Can’t photograph buildings, can’t photograph cops doing bad things, and on and on. Why not just outlaw cameras and be done with it? Of course, then only outlaws will have cameras.

Taking photographs from the roadside of a sunrise over hay bales near the Suwannee River, horses grazing near Ocala or sunset over citrus groves along the Indian River could land you in jail under a Senate bill filed Monday.

SB 1246 by Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, would make it a first-degree felony to photograph a farm without first obtaining written permission from the owner. A farm is defined as any land “cultivated for the purpose of agricultural production, the raising and breeding of domestic animals or the storage of a commodity.”

Media law experts say the ban would violate freedoms protected in the U. S. Constitution. But Wilton Simpson, a farmer who lives in Norman’s district, said the bill is needed to protect the property rights of farmers and the “intellectual property” involving farm operations.

Simpson, president of Simpson Farms near Dade City, said the law would prevent people from posing as farmworkers so that they can secretly film agricultural operations.

He said he could not name an instance in which that happened.




  1. Harry says:

    I believe the entire right wing in this country has gone bat shit crazy. Flame suit is on.

  2. tcc3 says:

    This wont hold up. If its visible from the road/public right-of-way there’s no expectation of privacy.

    If you don’t want your farm photographed you are free to build a wall or fence.

    Why are lawmakers so often ignorant of the law?

  3. deowll says:

    These people are insane.

    The judges that are supposed to uphold the constitution are going insane and some of them are already there.

    Example: Without regard to whether you support health care laws or not the way the constitution is written the states have the right to do this but there is no freaking way the Fed gov can require anyone to buy insurance or anything else. The powers not specifically given to the Fed Gov are limited to state govs.

  4. nobody says:

    Michael Bolton being ‘intellectual property’ was bad enough but farmers !!!!

  5. nobody says:

    Of course a cynic could think this might be a way to stop PETA etc. showing film of battery chickens or factory farmed pigs or veal.

    But that’s ridiculous, it’s like believing the laws against filming police are to hide their wrong doing

  6. EnemyOfTheState says:

    How are you gonna stop the Chinese satellite images?
    Mail a photo of them taking a photo from space?

  7. So what says:

    “Simpson, president of Simpson Farms near Dade City, said the law would prevent people from posing as farmworkers so that they can secretly film agricultural operations.” One word CAFO. This bill is geared towards protection of confined animal feeding operations. Simpson runs Simpson Farms, he runs a poultry CAFO. How dare someone infiltrate my factory “farm” and document the conditions of my livestock. I grew up on a farm. CAFO’s are not farms.

    “intellectual property” involving farm operations.” You plant seeds pray for rain and wait. That is some serious technology.

  8. smartalix says:

    #5 for the win.

  9. WoeIsYee says:

    New lyrics for the old tune…

    “I’m sad to be an American!”

  10. Blind Stevie says:

    Would the law apply to cops trying to bust a “subsistence” farmer?

    Would it apply to companies who sell pictures taken from orbiting satellites?

    Could a farmer sue Russia for taking pictures with their sats?

    Too many wide open questions, it would make a bad law. But never underestimate the ability of large groups of politicians to do stupid things! Especially when they’re sucking up to an embedded economic interest.

  11. So what says:

    “But never underestimate the ability of large groups of politicians to do stupid things!” Hell Stevie I don’t underestimate it I expect it, I only wonder at the scale.

  12. ramuno says:

    #2 said: “Why are lawmakers so often ignorant of the law?”

    Well, maybe they know the law and want to change it. The terrorists have won.

  13. McCullough says:

    In the meantime, it’s OK for Google to have a camera taking closeups of your colon 24/7.

  14. The_Tick says:

    Nearly time for torches and pitchforks bitches, sux 2 b U.

  15. Shatocalypse says:

    Sorry, what was this story about again…just can’t keep my eyes off the young lady in the stock photo for this story, something about that pose she is in…

  16. AlanB, I hate Comshaft too. says:

    @15 Shatocalypse I’m with you on that. My gift to readers is the link to the image (image #42 of 65) on PhotoBucket. http://bit.ly/gXL7CV . However, to get to know her a little better click through to image #45. Thank you, thank you very much.

  17. B. Dog says:

    I’m thinking doggy style.

  18. Animby says:

    # 3 deowll said, “the way the constitution is written the states have the right to do this

    I am not a constitutional lawyer though I never played one on TV. But I think even the states recognized you cannot force someone to buy something. They don’t force you buy car insurance, they let you drive if you can prove financial responsibility. Most people choose to do this by purchasing insurance but I believe all the state laws have options for posting bonds instead of buying insurance.

    # 13 McCullough said, “OK for Google to have a camera taking closeups of your colon 24/7.”

    Since the bill is defined widely: “any land “cultivated for the purpose of agricultural production” you could grow a crop of radishes in your froint yard and Google woulod be committing a felony.

    It’s just another unenforceable law. We need all of those we can get.

    # 17 B. Dog said, “I’m thinking doggy style.”

    You sex maniacs simply don’t recognize Uncle Dave’s perfectly valid illustration of the laws as ‘fell on knees.’

  19. Mr, Ed - the Original (accept no counterfeits) says:

    I think she dyes her hair. Only a blinde would use binoculars to examine the soil right in front of her nose.

    Oh, God! Why am I looking at the binoculars??????

  20. So what says:

    19 obviously your not looking at the binoculars because its a camera.

  21. So what says:

    16 Don’t know if that’s actually her but if not, what the hell.

  22. bobbo, I hate Comcasst says:

    A “first degree felony” huh? I don’t know what that is in Florida, and I’m not gonna look it up, but it sounds on par with intentional murder, murder in wait, murder for hire, mass murder, etc.

    So let our a##hole legislatures pass laws that pander to their idiot bases. What I dislike is that when this case gets to court, the FIRST judge won’t summarily dismiss it on his own motion. No, he’ll make some poor slob spend everything he has on a lawyer to establish his right to FREEEEEEEDOM.

    Its enough to make me double my contrib to the ACLU. Say–this blog used to post quite a few ACLU type issues/involvement. Always a good time poking the idiot PUKES with such ideas of individual liberty against the power of those who have it.

    Only a memory.

  23. bobbo, I hate Comcasst says:

    #16–Alan B==thank you for your wide ranging input. I found it a bit disconcerting to go from hot babe, to cartoons, to kittens, to hot babes. The hot babes did make it worthwhile though.

  24. Demos says:

    More Rethuglican’t legislation. Elect gangsters and they act like gangsters. Why does this surprise anyone?

  25. Mr Ed says:

    Another politician bought and paid for.

  26. Colonel Kurtz says:

    You deserve what’s going to happen to you, sheeple. Things like this are just the first taste. “Your” politicians are like sappers, probing the wire here and there, finding out where they can inch forward and where they can’t. By the time you wake up, Charlie will be in your lap. Nightie-night.

  27. Dallas says:

    Maybe they will be grazing women for human breast milk ice cream.

  28. Mextli says:

    The King needs to rule on it’s constitutionality. Saves all of that unnecessary crap from Congress and SCOTUS.

  29. AlanB, I hate Comshaft too says:

    @ 23 bobbo– that was an odd mix, wasn’t it?

  30. UncDon says:

    Farmer Simpson must have a human breast milk farm to be so riled up about photographers taking piccies. He probably has a magazine and website in the ready once the bill goes through.


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