This photo may soon be illegal
On Friday the Utah House of Representatives voted 60-14 in favor of HB187 and sent it to the senate.
The bill sponsored by Rep. John Mathis, R-Vernal, who happens to be a vet, would make it a Class A misdemeanor to videotape or photograph farm operations without permission.
The bill is intended to stop groups such as PETA from taking videos alleging animal abuse. They don’t want to have people tresspassing on property to take the photos or video.
Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek opposes the bill because of the language used. Technically it would be illegal for schoolchildren on a field trip to take pictures of farms or animals without permission.
I too have problem with the language of the bill. It says “A person is guilty of agricultural operation interference if the person knowingly or intentionally records an image of, or sound from, an agricultural operation while the person is lawfully present on the agricultural operation, after receiving notice from the owner of the agricultural operation or the owner’s agent that the person is prohibited from recording an image of, or sound from, the agricultural operation.”
The problem is that it doesn’t define “agricultural operation” as private property. Here in Utah grazing rights are sold to have animals in the National Forest. The wording of this bill means that it would be illegal for people to take pictures of animals on public land, for example Logan Canyon, if the owner, or agent of the animal asks you to stop.
A photographer friend of mine pointed out that the wording on the bill makes it so the notice from the owner doesn’t have to be verbal. A simple sign posted at the mouth of Logan Canyon would constitute notice and make it illegal to take pictures of the animals on public land.
I whole heartily agree with your concern. This bill is ridiculous and criminalizes those who record potential criminal behavior. If this kind of bill becomes law, it sets up a very scary potential. I am very concerned about the fact that somehow agricultural operators rights would somehow supersede others. Bottom line, if a person is treating their animals well, they have nothing to worry about, creating a bill to protect those who might be abusing animals makes no sense, and raises some very concerning constitutional issues.
Way too much government involvement. Farming, ranching, animals, are how people have subsisted for generations. Next it will be illegal to take pictures of taking peaches off a tree.
This has to be one of the dumbest laws that the government has ever proposed. Do they really have that much time on there hands to start telling the citizens what we can and cannot take pictures of. Are we becoming a communist state are our freedoms going away as the government gets bigger and the freedoms and liberties of the citizens are getting smaller.
ridiculous! Must have something to hide!
Only in Utah…
If there not braking any laws or abusing any animals then why are they afraid of being photographed… Even proposing such a law is omission of helping animal abuse be less noticed..
Pathetic. If the concern is trespassing… is that not illegal already?
Taking these kinds of photos is part of what I do for my living. My job is to help promote our agricultural heritage and the storynof folks who live it. This legislation is a terrible idea.
I absolutely love the picture of the cattle in the snowfall. I would like to frame it. The diversity in browns is beautiful. It is exactly what Country Magazine is looking for. Second fave is the sheep. What a fabulous picture!! What a nice study in yellow and white.
I need to start taking better pictures!