Three of the four Canadian filmmakers who were caught roaming onto Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic hot spring have pled not guilty to charges of foot travel in a thermal area and disorderly conduct. Hamish McNab Campbell Cross was the only member of the group representing clothing brand High on Life to plead guilty to his charges. He'll pay a fine of $8000 and accepts a five year unsupervised probation.
The remaining three have received court-appointed lawyers and may face a bench trial if they do not accept plea deals. The Jackson Hole News and Guide reports that the group's previous attorney, who removed himself from the case due to a conflict of interest, mentioned that the US Attorney is considering jail time.
The Grand Prismatic incident is just one of quite a few recent cases park vandalism. Stiffer penalties for offenders may help reduce incidences of vandalism, but is an $8000 fine enough? Do the filmmakers pleading not guilty deserve jail time? Tell us what you think in the comments.
I would settle for taking them in the middle of South Central Los Angeles for the day. Then call 911 five minutes after dropping them off to pick up the remains.
The problem with the youngsters is they have no respect. Everything for a 'stand out' video. Most likely their parents weren't around in bringing them up or didn't care. Best thing is to have them work for it off. A fine is easily payed. That boardwalk needs replacing:-)!
If we're questioning whether $8000 is enough, I would say that and a mandatory jail sentence for trespassing on an area of land that's off limits. 1 Year should be enough. Or make it 1 year and a heftier fine, like $10,000 or $15,000. Because, with only $8000 fine and an "unsupervised probation" someone is probably going to make back that $8000 in photo sales to pay back the fine. If you're going to punish someone, it had better be good, like mandatory jail time. May increase the jail time if they are caught vandalizing.
Perhaps $8000 + all income they get from their criminal behaviour? Plus the cost of the auditor to ensure that they don't manage to hide any of the income.
And a little bit of jail time (maybe 90 days?) to make it clear that actions have consequences.
I guess the more sad part about these types of stories is that once it's gone, it's gone, and it's no longer there for others to enjoy. That's the real price tag we pay for people who can't seem to follow some simple rules. I'm sure you could get some amazing photographs without breaking the rules and going places you aren't supposed to. Maybe 90 days jail time for first offendors, but increase if they are caught again (like 1-2 years for the second offense) and then increase the fine accordingly. To some, $8000 is just money, and they can justify it. But jail time will force some to think about why they are sitting in jail, and it (in some cases) can have long-term effects on them (loss of their job obviously, they'll be known for the one that went to jail because of a stupid act , etc). So I think in some cases, jail time is more effective than just paying fines and a puny jail sentence (30 days, etc).
There are plenty of signs telling people to stay on the board walks. I think that the $8,000 fine will go a long way in keeping many smart people from disobeying the rules and laws. For those who pled "not guilty", when there they are in full color walking out there, I feel that a trial is required. At this point, I don't feel that they should be offered any plea deal, and they should be sentenced to a minimum of 1 year in federal prison. If they are not US citizens, they should also be removed from this country upon release from prison and never allowed to return to the US or any of its possessions. If this seems harsh to you, I'm sorry. But I think that my suggestion will go a very long way in reducing perceived stupidity in our National Parks.
In Yellowstone National Park, all international visitors should be required to be part of a tour group. All east coast and west coast visitors should be considered as international visitors.
Offer the filmmakers a choice between jail time or being fed to the wolves or donating their labor and resources into rebuilding the Tower Fall trail to the bottom of the water fall. I really miss that trail.
Was any damage done to the ground they walked on? Are there any signs posted "do not walk there or else you will face prison time"?
I find the hatred leveld against these film makers a bit excessive, and surprising that it comes from fellow photographers (who sometimes like ro nend tje rules a bit, if it makes for a better image).
Intentional vandalism is a different story of course.
@BBQue: Visitors are provided with a boardwalk, so they can visit an ecologically sensitive area without damaging it. They chose to disregard the rules, and should be punished for it. In addition, their punishment should serve as a lesson to others.
Just because there is a board walk does not mean, one MUST stay on that. And a danger sign alone doesn't mean anything. In Yosemite Park are many signs, warning of bears. Does that mean one is forbidden to go off the road in Yosemite?
Sorry for the contrarian point, but unless there are clear no-tresspassing signs making it a felony to leave the wooden walks and threatening thousand dollar penalty or prison, there should be no punishment.
