How to avoid to be suspicious for police

[nave88]

Bonjour.

I was riding my bicycle in the city center (Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus), taking photographs automatically with my GoPro Max, being the camera on top of a pole.

Then I made the mistake of not planning the route in advance, and I took images near some embassies. Quickly a police car chased me, stopped me, and requested documentation. There was some tension. I understand, I will not complain, that is their job.

In order to avoid this unpleasant situation, I decided that from now on I will avoid controversial places, and I will identify myself as “mapping” while riding, with a DIN A4 paper with logo and QR link (see attached image). All considering that so far I am an amateur without affiliation.

Do you have any additional suggestion?

Merci.

[cquest (Christian Quest (OSM-FR / Panoramax))]

This a very country dependent issue.

Of course photo mapping around sensitive areas or buildings can cause this kind of situation.

In France we had some panoramax contributors brought to the police station for 45 minutes.

Some document explaining Panoramax can help, we have a draft one but only in French and referring to the French law.

[Eric_S (Eric)]

Panoramax jacket.