Waterloo Region to license photographers

[Bill Sandford]

Has anyone heard about this licensing initiative by Waterloo Region.

http://services.bizpal-perle.ca/eng/briefcase/?b=35&j=Waterloo+%28City%29%2C+Ontario&sgc=3530016&s=Photography+services&naics=&a=8871&mode=steps&p=13515%

[Tom Hicken]

The link wasn't working for me but let me know if this one works:

http://services.bizpal-perle.ca/eng/detail/13515/?b=&j=Waterloo+%28City%29%2C+Ontario&sgc=3530016&s=Photography+services&naics=541920&a=8859&a=8875&a=8876&a=8883&a=8848&a=8839&a=8840&a=8842&a=8877&a=8843&a=8844&a=8872&a=8838&a=8868&a=8867&a=8853&a=8869&a=8886&a=8851&k=&mode=steps&p=


The highlight: "No person shall act as a street photographer without having made application and having received a licence issued in the name of Council by the Manager of Licensing or his/her delegate" with an original licensing fee of $297 and a fine not exceeding $25,000. Apparently this has been in effect since 2005?

Detailed info here: http://code.municipalworld.com/kitchener/592.pdf

[Warren Toda]

Is this still in effect? Is it even enforced?

While there is an exception made for news photographers and photographers "on specific assignment to local industries", the bylaw means almost everyone living in the city, or who passes through the city, needs a permit (i.e. anyone who takes pictures in a public place).

Has this withstood a Charter challenge as the bylaw as written appears to violate Section 2 of the Charter? The bylaw says the city can control who is allowed to take pictures in public.

I'm not a lawyer but this bylaw seems to be very poorly written. The city views street photographers as a nuisance??

[Graeme Roy]

Did Google get a permit for street views?

As if.