Punish for purposeful vandalism, of course. Punish for not staying on the walkway in the absence of no-trespassing signs? No way!
And if they had come to harm? Or caused some sort of damage. No doubt some sort of redress would be sought by the individuals had they been unfortunate.The laws and rules are there for good reason not just 'because'.
So, by that logic it is OK to murder me since I didn't wear a sign that says "No killing of me allowed"? Yes I am using an extreme example but if the world has come to a point where you have to post signs everywhere just to remind people of their common sense, then we have a much bigger issue than park vandalism.
"Just because there is a board walk does not mean, one MUST stay on that."
Actually it does. If you have an IQ over two. Did you think they put it there so your feet won't get dirty?
People that can't use common sense shouldn't be allowed out of their city cave. Our here in the real world, you need to use your brains and not depend on a lawyer to get you out of trouble.
Tko: That's completely silly! I can name you hundreds of places, where there are walkways for the CONVENIENCE or SAFETY of the visitor, but where it is perfectly legal not to use them, if one so chooses!
@BBQue - "Just because there is a board walk does not mean, one MUST stay on that."
It is precisely because of stupid comments like that (& the even more stupid one where you think you are just being contrarian & therefore implying you are somehow cool) that there are stupid people wandering off the unbeaten track onto fragile nature.
People like you & the trespassers ought to be jailed.
I don't know what is worse though - the trespassing or the lack of condemnation for people like you who say the kind of stupid things you do and contribute to it.
@BBQue, as the saying goes, ignorance of the law is no excuse. From the NPS website at https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm: "Everyone who visits Yellowstone should be familiar with the following regulations . . . "
You do research the areas and things you plan to photograph, don't you?
@BBQue, it is posted and regulations are handed out at all entrances. There are signs all over the park stating this. Obviously you've never been there.
As far as my original comment about international visitors and east and west coasters being included as international visitors, it was mostly sarcasm born out of frustration at the sheer number of times these "off the boardwalk" violations occur by international visitors and east and west coasters. It is just the way it is. They just do whatever they want . Is it 100% of them? No. But from the viewpoint of a Wyoming resident that visits Yellowstone every year, it's a bit irritating. Make some examples of the violators to get people's attention. These Canadians were not ignorant of the law. It's impossible to go to Yellowstone and be ignorant of the boardwalk guidelines. Let me repeat that. It's impossible to go to Yellowstone and be ignorant of the boardwalk guidelines.
Needarealname and others: I have been to Yelllowstone. I did NOT see any no tress-passing signs. I saw warning signs. But nothing that would have threatened me with jail or money fines if I would leave those board walks. If Yellowstone wants to prevent future incidents, they need to post no-tresspassing signs instead of mere warning of danger signs.
About those pamphlets given at the entrance: who reads those???
BBQ - "About those pamphlets given at the entrance: who reads those???"
You prove my point. The information is there. They have no excuse. You have to stay on the boardwalk. Just because the "55 mph" sign doesn't post the penalty for violation doesn't mean that there won't be a penalty. Sorry, but I have no idea what your reasoning is. But there's hope that I can change. Perhaps someday I too, will understand that it's okay to break the rules when the penalty is not posted next to the rules. And then I will be able to take beautiful videos and photos of the Grand Prismatic Spring.
I am sorry needarealname, that is jist not realistic. Visitors drive i to the park full of excitement and enthusiasm. They don't park on a side road to read and study a pamphlet.
I am all for protection and conservation of our natural beauty. But if Yellowstone wants tp protect the fragile ground, they need to put up proper signs! Perhaps not so much for US Americans, who would never stray from a wooden walk way, but for visitors from other countries who may not know that they put half a foot into prison if they step off those wooden planks.
BBQ - "Visitors drive i to the park full of excitement and enthusiasm. They don't park on a side road to read and study a pamphlet."
That's hardly a reasonable excuse, nor would it hold up in court. "I'm sorry your honor, but I didn't go to the park to read the rules. Will you let me get off this time?"
We will see - absent clear no-trespassing signs I can't see how there could be any more than a symbolic "slap on the fingers".
You travel to Moscow, you don't get thrown in prison because you didn't read some pamphlet that was given to you in Russian language at the airport. Maybe US is more harsh. We will see.
