New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority is seeking to ban photography from the city's subways and buses, and the National Press Photographers Association is asking journalists to join in the fight against the proposed ban by submitting public comments. The change in MTA policy would make photography on the historic subway system punishable by a $25 fine and up to 10 days in prison, according to NPPA. The MTA cites the need to increase security on the transportation lines and to prevent terrorism as the reasons for the ban.
Although the proposed regulations contain an exception for journalists with NYPD press credentials, the NPPA supports the right to free expression for all photographers, not just photojournalists. The group also believes that no government entity has the constitutional right to determine who is or is not a journalist with First Amendment protections.