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DubbyFan Wolfsburg Wizard

518 posts · joined Nov 2010 ·

#853060
Just wondering if there is a policy re putting pic's of cars you spot out and about onto the forum. I always try and ask permission where possible but sometimes if you see a car in the street it's not possible! Don't want to offend anyone who may not for whatever reason want a pic of there car to be viewed.

thankyou

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#853078
I usually upload the photo anyway, and say that if the respective owner is on here and wishes for me to take it down, I will without any questions.

I think that is the best way to do so anyway...
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#853079
DubbyFan wrote:Just wondering if there is a policy re putting pic's of cars you spot out and about onto the forum. I always try and ask permission where possible but sometimes if you see a car in the street it's not possible! Don't want to offend anyone who may not for whatever reason want a pic of there car to be viewed.

thankyou
That is a VERY good question, DubbyFan. Should you get permission to expose to the world, a photo that someone may not wish to be made public? It's worth thinking about.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#853080
Interesting topic !!!

Basically, unless your photo's are voyeuristic, obscene, dematory or illegally gained (ie from accessing private property) then nope - you're fine.

The laws vary a bit from state to state, but a good discussion on it at http://4020.net/words/photorights.php

Two general rules I've always been told
1. Don't be a pest or an @rsehole.
2. Be obvious that you're taking photo's - if people have an issue they'll come and ask you not to, which unless you're an @rsehole you should agree to.

Obviously an inanimate object like a car or building can't ask you not to take it's photo !!!

😀

Also no matter what they might claim, security guards, bouncers etc. do not have any authority to confiscate equipment, film, delete your photo's, detain you etc. Police can confiscate, but not destroy/delete (as it's evidence).

Then once you have the photo, you're basically free to do with as you wish other than the voyeurism, obscenity, defamation etc.

Oh and as usual a signed release for commercial use.
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#853084
I think the main restraint is not taking pictures of young children.
I can understand people being concerned there

The rest of things are out there in the big world for public viewing anyway

Rule 1 is stated by Sides - "dont be an arsehole"

Abide by that rule and all should be ok
Futue te ipsum!!!

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#853089
As usual, the 'legal' side is the first thing that most people think of.

Wouldn't it be nice, for a change, if we just considered whether or not it was the 'right' thing to do?

Every day, we are subjected to various cameras [speed, red light, CTV, etc. etc.] that - like it or not - compile records of our actions. Do we need every man and his dog taking photos, and holding them up for the world to see? It seems like an obsession to me. There, I've just proved it.......I'm a 'grumpy old man'.😁
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#853091
HappyDaze wrote:As usual, the 'legal' side is the first thing that most people think of.

Wouldn't it be nice, for a change, if we just considered whether or not it was the 'right' thing to do?

Every day, we are subjected to various cameras [speed, red light, CTV, etc. etc.] that - like it or not - compile records of our actions. Do we need every man and his dog taking photos, and holding them up for the world to see? It seems like an obsession to me. There, I've just proved it.......I'm a 'grumpy old man'.😁
That's a whole different question though. I interpreted the original post as a question about policy - rules on the forum and greater legal obligations.

As already mentioned, there is nothing illegal about taking photos of anyone (children included) if it's in a public setting. There are exceptions as far as the methods used, and what the photo is being taken on (inside someone clothing can be considered an invasion of privacy for example). But generally speaking, if you're in public you do not have rights to "privacy" to put it simply. Private property has it's own rules, as does the use of the photo regardless of whether or not it was taken on public or private property. For example if it is to be used for commercial purposes (advertising essentially), then you need a model release to display the photo.
__my '65 1500s notch project__

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#853095
I rest my case, Your Honour!
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#853121
HappyDaze wrote:Wouldn't it be nice, for a change, if we just considered whether or not it was the 'right' thing to do?
Sorry Greg - my "don't be a pest or an @rsehole" was meant to cover the 'rightness' aspect.

For example:
  • Taking a photo of a car that's parked embarrassingly badly - NOT COOL (regardless of whether rego is visible or not).
  • Taking a photo of a nice looking Beetle parked in the street - I think most people would agree is fine.
  • Having a photo of a nice Beele in a For Sales ad and blacking out the rego - NOT COOL, and in some states possibly illegal (Truth in Advertising I think, and in NSW for example you HAVE to quote rego number etc.)
But yeah - like I said - it's an interesting topic !!!
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

DubbyFan Wolfsburg Wizard

518 posts · joined Nov 2010 ·

#853137
I guess all I am asking is will I offend someone if I put a pic of their car that I have seen purely by random in the street. I hate the whole you can be sued for this or that gig that is going down in this wonderful country these days, it sucks!

As I see it all I am doing is sharing what I see as a VW fan with other VW fans. I have no intention of selling the pic or gaining from it's posting in anyway.

I can also see some people I guess for various reasons not like this and could be offended, this is what I don't want to do.

On the other side of this personally I would take this as a compliment. You could hardly complain if for example you show your car at say the nationals or a pic of it at say a drag race was posted.

Best solution I have come up with is, if I can't get permission blank out the rego and don't say where I took the pic, if I am asked to remove the pic and I can I will do so, does this sound like the way to go?

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 ·

#853148
DubbyFan wrote:Best solution I have come up with is, if I can't get permission blank out the rego and don't say where I took the pic, if I am asked to remove the pic and I can I will do so, does this sound like the way to go?
Sounds pretty reasonable and sensible to me !!!