I'm not sure why you are so stuck on the absence of a sign that says no trespassing. I never said anything about trespassing. There are plenty of signs and pamphlets that say very clearly to stay on the boardwalks. Don't change the subject. They were in violation. The language barrier is no excuse. The language barrier is never an excuse in any country, including Russia. (not sure why you wanted to talk about Moscow.) There act was not out of ignorance. Therefore your symbolic slap on the fingers doesn't apply. The guy that pleaded guilty had an $8000 fine and 5 years of unsupervised probation. His cowardly comrades ought be in jail for those 5 years. Kudos for the guy that accepted his responsibility like a man and admitted his guilt.
In other news, one of the 4 criminals is guilty of flying a drone in Mesa Verde without a permit and could face up to 6 months in jail and/or $5000.
They are far from being ignorant tourists. No need to defend them, nor their actions.
Don't forget that on July 31 they quoted Ayn Rand: “’The question isn’t who is going to let me, but who is going to stop me.’”
The current charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 6 months jail time and/or $8000. It doesn't seem sufficient considering that they are also accused of various violations in Death Valley, Mesa Verde, Bonneville Salt Flats, and others. This is not an isolated incident. They have no regard for the law, the environment, or other tourists.
I am not talking anoit other incidents - I am only talkimg about what happened in Yellowstone. And I a trying to point out that there is a difference between a WARNING SIGN and a NO-TRESPASSING SIGN.
I am as interested as you and everyone else in protecting the beauty of Yellowstone. Unless there are clear NO-TREAPASSING SIGNS, or even cordoned off, you will comtinue to see tourists leave the board walks.
Until the rules are enforced, (part of which has to do with an appropriate punishment) we will continue to see violations like this. I read through the charges and as far as I could tell, there were no charges of trespassing. I might be wrong, but that's what I noticed. So it doesn't really matter if there were "no trespassing" signs or not. That's not the point. They violated a known regulation(s) and are going to stand before a judge for it. The only reason I brought up the other incidents was to show that these guys are repeat violators that have no regard for the law. They are without excuse. There is no need for barricades and such if the existing regulations are both followed and enforced.
Once again, I will suggest that all international visitors to YNP be accompanied by a tour guide (who is a US citizen of course). This would greatly reduce the violations and create jobs for US citizens.
Needarealname stated "all international visitors should be required to be part of a tour group." What sort of racist BS is that? I am thinking that Needarealname should be renamed to Needarelbrain!
1) It is a fundamental principle of the US that those who are accused have the right to legal representation. And no, that legal right is not restricted to US citizens.
I'm sure that if you were in Canada, and were accused of a crime, and had no idea how to find a decent lawyer in Canada before entering a plea, you'd want access to an attorney. (I know I would.)
2) Their current lawyer dropped them out of a conflict of interest -- possibly a result of one of the four pleading guilty. It is likely that they only have a court-appointed lawyer long enough to plead not guilty at the arraignment, find another lawyer, and figure out how to proceed.
There are some ignorant comments saying people can "trespass carefully" and I would like to put this link https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/The_grand_prismatic_spring so you can actually know what is Grand Prismatic Spring and after reading it you will infere easily why no one should be allowed to set foot there.
The Grand Prismatic is not only very fragile, but exceptionally beautiful. Its sad that someone vandalized it. A slap on the wrist, and everyone will be doing it.
Real filmmakers get permission in advance. Sneaking around leaves you open to injury, death, and in this case prosecution. If you don't have the people skills and personal charm to talk an official into letting you film or shoot at a location, you need to be in another line of work.
"filmmakers" Yeah; I'm sure they would revel at this article title. Real filmmakers may have to break rules sometimes, but they don't haughtily vandalize national landmarks then plead innocent to their crimes. Seriously?
10 yrs ago in Moab, Utah I was told by a local that the company filming one of the first couple Mission Impossible movies* left a good bit of equipment on top of a mesa. The county had to pay to have it removed.
I don't think this was in a national park and maybe there was no rule the film makers broke but it just seems wrong..
*whichever one opens with the fellow dangling from a cliff
Yet consuming resources at a rate far in excess of environmental sustainability whilst wrecking remote (to the US) ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef is OK, an aspiration even? I'm not defending these lads, but look in the mirror people - it's footprints, not mountain top removal, melting ice and ocean acidification.
