«

I apologise if this has been asked before, but just out of interest, what it
the definition of a public place/space?

I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public space,
however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned. Am
I correct in saying this?

Although, what about a pub (public house), even though it maybe privately
owned, it is a public place and is open to the general public, hence the
name.

Leroy wrote:

> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public space,
> however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned. Am
> I correct in saying this?

No! Any area that the public has access to is public space. That
includes Tescos etc.

Leroy wrote:
> I apologise if this has been asked before, but just out of interest, what it
> the definition of a public place/space?
>
> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public space,
> however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned. Am
> I correct in saying this?
>
> Although, what about a pub (public house), even though it maybe privately
> owned, it is a public place and is open to the general public, hence the
> name.

Hi Leroy...

Here you go

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_place

Take care.

Ken

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:17:51 -0000, "Leroy" <>
wrote:

>I apologise if this has been asked before, but just out of interest, what it
>the definition of a public place/space?

It depends on the purpose/activity.

There is no single overriding definition.


>I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public space,
>however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned. Am
>I correct in saying this?
>
>Although, what about a pub (public house), even though it maybe privately
>owned, it is a public place and is open to the general public, hence the
>name.
>

What is the activity you are interested in?
--
Alex Heney, Global Villager
Both of his feet are firmly planted in the air.
To reply by email, my address is alexATheneyDOTplusDOTcom

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:32:09 -0800, Just Another Digital Fan wrote:

>
> Leroy wrote:
>
>> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public space,
>> however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned. Am
>> I correct in saying this?
>
> No! Any area that the public has access to is public space. That
> includes Tescos etc.

Not in the United States. Even restaurants and bars are NOT public spaces
under the law even though they are frequented by the public. Those
establishments as well as others similar can, under the law, refuse
to admit you or serve you or bodily expel you, if you refuse to leave, as
long as the reason for excluding or expelling you is not on account of
race, creed, gender or national origin.

Stef

"Just Another Digital Fan" <> wrote:
>Leroy wrote:
>
>> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public space,
>> however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned. Am
>> I correct in saying this?
>
>No! Any area that the public has access to is public space. That
>includes Tescos etc.

The public has access to private businesses, but that is emphatically
*not* a "public" area.

It pretty much has to be owned by the "public" as well as open to
the public. Hence, government owned.

--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

"Ken Weitzel" <> wrote in message
news:Lr71h.221749$R63.192358@pd7urf1no...
> Leroy wrote:
>> I apologise if this has been asked before, but just out of interest, what
>> it the definition of a public place/space?
>>
>> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public
>> space, however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately
>> owned. Am I correct in saying this?
>>
>> Although, what about a pub (public house), even though it maybe privately
>> owned, it is a public place and is open to the general public, hence the
>> name.
>
> Hi Leroy...
>
> Here you go
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_place
>

Not acceptable as an authoratative source on anything.

"Just Another Digital Fan" <> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
>
> Leroy wrote:
>
>> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public
>> space,
>> however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned.
>> Am
>> I correct in saying this?
>
> No! Any area that the public has access to is public space. That
> includes Tescos etc.
>

Nope. Tesco is private property. They can deny entry to whomsoever they
chose - and frequently do.

"Alex Heney" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:17:51 -0000, "Leroy" <>
> wrote:
>
>>I apologise if this has been asked before, but just out of interest, what
>>it
>>the definition of a public place/space?
>
> It depends on the purpose/activity.
>
> There is no single overriding definition.
>
>
>>I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as public
>>space,
>>however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because it's privately owned.
>>Am
>>I correct in saying this?
>>
>>Although, what about a pub (public house), even though it maybe privately
>>owned, it is a public place and is open to the general public, hence the
>>name.
>>
>
> What is the activity you are interested in?

Just a shot in the dark, but since this was cross posted from
rec.photo.digital, I would say photography was a fair bet.

"Leroy" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I apologise if this has been asked before, but just out of interest,
>what it the definition of a public place/space?

It depends on the laws of your country. But for the purpose of
photography, any place where you have no expectancy of privacy, is
generally considered to be a public place and you are generally within
your rights and freedom to take photographs of the people and places.

Expectancy of privacy means you can not expect to maintain a sense of
private conditions. You can and will be viewed by other members of the
public.

As an example, if you're sitting in a restaurant having dinner, you
can not expect the people beside you to not hear or listen in to your
conversations, or observe what you're eating for dinner, or notice
with whom you are sharing your table.

In your own home, you do have an expectancy of privacy. Anyone who
impedes or otherwise invades that privacy is probably breaking privacy
laws.

> I am thinking that streets, roads, public parks are defined as
> public space, however a shopping centre/superstore isn't because
> it's privately owned. Am I correct in saying this?

A shopping centre is generally considerd a public place because you
have no expectancy of privacy. But the property can be privately owned
and you can be subject to the owners wishes. If you want to take
casual photos of people in a mall, that's usually not an issue.

But if someone complains to the management who are representatives of
the owner, they can tell you to stop or tell you to leave the
premises. You do not have the right to dispute when on private
property.

Note however if someone does approach you in a mall, tactful
explanation of what you're doing will usually be accepted and you may
be able to continue. So if security asks what you're doing, and you
tell the guard to "get lost", you can expect to be told to leave or
even forceably removed. But if you tell security that you're taking
photos for a business report, activity center of a local paper with
credentials, or of your daughter running around in a Halloween costume
in the mall, chances are good you will be allowed to continue.

Don't be stupid and you'll usually be free to shoot as much as you
want.

> Although, what about a pub (public house), even though it maybe
> privately owned, it is a public place and is open to the general
> public, hence the name.

Same as any other place that is privately owned.

But once again, how you go about it will greatly affect how successful
you are at getting the photos you want.