👍
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#853153
DubbyFan wrote:I guess all I am asking is will I offend someone if I put a pic of their car that I have seen purely by random in the street. I hate the whole you can be sued for this or that gig that is going down in this wonderful country these days, it sucks!
Well said, DubbyFan. We could do without all this litigation bull-shit [and a lot of other similar rubbish imported from the USA].

If everyone had your attitude and concern for others, we would not need to worry.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#853177
I've wondered about this a number of times.

The first couple of times I posted photos from the Nationals or any other event I would black out the rego. However, this year I don't think I bothered because I worked on the basis that people who entered their cars must know that people will take photos and that they could end up in the public domain, which I would regard as an implicit agreement. I know one member here actually covered his rego plate with gaffer tape a year ago when at the Superspints, presumably because he knew photos would end up on the web (it made my life easier because I didn't need to edit the photos of his car).

So, on that basis I have never posted photos of cars that were in the car park at the Nationals, or cars that I see in the street, because they have not made that implicit agreement.

That said, I don't have a big issue with people taking photos on the street and posting them, I'm probably just a wuss and prefer to err on the side of caution.

As DubbyFan said, if someone took a photo of my car and posted it, I'd take it as a compliment, but I would appreciate it if they obscured the rego.
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#853210
HappyDaze wrote:
DubbyFan wrote:I guess all I am asking is will I offend someone if I put a pic of their car that I have seen purely by random in the street. I hate the whole you can be sued for this or that gig that is going down in this wonderful country these days, it sucks!
Well said, DubbyFan. We could do without all this litigation bull-shit [and a lot of other similar rubbish imported from the USA].

If everyone had your attitude and concern for others, we would not need to worry.
For sure. Nobody can argue with that. But it's good to know your legal obligations so you don't do anything wrong (and cause more problems), or when someone tries to get smart and threatens to sue when they have no grounds.

Out of interest. Can anyone give some reasons why displaying rego plates online is such a contentious issue? I always wondered.
__my '65 1500s notch project__

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#853214
So in Vic. Your Rego label on your car has engine number, chassis number and rego number. It is publicly available to see. If you have a problem, get over it, or don't show your car. Do people seriously think their car is going to be re-registered on another car body with their engine number and chassis number?

I dunno! I couldn't care. Take pics of my cars or anything I do in public. That's what public is. Der!
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#853231
helbus wrote:Take pics of my cars or anything I do in public. That's what public is. Der!
X2
From your ole' mate Jeff

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#853236
helbus wrote:Take pics of my cars or anything I do in public. That's what public is. Der!
😂.....well put

ratty 63 Custom Title Time!

1,083 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#853260
azzatron wrote:Out of interest. Can anyone give some reasons why displaying rego plates online is such a contentious issue? I always wondered.
From what I understand, there are a couple of reasons for not wanting to display your rego online.

A couple of years ago a number of unusual, rare and very tidy VW's were stolen from locked garages in the UK - I have also heard that it happened to Hot Rods, modified and collectors cars all over the UK. It was believed that the cars were tracked down using the rego information (by making a false claim to the UK version of the Transport Department that the car they were targeting was seen leaving the scene of an accident without leaving details). I believe that the laws have been changed over there to stop it from happening (privacy laws), and I doubt that it would work here in Australia. It obviously scared quite a few people as you still see vehicles advertised in UK mags with part or all the rego blanked out.

I have been told that vehicles that compete in motorsports events are often not covered by their insurance whilst they are taking part. You could assume from this that they cover their rego plate so that should the worst happen and the car is damaged on the track, there will be no proof for the insurance company to use to get out of paying the claim... even though they are not required to do so legally. 🙅

I, personally, would not be bothered if my vehicles were photographed in a public place and the image posted online (actually I would be amazed if you bothered! 😂 ), however if the images were going to be used for financial gain I would at least like to be asked first.

R 🙂
40hp, 6V and ...er... slowly making improvements 😂

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Founding member of the Gold Coast Dub Club Inc. 🙂

azzatron Seriously Crusin Dubber

152 posts · joined Feb 2011 ·

#853272
ratty 63 wrote:
azzatron wrote:Out of interest. Can anyone give some reasons why displaying rego plates online is such a contentious issue? I always wondered.
From what I understand, there are a couple of reasons for not wanting to display your rego online.

A couple of years ago a number of unusual, rare and very tidy VW's were stolen from locked garages in the UK - I have also heard that it happened to Hot Rods, modified and collectors cars all over the UK. It was believed that the cars were tracked down using the rego information (by making a false claim to the UK version of the Transport Department that the car they were targeting was seen leaving the scene of an accident without leaving details). I believe that the laws have been changed over there to stop it from happening (privacy laws), and I doubt that it would work here in Australia. It obviously scared quite a few people as you still see vehicles advertised in UK mags with part or all the rego blanked out.

I have been told that vehicles that compete in motorsports events are often not covered by their insurance whilst they are taking part. You could assume from this that they cover their rego plate so that should the worst happen and the car is damaged on the track, there will be no proof for the insurance company to use to get out of paying the claim... even though they are not required to do so legally. 🙅

I, personally, would not be bothered if my vehicles were photographed in a public place and the image posted online (actually I would be amazed if you bothered! 😂 ), however if the images were going to be used for financial gain I would at least like to be asked first.

R 🙂
Thanks for the reply. I always wondered. Personally I couldn't be bothered covering up my plates.
It's not as if covering your numberplates gives you any real extra security if you already post freely about your car on the internet. All of our cars can be easily identified by other means, they're all relatively "unique" compared to newer cars right off the production line.
And yes I agree, financial gain is a whole different story.
__my '65 1500s notch project__