It always starts with small things. I mean, there you are with a farm beside a wood. What does it matter if you chop a few trees down to make a garage or little holiday cottage? ...and little by little, you find that the pretty wood is encroached upon more and more until it's just a stand of trees. If you're lucky, you might have pictures taken by a photographer of how glorious the place once looked... You might even have regret, but by then it's too late. Trees and creatures that have spent hundreds, and even thousands of years living peacefully and getting on doing their own thing can easily be removed in a single day... and it all starts with comments and thoughts like "well no one gives a toss about this little patch of fungus, surely?"
The whole planet needs protecting from humans. And it has to start with and include the stuff that we think is beneath our notice. Apologies if that sounds preachy, but we are connected to the small things, too. Wishing you well.
Not as dangerous as this and he plead guilty to all charges but Michael Fatali was fined around $11k , 2 years probation and 150 hours of community service in 2002 for setting fires at Arches National Park to demonstrate night lighting techniques. Apparently he could have faced up to 6 months in federal prison. Considering the precedent and the potential physical risk you just have to wonder what these guys were thinking.
I think the authority have to investigate the reason(s) behind. Were they paid to take a film by their company or some people? Were they just did it out of "fun"?
I'd like to give them all seats on a dunking tub set-up, erected in the geyser complex parking lot, fed by miserably hot water, and allow visitors to the geyser complex to throw baseballs at the target, sinking them in the scalding water repeatedly.
I think it's more of a historical usage thing. When I was young, when someone was suspected of witchcraft, we would tie him or her (usually her) to a chair on the end of a pole and "duck" them in a lake until they either confessed or drowned. Either way it solved the problem.
Well, they must plead not guilty if they wish to argue extenuating circumstances...
It is not a good idea to say "yeah, I am guilty; I did do these things, but I want to explain..." Nothing else after that matters.
They may say "I am not guilty" and then wish to explain why they think they were not being 'disorderly'...
'Not guilty' doesn't always mean the person is saying they didn't commit the act but is arguing they are not deserving of the charge....
It is odd they plead not guilt to foot travel in a thermal area. Not sure what they could argue there. Arguing against public disorderliness I can rationalize as worth a try..
Require each group visiting these features pay for a guide who will accompany the visitors, and enforce the rules of the park. Since people cannot control themselves, the access needs to be managed to protect the features, and protect the visitors from self inflicted injury. If you want to stay and explore the park for an extended stay, you can have the option of going through a training program about the park and how to safely visit the features without damaging them or risking bodily harm, and informed about the consequences of breaking the rules. (Before people go nuts about this idea, there are already access restrictions and training requirements for sites in other US parks)
seems like most of the comments miss the real issue : They could have DIED. Their actions embolden OTHER folks to disregard the signs & walkways and venture onto fragile crust over BOILING water. The issue is safety of not-so-bright park visitors. Some who have actually JUMPED into thermal features to rescue other peoples pets, and then died as they sat on the edge of the pool watching their skin slough off & acknowledging that what they did was a "big mistake".....
No, most others did not miss the real issue. If they died by their own stupidity, too bad for them. It's the continued damage to this treasure and other treasures like it and the precedent/example that it sets.
No, $8k. $8k isn't a deterrent if you're upper middle class let alone "rich". Don't have the $8k? Then you can work it off scrubbing bathrooms, showers, toilets, common areas and walkways, etc., at the prison.
The question remains: was there any damage done to the bacteria?
Are there signs posted that threaten steep penalties? Last time I was in Yellowstone, I did not see signs other than that it might be dangerous to go off the wooden path walks. Has it changed?
Dont know when you went but there have always been signs to not go off the paths.....As i said there is life in the pools that they kill. Would you ask if any lasting damage was done to the Pacific coasts treasured tidepools if someone walked all over the ecosystems? Things are protected for a reason. You go to jail if you have a Bald Eagle feather.
Maybe require them to go through a program that works to restore past graffiti, be educated by the rangers about the sensitivity of natural environments then pay a fine that pays for the services that he/she went through.
Also, a positive side effect is that the rangers would have to have a legitimate argument about the potential destructive behavior illegal actions can have since they have the explain it in detail with science. This means the rangers can't act out of context with what they deem sensitive.
it's a win-win for everyone, and the public can feel confident that which is protected is done so for good reason and with a healthy approach to education.
