'Upskirt' ban in Massachusetts signed into law

[meegbear]

Source: cnn.com

Modern-day peeping Toms in Massachusetts, the sorts who get their thrills snapping "upskirt" photos on crowded subways, now have their behavior criminalized.

Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill Friday, according to his office, making photographing or recording video under a person's clothing -- think down a blouse or up a skirt -- a misdemeanor.

The bill was hastily drawn up and passed by lawmakers Thursday, a day after the state's highest court ruled that current laws against secretly photographing a person in a state of partial nudity don't apply to these sorts of secretive shots.

"A female passenger on a MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) trolley who is wearing a skirt, dress, or the like covering these parts of her body is not a person who is 'partially nude,' no matter what is or is not underneath the skirt by way of underwear or other clothing," wrote Justice Margot Botsford of the state Supreme Judicial Court.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/justice/massachusetts-upskirt-bill/index.html

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HOORAY for my state for passing this law and BOO for not having this law in the first place.

[malthaussen]

1. Well, that was quick.

The gristmill of the gods usually grinds a lot more slowly. But this is Massachusetts, after all.

-- Mal

[upaloopa]

2. There was no law in the first place because normal

people don't go around taking pictures like that. It is the Internet and websites where the pictures are posted that made it necessary to pass a law.

[Blue_Adept]

4. There was a law in place.

But it was poorly worded, which is why this had to be put in to fix it.

[Little Star]

3. Who knew that it was legal until now and...

Makes me wonder about other states now.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Had I known it was legal...

I would have snapped a few shots of the pervy guy sitting across from me on a Red line train. He was wearing a long dress coat and crotchless pants and sat with a wide stance.

[Dr. Strange]

6. Oh, I'm sorry, was I making you uncomfortable?

I mean the guy--was he making you uncomfortable?

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Yes, a man of your years should know better.

Gramps, get your jollies some place else.

(the guy was at least 70 years old and his coat looked expensive. )

[alp227]

12. Larry Craig? Nt

[KamaAina]

7. Pitt must have seen this coming

so he hightailed it to New Hampshire.

[Swede Atlanta]

9. Glad they passed this law but....

Unless someone is going "commando" or bra-less, does someone really get off looking at a bad photograph of the top of someone's bra or their panties?

I would think given the widespread availability of porn the Sears catalog type of porn was no longer very interesting.

It is probably the risk and excitement factor that makes this so "stimulating" so to speak. I don't understand it but it has to be that.

[geek tragedy]

10. they get pleasure from violating the person visually

same as peeping toms

[Blue_Tires]

11. You need to check out "Creep Shots" on Reddit

or wherever they meet and are calling themselves these days... It's like a sport to these assholes -- One of the biggest contributors there before he got outed was a high school teacher snapping his students (and yes, IIRC it was discovered he had teenage daughters of his own)...No joke...

[LeftyMom]

13. It's the lack of consent that they get off on.

[alp227]

14. K&R + local coverage

Boston Globe: Patrick signs bill to ban ‘upskirting’

Springfield Republican: Gov. Deval Patrick signs law making "upskirting" illegal in Massachusetts (no this is not a right wing publication!)