens it draws attention. Another thing I do is put flat black tape over the big white Nikon logo and model number (peel-off black lettering seems to work best for this, not electric tape), and I don’t use a logo strap, just a plain, thin black one like the Upstrap. I think this all helps to reduce the “scary” professional look and doesn’t say “steal me” quite so much.