Jail time should reflect an unwillingness to learn or understand. Beligerence should cost the person dearly.
Permanent ban. LMCasey. Disrepect and abuse of public lands has become an epidemic. The arrogance of pleading "not guilty" should be met with the full force of the law.
You know honestly I have no empathy for any type of mischief in a park. These places are precious and need to be protected at all cost. Throw the book at them.
--"These places are precious and need to be protected at all cost."--
All costs, well, except for the cost of all those miles of highways and parking lots that we paved all over YNP... That stuff doesn't count because it means I can just drive my lazy bum to within 50 yards of all that remote, natural wonder.
Yea I just traveled this September through some of the big parks on a two week long road trip through the west and we talked about that very thing. Here at home I have the Olympic national park. It is very wild in most places with just a few roads on the bounderies and that is a very good thing.
Apply the law hard on vandals but easy on artists...
Vandals will cause destruction on purpose yet artists may cause the same destruction through ignorance. If we apply the law easily on artists, we would be saying ignorance makes things okay... Or, would the ignorant happy snapper not have the law applied easily to them because they were not making art..
I suppose the law should be applied evenly to the ignorant folks, yeah?
As far as apply the law hard on vandals, I think there has been a long history of being very rigid in interpretation of law when the person is mocking, belligerent, or remorseless.
Who said these vandals were artists? They did. Nobody else. I'm an artist; let me off easy. I didn't think what I was doing was wrong. 'Course if you did it, it would be wrong.
Trespassing can be carefully done in some places & does not = Vandalism! Graphite on rocks, trees & bathroom mirrors is real = Vandalism! Real vandals ought to be chained to their crime so the public could spit on them!
Trespassing on Grand Prismatic shouldn't be done even if you are "careful" that's a restricted area for a reason and people need to get a clue that they aren't allowed to play dumb or say "eff it".
Besides the law is the law and as such anyone doing something wrong are going to be punished.
"Trespassing can be carefully done in some places & does not = Vandalism! "
In this case, it DOES equal vandalism. In Yellowstone and other volcanic parks, the structures around the hot springs are EXTREMELY delicate, as are the bacterial colonies that contribute to the wide range of colors in the springs.
Walking on the surface and throwing stuff in causes damage that can be permanent or takes decades to recover. This exact spring, Grand Pristmatic, used to be even more colorful but the amount of trash people threw in caused issues for the thermophilic bacteria that add color.
Not to mention, it's extremely DANGEROUS to get close to springs and can easily result in death or disfigurement if someone were to fall in or catch a spray of superheated steam. Hell, it's actually happened several times already, even recently.
So before you go all "screw the government", maybe you should educate yourself first.
In other arenas the government might be properly screwed, or maybe just gently throttled, and those include rack-taxing, stifling regulations, runaway federal courts, rules concerning light bulbs, toilet tanks, dried lychees, imported chopsticks, etc. To be sure, their stranglehold on the national – read federal – parks needs to be broken and control returned to the states.
Re-Read - Trespassing can be carefully done in SOME PLACES . . . also when I read Vandalism I think with deliberate intent to cause permanent damage. I think the rule breakers did minor temporary damage not vandalism, iMHO.
The reason why Grand Prismatic Spring has the beautiful colors is known to have is because of a bacterial growing in the microbial mats, these mats ar EXTREMELY delicate and susceptible to be destroyed by the inclusion of foreign bacteria (IE the one on the shoes of the trespassers).
In this case TRESPASSING ISN'T SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE CAREFULLY, Even if you are "careful" you are bound to damage the delicate balance of bacterias in the place.
Vandalism or not, isn't what I am commenting, I am telling you there are certain areas where even the slightest human invasion could do irreversible damage to a natural landmark.
The park service is out of control, they should be there to inform & help not dictate, tote pistols, issue tickets for hiking without a permit! These public servants go on strike & lock us out of OUR parks by locking the gates. This is BS. The NPS also destroyed the oyster farm at Pt. Reys. Oyster are natural & filter the water improving the water quality. I think there are enough retired people to do the 90% of the rangers legitimate functions for 1/4 the cost, many do this now for free camping space! Not enough info on the Grand Prismatic incident to comment on that specifically, damage foot prints in boiling mud or what?
