So before I get to the pictures I should put in the back story behind the title. For the last several years I have been lucky enough to get a free hotel room in NYC mid November due to a trade show a family member is working. This year I decided to do a little bit of very casual exploring nothing to hard just a bit of wandering. At this particular location I was just exiting when I was approached by the PD I was lucky and didn't get a ticket, but just as I thought I was going to get away with only the standard lecture about trespassing the officers took my information and confiscated my memory card. I was disappointed but it could have always been worse. Flashforward to this afternoon as I thumbed through the mail I see an envelope from the NYPD. They returned my memory card I had forgotten that they took it. A quick look through the pictures tells me that all of my interior shots have been deleted but several decent shots survived the axe. So now the pictures.
1.

IMG_1304 by piccardalpha3, on Flickr
2.

3.

4.

IMG_1343 by piccardalpha3, on Flickr
5.

IMG_1280 by piccardalpha3, on Flickr
6.

IMG_1296 by piccardalpha3, on Flickr

weren't these in the movie Men in Black?

STOP!

The interior shots might be still on the card if the cops or you haven't written more data to the card..

I had something similar happen in Moscow. Security at a train station told me I had to delete the images I took.. so.. knowing I could recover them later I happily hit the format button and went on my way....

There are a couple free programs that will retrieve what you had on the card.. so give it a google.

Might be of help sometimes.. to make the cop or security guy happy if you offer to delete the images yourself.

Doesn't hurt to keep a spare SD card in your pocket.. A quick card change can save some grief as well..

Posted by Elwood_Blues STOP! The interior shots might be still on the card if the cops or you haven't written more data to the card..

This is very important! When you "delete" (not reformat) pictures on your memory card, the system just flags them as overwriteable data. It's all still there...

Also, police are never allowed to confiscate and delete your photos https://www.aclu.o...ghts-photographers
The cops tend not to know your rights besides your right to remain silent, so they clearly violated your rights on this one...

Posted by PorkyMcCaw This is very important! When you "delete" (not reformat) pictures on your memory card, the system just flags them as overwriteable data. It's all still there... Also, police are never allowed to confiscate and delete your photos https://www.aclu.o...ghts-photographers The cops tend not to know your rights besides your right to remain silent, so they clearly violated your rights on this one...

This is all true. When they deleted your card they destroyed evidence

I'm working on trying to get the pictures back now and I knew that they couldn't take it but as that was this was the only location on the card and really they could have easily brought me in( I was half way up to the first platform in picture 6) it was the better of the options available at the time. I'd rather lose the pictures than get arrested.

They totally violated your rights - they aren't allowed to delete your photos. Douchebag cops are no fun.

Posted by PorkyMcCaw This is very important! When you "delete" (not reformat) pictures on your memory card, the system just flags them as overwriteable data. It's all still there... Also, police are never allowed to confiscate and delete your photos https://www.aclu.o...ghts-photographers The cops tend not to know your rights besides your right to remain silent, so they clearly violated your rights on this one...

Even a 'format' often does not delete the images.. Well. that's not the best way to explain it...

Most times as 'format' ( especially from inside the camera ).. is just erasing the FAT ( File allocation table ). This just tells the camera that the pictures that were there are no longer there and there is more space available.

The files are still there. the missing information from the FAT to show where they are just needs to be replaced.

Now from the PC. it is the same when you format a card, drive.. etc. EXCEPT when you unchecked the 'Quick format' option.. in that case the info is overwritten with '0's and then the files are lost...

'lost'.. is a relative term.. they can still be recovered ( at least from magnetic media ) after a real format.. But it takes time and money.. so.. beyond the scope of what we are talking about here.. just thought I should mention it anyway...

Lesson is.. If the cop is pissed off. and you think that 'formatting' your card from inside the camera will get the cop to let you off without a ticket.. you might as well give it a shot..

Posted by Elwood_Blues Lesson is.. If the cop is pissed off. and you think that 'formatting' your card from inside the camera will get the cop to let you off without a ticket.. you might as well give it a shot..

Very true. But keeping an extra blank card to swap in when he's not looking isn't a bad idea either. Also helps if you a way to record him telling you to delete your photos so you can post it and show he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

Posted by PorkyMcCaw Very true. But keeping an extra blank card to swap in when he's not looking isn't a bad idea either. Also helps if you a way to record him telling you to delete your photos so you can post it and show he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

This is what I do. I have a spare card I pop in and snap random shit pictures in case I'm questioned.

I have successfully retrieved deleted images from a camera card before.

Also, know your 4th Amendment rights.

I always swap out my card with a cheap card that is loaded with old lady porn and pictures of cute puppies..