Photographer's Licenses

May 14, 2009 9:19 PM

Photographer's Licenses
Inspired by this fellow's story (SF Muni has since apologized) and many others like it, I designed these official-looking and fictitious Photographer's Licenses in the event you're harassed by law enforcement or security officials attempting to enforce fictitious laws.

If you have Adobe Illustrator, you can download the vector art EPS file and print your own. You'll need a photo of yourself, and OCR or an equivalent-looking font to fill in your personal information.

Department of Homeland Security Photographer's License
San Francisco Muni Photographer's License
posted by mattdidthat (8 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble

The IDs look good and all, but do we really want to give any credence to the idea that people need a license to take photos? What if someone presents a cop or security guard with one of these and then the next guy doesn't have one? The cop will feel completely justified that a license is needed.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 12:25 AM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]

The Flickr links don't work; say it's "Private."
posted by grobstein at 11:54 AM on May 15, 2009

There's an interesting discussion over on Gizmodo about this right now - about how you are probably inviting big trouble by flashing a fake ID purporting to be from the Department of Homeland Security.
posted by jbickers at 12:23 PM on May 15, 2009

Funny, I saw this on PDN before here! Links aren't working for me though.
posted by blaneyphoto at 1:05 PM on May 15, 2009

You might also design another card with the words: "Please taser me."
posted by run"monty at 4:09 PM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]

I think he's taken files down until the uncertain legality is sorted out. The EFF might be helpful, Matt.
posted by Pronoiac at 5:28 PM on May 15, 2009

Oh come on. Just change the words on top to "Department of Homecooked Seclusion" and repost the thing, already. Sheesh.
posted by rokusan at 11:31 PM on May 15, 2009

Cory Doctorow recently provided the means to show that, at least in New-York City, the law is on your side.
posted by bru at 6:06 AM on May 24, 2009