@rekky. There is nothing on the internet saying the exact damage. If this is permanent or not. I think that this information could be helpful to better understand the situation and give our opinion.
"This is absolutely intolerable! The states should NEVER HAVE CEDED THE PEOPLE'S LAND TO THE FEDERAL MACHINE. Let's TAKE IT BACK."
Take it back? It already belongs to the people. This is our government; the government _is_ the people. What are you going to do if you "take it back" from the government? How are you going to manage and protect the land for future generations, better than a government by and for the people already can?
Pat Cullinan Jr. What we are talking about is how some videographers did wrong and broke an environmental law, as it is today the law gives a punishment for what they did in Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic if they are found guilty in court.
The law is what it is and even if you like it or not you have to face the consecuences of breaking it.
If you want to make political statements head over a politic website or forum, talk to your congress representative about it, but don't bring the toxicity of the silly, poisonous and reality-tv like election campaign here.
And just to be clear I don't care if you are of the DNC, RNC or advocating for the Alien Invasion, it is all the same.
Casey Nocket, she of the acrylic paint vandalism of numerous national parks in the western U.S. was sentenced to 200 hrs of community service, and probation of 2 years including exclusion from entrance to national parks.
Taking $8000 and the actual damage they caused now extrapolating by the effective environmental damage on earth caused by big industry makes how many quadtrillions? Who pays *this* fine?
I had the pleasure of visiting Death Valley and would never want to see it sullied. The U.S. national park system is a wonderful legacy for future generations. Why would you not do everything you can to protect it?
People who have no problem reading English (as opposed to some foreign tourists) do deserve some jail time for violating clearly written rules designed to protect a fragile environment. An example needs to be set.
I'm sure you are the kind of person who always run your car at the recommended speed!!! They absolutely deserve a big fine as an example but $8000$ is really a lot. They did not willingly break something. Does the damage will stay very long? It should also be take in account. I think the fine should be balanced with the damage done and the intention of doing it. Jail??? Perhaps for recidivism but otherwise that's krazy.
They were vloggers. If they didn't know they were being purposely ignorant. We visited years ago and there were signs and leaflets explaining why we should keep to the pathways because of the fragility of the springs and the surrounding area. It is also on the website. By ignoring that, they were willingly breaking something. They should certainly be banned from the park. Glad to see that their previous sponsors withdrew.
I totally agree to ban them from any US park for few years. I also agree for a big fine. $8000 is really a big fine, at least for me and for average young peoples. But I feel that jail sounds a little too much for that. I really would like to know the real impact of the damage (in time and in effect). Another thing, is that those guys should also have another fine here (in Canada) to cause us bad reputation.
It is hard to agree with the idea of no jail time for people that don't speak English.
It is good for America to be inclusive but inclusiveness extends only so far.
It is not acceptable for a separate set of rules (no jail time, etc.) to be applied to people who don't speak English. Whoever has decided to visit here has a burden that shouldn't be removed because they don't speak English. This burden is to think and investigate.
I don't speak Romanian. If I am in Romania and visit an area with railed walkways with signage displaying both text and pictographs, it is my burden to first ask for clarification if I am uncertain. I do not expect to do as I please and then shrug it all off with 'no one told me in English'.
Even in Romania, the pictographs they use in Yellowstone (stick figure with arms raised in terror/alarm/distress half submerged in -something-) should be enough to start me thinking.
All that said, I would probably be okay in Romania because many countries duplicate important postings in English. Whichever country will typically post signs in the official language and English. Sometimes there are two official languages so a traveler may see Arabic, French, and .. English.
I think some Americans are unaware that English is fairly universal in the world.. it is a language used commonly by many people. Here, we are duplicating with Spanish and that is nice but English is about as universal as it gets... that and the stick figure crying for help.
Harsh, I know, but they should be banned from National Parks. There are signs everywhere that state to stay off of these restricted areas. No exceptions period!!!!! Oh plus the fine that would cover any and all damages they may have caused. Their actions are a total disrespect for nature and our laws. If you did this in China or Russia or even Japan, you know what would happen. You would be prosecuted. People stop making excuses for humanity.
Are those WARNING signs? In which case I would assume it's up to the visitor to decide wether to take the risk or not. Or are those NO TRESPASSING signs threatening big money penalty or jail time?
