$1000 Per Photo Fine!! That's what the U.S. Forest Service wants to Charge YOU

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
I've actually known about this new $1000 fine that the U.S. Forest Service wants to slap people with but, up until recently, it had always been my understanding that it was intended for businesses such as advertising agencies or TV shows. Apparently, this is now a fine that the feds want to enforce on journalists and quite possibly, YOU!

Don't Take That Photo! The U.S. Forest Service Might Fine You $1,000
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Better be careful about what you do with that photo you just took in a U.S. Forest (Photo: Thinkstock)

Hey hikers, that scenic forest photo you just posted on Instagram may cost you a thousand dollar fine. According to a proposed update to U.S. Forest Service regulations, still photography or video taken in any of its 439 Federal Wilderness Areas is subject to permitting (costing up to $1,500) or you can face a $1,000 fine per photo.

A little-noticed USFS “interim rule” has been in place for four years, and is now being updated to include new restrictions on vaguely defined “commercial filming” in wilderness areas. The new regulation was set to go into effect at the end of October, but due to a recent social media and political uproar, the USFS has graciously allowed the public to comment on the regulation an extra month until December 3. You can post your opinions their website, but keep in mind, the USFS says it will merely “consider such input” but it “may not be implemented, and we wish for the public to understand that.”

According to the text of the regulation, the USFS requires a permit for any photography that “uses models, sets, or props that are not a part of the site’s natural or cultural resources.” So technically, if your mom in your hiking photo, she’s a model, and you owe USFS a thousand bucks. Want to take a picture of your backpack on top of a summit? Sorry, that’s a prop, fork over another grand.

If you want to follow the rules and get a permit, guess what, the Forest Service is able to approve what sort of message your photo or video will deliver. From the updated regulations, photo or video must have: “a primary objective of dissemination of information about the use and enjoyment of wilderness…”

So it’s now federally mandated you must enjoy your hike — Smokey the Bear will tolerate no malingerers. The USFS says it is also permissible for video to promote “other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.” You better hold your iPhone steady, or else your blurry photo might be judged to not have enough “scenic value” for Forest Service approval.

Read the entire article here:
https://www.yahoo.com/travel/dont-take-that-picture-the-u-s-forest-service-might-98484656432.html
 

Ah2014jk

New member
Ya buddy I hear ya! We have some weird rules about photos up here that involve people but NOTHING as stupid as that!!


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4x4Jesus

Caught the Bug
That's so lame! The government doesn't own America the people do and we should be free to take pictures of our beautiful country. Talk about killing tourism if people can't even take pictures on their vacation
 

DA RUNT

New member
So would our Jeeps be considered props? And any wayalifers would be models? That's insane, any aftermarket part would be considered a marketing photo. :naw:
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Are you fucking kidding me?

I really wish I were. Because of what we do, I've been following this issue for a while now and it's only recently started to become more of a threat to regular people just like you.

So would our Jeeps be considered props? And any wayalifers would be models? That's insane, any aftermarket part would be considered a marketing photo. :naw:

Yup, that's about how I'm seeing all this. :naw:
 

OverlanderJK

Resident Smartass
I really wish I were. Because of what we do, I've been following this issue for a while now and it's only recently started to become more of a threat to regular people just like you.



Yup, that's about how I'm seeing all this. :naw:

What a shitty way to go about getting more money. The only thing it will do is keep people like myself out of USF land. What a bunch of clowns.
 

NV375

Active Member
This one I took a few years ago from a summit would likely be in violation of this rule.
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This is the most ridiculous rule I have ever heard. I fear for the U.S. as it exists now because of things like this. A photo fine is just the beginning.
 

Kavanji

Member
Communist china has more freedom than the American people!!
your government is moving towards dictatorship in big strides.
Zimbabwe here we come!!!
 

10frank9

Web Wheeler
Well, after reading the article I personally think the author is hyping this up. I too believe the regulation is ridiculous, BUT does anyone truly think they are going to invest any time OR money into going after people who post photos of people or Jeeps in national parks? HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Media in most forms are used to elicit a response and play on peoples emotions usually in a biased way.

If there is any truth to USFS enforcing this regulation on regular (not commercial) folks snapping photos or making videos, I will also be in line to get cited just to have the opportunity to fight it. :yup:
 
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