Looking for some info

I need some information on “homeland security” issues.

A friend of mine who is a photographer, decided to enter an online contest for photography with the subject matter being in B & W. Due to when he found out about the competition and his limited time he decided to use as his subject something he had used many times before; a coal fire power plant. So he drove to a road next to the plant, parked across the road, and began taking pictures.

As you may imagine, a security guard came up to him and told him that he could not take pictures of the plant AND he was on the plant property even though he was on the right of way of the road outside the fence on the opposite side well beyond the property.

My friend is not afraid of confrontation (we are both old school Punks with amazingly clean records) and called the rent-a-cop on his authority as well as his assertion that it was power company property. Soon after the supervisor came out and not long after a county deputy, all claiming that he was trespassing.

At this point my friend spoke with the police officer and explained that he only wanted to take photos of the plant for his art. The officer was not swayed and issued a trespass warning and took my friend’s business card in the process along with other information. My friend, not wanting to press the point to the absurd, left and thought that would be the end of it. However, the next day when checking the WHOIS on a visitor to his site it turns out it was from the “Department of Homeland Security”, so it seems clear he has been added to some sort of file.

My friend is as clean as the proverbial whistle and not nearly as political as myself but I could tell that it disturbed him a bit that this was going on. My question/request is what rights we still have to find out what is going on when this happens as well as what we should know if this gets insane. Sure Ashcroft is out but I doubt the attitude has changed.

Bottom line is: Any information and/or links you could give me would greatly appreciated.


BTW: I will add links to his sites IF he gives me permission and I will be shamelessly kicking this thread if it sinks to low because I did post it late night and on a weekend. :)

USA Patriot Act

http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html

I've never read the entire thing, but I think even though he was across the street, they will try to say he couldn't take pictures because of the Patriot Act. Many companies have their own policies in effect prohibiting taking of pictures of their facilities, too.