Dura lex, sed lex. If they don't like local laws, there is plenty of space in Canada or elsewhere on Earth. If we allow idiots to do whatever they want in NPs, that's the end of NPs. US NPs are priceless.
these guys have done nothing wrong. they are heroes among men. it's obvious they have been thoroughly raised on the most current and pervasive...woops i meant to say 'prevalent' teachings of western society/culture which absolutely dictates this sort of behavior. surely we ought to be donating to their kickstarter/fundme pages so they can travel further yet and trash more stuff for fun. go youtube/social media!!!
Sorry but not all the evils of the world are the result of western society. Being an insensitive, selfish jerk is common across all nationalities and creeds:
these fine young men, and their many kin, have the courage and where-with-all required to accomplish such amazing feats. those who lack such admirably 'today' characteristics should not be envious of those whom do but should be proud of them.
The other problem is that people doing things like this gives the police/authorities more reason to detain and question anyone pointing a lens and taking a picture. What is your intent? How are you going to use the pictures? Where do you stand to take these the shots? etc. Other issue is if they got hurt or killed, then we would have their lawyers suing for not enough fences around the area and future photographers will have to be shooting through 10-foot chain link fences. Nothing adds more to a vast landscape shot like 1000+ yards of chain link fence with a sign ever five feet stating the obvious. They should have used a drone...I believe the fine in national parks is $1,000 for each drone flight...would have saved them $7,000.
While I absolutely don't condone the behaviour, the penalty has to fit the crime. I'm not sure that jail time is a reasonable response to a trespass and vandalism charge. It seems like a ban from the National Parks and an $8,000 fine is quite appropriate. The good news is that the Canadian dollar is so weak that 4 fines of that size will put a significant dent in their business. Although I think they have already decimated their brand so hopefully this will be the last we see of them.
It's about admitting responsibility. The idea of prison time is pressure the rest of them to plead guilty like the first guy and just get a fine and no jail time. However... I'm pretty sure if the option were just a fine, they probably wouldn't hesitate to fight the charge in order to get more publicity for themselves and they social media fans.
Agreed, the penalty should fit the crime. So, here's my suggestion: sentence them to several months of providing unpaid maintenance to the NPS at one of the national parks ... hopefully helping to undo some of the kind of damage they inflicted on Yellowstone.
I agree with landscaper1. Jail time is not all that helpful, but chain gang time really does alter behavior. They should get to build trails in the wilderness in areas where there is no cell phone coverage so all they have to think about is a shovel, a pick and the big dude with a horsewhip keeping an eye on them.
In the US they love to incarcerate people. That’s why there are more people in prison in the US than in any other country in the world. (Talk about ‘Land of the free’).
So, I don’t think jail-time is necessary or appropriate. But of course, they should get a serious fine that really hurts.
Panasonic's Lumix DC-GX9 is a 20MP rangefinder-style mirrorless camera that aims to do a bit of everything. It borrows features from both the GX8 and the smaller GX80 / GX85, but does it strike the right balance?
App-based remote triggers are a fun and effective way to unlock even more creative potential from your camera. Here's a closer look at two popular brands.
Unlike most 360 cameras, the GoPro Fusion is designed to create both spherical and standard HD videos. If action/adventure is your game and your workflow is geared towards mobile and web, the Fusion may be the camera you’re looking for.
The Hasselblad X1D-50c is a mirrorless medium format camera from one of the most famous camera brands of the 20th century. Following a series of feature-enhancing firmware updates we've been able to complete our review.
The LG G7 ThinQ is a flagship device with a dual camera that departs from the norm: rather than the usual tele/wide combo, it offers wide and super-wide angle lenses. While it doesn't produce class-leading image quality, it's a solid option if you favor wide-angle shooting.
The instant camera market is heating up, and with four formats and 15+ cameras to choose from, we felt it was high time to examine them all and pick our favorite.
Whether you're hitting the beach in the Northern Hemisphere or the ski slopes in the Southern, a rugged compact camera makes a great companion. In this buying guide we've taken a look at seven current models and chosen our favorites.
What's the best camera for a parent? The best cameras for shooting kids and family must have fast autofocus, good low-light image quality and great video. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for parents, and recommended the best.
What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? High resolution, weather-sealed bodies and wide dynamic range are all important. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting landscapes, and recommended the best.
