welcome to northern NJ
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 11:52AM 
The offcers didn't seem to believe they were in paradise. "I've seen better." said one. When I suggested that perhaps his elsewhere was merely different, he insisted "No. Better." South Kearny didn't seem to fit acceptable notions of beauty. I continued the discussion by elaborating upon the concept of finding beauty in unlikely places. He may have been curious, but he was far from convinced, other than possibly to think I was yet another looney citizen.
Sematic differences aside, his uniformed associate was only moderately intent on issuing me a warning for so called tresspassing on railroad property - which happened to be the middle of a public thoroughfare. He had driven past me while I was standing about with my viewfinder in hand, trying to find the composition. We waved at one another. He was curious, but didn't stop, so I didn't realize that he was police. He didn't even see me with the camera set up.
Some time later when leaving the area, collecting snaps of pollution abatement signs, he passed again and decided he needed to talk to me. Under the impression that I was taking pictures of the railroad, I tried to make it clear that this was not the case. Alas, cops can't talk to citizens without turning it into official documented business. So at least half an hour after the "infraction" came the written warning. More evidence to support my theory that there are more police on payroll in New Jersey than anywhere else in the known universe. I never would have thought to include the CSX railroad police in the list. Now I know for certain that they exist.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the third cleanup site sign. Or the officers.
Reader Comments (4)
I suppose the railroad police are used to trainspotters / railroad nerds with cameras. How do you explain New Topographics in 30 seconds or less?
Ha ha! I did my best to give it my own spin, since I actually had a brief conversation with the officer who wasn't writing out the warning. The whole incident was pretty absurd. Half an hour after the incident? Supposedly I was within 24 feet of the track, that runs down the middle of the road. Looking at my exposure, I think the tripod (which the officer never saw!) was farther away than that. Oh well... I got to meet the CSX police personally.
I notice that the cop thought you were a juvenile. I don't know if I would take that as an insult -- or a complement.
Hard to make out what that means. I think the cop may have been more nervous about the warning than I was, and didn't really know how to fill out the form. He handed my back my documents, and then asked for them again. After he handed me the warning, he took it back again because his signature hadn't come through on my copy.