I was doing a shop the other day at a gas station and fell and cut my arm open. Well I had to break for a while and go get some stitches in my arm at the hospital. After Iwas fixed up I went back and finished up by taking the last 4 pictures from acrosse the street which I needed. As I was leaving I noted a truck was following me. I did see a man from the gas station in the truck. I pulled in the courthouse and the truck left. So I went home, and hour later the police came and ask why I was taking pictures of a gas station. I pulled out a paper that stated I was an inspector for the gas station which was given to me before the shop incase of things like this. It does not set well with me.

I've had an irate station manager threaten to shoot me on one BP shop and was also questioned about why I was taking photos at a different location.

I would guess that the gas station got paranoid that you were taking photos to press charges for some unsafe situation that caused you to be hurt and require stitches. I've been doing this for quite some time and never had police involvement. I know friend Cettie is a disaster attractant--if it is not station managers threatening her it is the cops stopping her to see if she has stowed a fugitive on board. :^) And don't let her anywhere near a sink unless you want to have your plumbing disassembled!

I've never been questioned by the police for taking pictures for a shop, but I did once have the police follow me for taking pictures of the harvest moon.
I am sort of moon obsessed and I love taking pictures of the full moon, especially the harvest moon.

I don't have a very good view from house, when it is first visible, it is still covered mostly by trees. So, I walk over to the parking lot next to my house (the owner of the business is fine with it because I let him put stuff on my property behind my house) to get the pictures since it has a clear view.

One night after about an hour of taking pictures, I noticed a police car parked in the lot across from there. At first I didn't think they were watching me, but after I was finished and walking back to my house, they pulled out and followed me until I was at my door.

I wonder what the police thought you were doing!! lol

I wonder what the police thought you were doing!! lol

I can't imagine someone doing something "wrong" that is taking pictures of the moon.

I have never been questioned by the police, but did have a gas station manager threaten to call the police when I began taking pictures. Mind you this was after he had signed the paperwork explaining that I would be taking pictures. He was screaming and screaming and I told him to call the police. He screamed at them when they got there. I just sat and waited. The police laughed. The manager was almost hauled away for making "terrorist threats" (no he was not a terrorist, but this is a term I got directly from the police). Someone came and took his place that day and I finished my audit. That manager doesn't work there anymore, but the police still smile and wave when they see me.

I have heard those kind of stories about gas station audits the entire time I have been MSing, fiteybitey. That's why I refuse to ever do one. :-)

dee shops Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have heard those kind of stories about gas
> station audits the entire time I have been MSing,
> fiteybitey. That's why I refuse to ever do one.
> :-)


They are not my favorites, when times get rough I will take them. I must admit, I try to schedule them only on weekends or days where my husband can hide in our van and be my bodyguard. He gets to read a magazine or book and I snap photos.

I have been questioned by TSA guards at airport checkpoints when I show up with a special gate pass instead of a ticket. That is not a time when I deny being MSing!!! I tell them that I am "checking up on stores beyond security." Some want more detail and some even call the airport security office. But I have never been denied passage.

Other than that, no local police have questioned me.

Wow.. I've never had any trouble doing gas station audits. They are usually nice and try to bribe me with free sodas or food...lol

At least the airpoirts haven't tried to pat us down in order to do the shops. We just can't give them any ideas..........

I was "patted" down on my trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago. They said my sweater was too loose, might have a bomb in there...geez!!!

....lol....it's us middle-aged ladies who are the danger in today's world, right, Irene?

I have been awarded a "random patdown" while doing post security shops at two airports. It was very UN-intrusive.

AM...yes, world watch out, here we come....

I know this is old, but I just discovered it and couldn't resist:

Never feel the need to talk to the police. You have your fifth amendment right to remain silent.

It is NOT against the law to take pictures in public. It is also not against the law to take pictures of private property.

If you are on private property and told to leave by a representative of the property owners, you must leave. Even if you're in the "right", you are trespassing if you refuse to leave. So if a gas station employee wants you off of the property, you must leave or face arrest. You can, however, take as many pictures you want from the public sidewalk. Take a video of the employee freaking out if you want, too.

When I was working as an attorney we'd have people try to intimidate my boys all the time. I'd send them somewhere to get pictures and they'd be threatened to have the police called on them, and some thugs would threaten violence (keep in mind, it's against the law to threaten bodily harm. In the state of California, "Assault" is the threat of violence. In addition, most municipalities have "disorderly conduct" statutes that cover "fighting words".)

So in conclusion, if this ever happens again just leave. If possible, record the employee telling you to leave. Move to the sidewalk and document the incident. Report it to the company and provide the pictures or video. If the police harass you ask if you're being detained. If you're not leave. Don't waste your time. If you are being detained, ask on what grounds. If you don't want to talk to them, tell them you're exercising your right to remain silent.