What’s the best camera costing over $2000? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2000 and recommended the best.
Panasonic's Lumix DC-GX9 is a 20MP rangefinder-style mirrorless camera that aims to do a bit of everything. It borrows features from both the GX8 and the smaller GX80 / GX85, but does it strike the right balance?
Apparently, Huawei hasn't learned its lesson. Two years after passing off a DSLR image as a smartphone image, it's once again misleading consumers in a new, 30-second advertisement for its Novi 3 and 3i smartphones.
Nikon has posted teaser number five for its full-frame mirrorless system being announced in just three days. In this one, early users of the camera share their first impressions, and there's also a quick glimpse of an F-mount adapter.
It's not just the Seattle team celebrating ten years since the announcement of the first mirrorless system. Chris and Jordan have also been looking back at the camera that started it all: the Panasonic Lumix DMC G1.
On a hot and hazy afternoon, DPR staffer Carey Rose took the Panasonic Lumix GX9 and Lumix G Vario 35-100mm F2.8 lens to a neighborhood music festival to gather some impressions of the autofocus system. Here's what he found.
The European Imaging and Sound Association has announced the winners of its 2018-19 awards, with Sony doing particularly well and coming away with five of the eighteen prizes.
When it was introduced earlier this year, Google's new cloud storage service wasn't available to new customers. Now, anyone in the US can sign up for a Google One plan, starting at $2/month for 100GB of storage.
DJI has launched a new video teasing its upcoming launch event. The August 23 date is more than a month later than the original July 18 event date given by DJI back in June.
A veteran wildlife photographer and typically a Nikon shooter, Aaron Baggenstos took the Sony a9 on a recent trip to the Alaskan Wilderness. Find out his impressions of the camera and see some of the incredible images he was able to capture.
Owners of V-mount Hasselblad lenses will now be able to use their modern and historic glass on the front of the Hasselblad X1D. The XV adapter hinted at late last year has now been officially announced and will cost €199 / $249 / £179.
Scottish whisky producer Macallen has teamed up with photographic cooperative Magnum Photos to create a single malt whisky in collaboration with Steve McCurry, Martin Parr, Paolo Pellegrin, Mark Power, Gueorgui Pinkhassov and Alec Soth.
App-based remote triggers are a fun and effective way to unlock even more creative potential from your camera. Here's a closer look at two popular brands.
The photography competition seeks "pictures that show the importance of health in society and the impact health issues have on people and communities worldwide."
Nikon has posted another teaser video for its upcoming full-frame mirrorless system featuring some classic Nikkor lenses. Perhaps the most notable thing about the video is the lens that's shown first...
Following the CES 2017 announcement of its revival, Kodak Alaris has started shipping test rolls of its new Ektachrome to photographers for beta testing.
Take an inside look at the work that goes into testing Nikon cameras from drops, dust, water and debris. There were definitely cameras harmed in the making of this video.
In a press release issued this morning, Sony announced it has sold more full-frame cameras than any other brand in the US over the past six months, measured both by units sold and by value.
Unlike most 360 cameras, the GoPro Fusion is designed to create both spherical and standard HD videos. If action/adventure is your game and your workflow is geared towards mobile and web, the Fusion may be the camera you’re looking for.
Alex and Kathryn are photographers, friends and Tokyo residents who love exploring Japan's hidden cultural treasures. They each brought a Canon EOS M50 on a recent trip starting in bustling Tokyo and ending in the peaceful riverside town of Gujo Hachiman.
Net SE, the parent company behind the likes of Oprema Jena, Meyer Optik Görlitz, Emil Busch, C.P. Goerz, Ihagee and A. Schacht products has filed for bankruptcy and removed itself from the German stock exchange.
Canon's latest 70-200mm F4L comes with a five stops of image stabilization, a new coat of paint and impressive sharpness. We've been shooting with our copy for several weeks now - see how it stacks up in our sample gallery.
Special 4K and 6K Photo modes may be one of the most under-appreciated features on recent cameras. In this week's episode, Chris and Jordan take a closer look at these modes and explain why – and when – you'll be glad to have them on your camera.
Ten years ago this month Panasonic and Olympus announced a new concept called Micro Four Thirds. We're now on the brink of full-frame mirrorless from at least one major player, so perhaps it's a good time to take a look back at where it all started – and how far we've come.
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