People act like people with cameras are terrorist. It's just a camera in public just like the security cameras that are everywhere including cell phones. Don't ever turn your camera off ever. It is your right to film. Great video just purchased the same camera after watching some of your other videos.
Security can be such a pain about taking pictures and videos about stuff that is unusual. One time, I was in a building trying to harmlessly take pictures of the fire alarm system and I was forced by security to stop and put the camera away
Supervisor: You are not allowed to take pictures in this hotel. His guard: *takes picture of your ID using his cell phone* Anyone else watching in 2019?
Yeah I hope they fire him because he's a jerk, if I were you I would've called the cops on him because they have more authority than him. Security guards are just police officer wannabes.
He was rude, putting it in fire service when there was no emergency, I get that they do it to test, but when the guy knows that Andrew is on the elevator? Perfect timing. I don't mean to be rude myself
the real reasons most hotels frown upon people taking pictures of the establishment. is the competition or rivals stealing there patterns now where I used to do security for the casinos which that implied to for no photography of casino floors or gaming machines all the casino security would ask of the photographer is to stop and explain why in a manner that is not disrespectful and most casinos here in Vegas are set up differently but they would not treat you like a criminal at least I wouldn't usually there is fine print in the registration receipts they hand you have a good day
That is one of them. Terrorism and all other dangerous activities are the possible which is another reason why this busting happens. This happened in Mumbai where an American citizen took pictures of all of Mumbai for 2 whole months and sent it to a terrorist group in Pakistan and they came to Mumbai via sea and ransacked our city back in November 26, 2008, yes, a few hotels like the Trident Nariman Point, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, etc. were involved in that attack. This led to 168 people killed. Since then, almost a lot of places in India are strict about any type of photography, thankfully I did not get caught or reported for filming the elevators at Hotel Sahara Star because I was a guest. But because of the attacks that happened, there are possibilities of guests to get caught for doing photography at hotel grounds. However, I did deal with one hotel back in December 2022, as I was done filming, I started getting questioned and then I got further reported to the Duty manager of the hotel and eventually after all the explanations, I was hereby told to delete the video. And no, I was not guest but I took permission from Front Desk.
what a cowincidence filmed those earlier this month and we got the same car in the high rise bank i did not bother with the low rise bank b/c i just wanted to get out before i caused problems. also i may partly side with security due to the time of day you filmed there.at 3:30AM makes you look very suspicious but if you tried to get them during the day i doubt you would have had any issues.
this summer the guard yelled at me for riding the elevator with my camera I was GOING TO HERSHEY PARK and he said can I see your room card I did and he just left
You handled that very well. If it was me, I would have probably started my Spy Cam app on my phone to secretly record the whole incident without them ever knowing. I was thrown out of the Hyatt Place hotel back in the winter for filming their elevators... after I had filmed them all and finished the video. They basically used 9/11 as an excuse. I wasn't a hotel guest like you were, but it was still ridiculous. They stated that "no cameras were allowed in the hotel"... I was filming with my smartphone... something I imagine that 90% of the occupants in the building had in possession. I made a phone call the very next day about it. The person I spoke with was very understanding, and that they would address the problem in their next "staff meeting". Here's the video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oeywaAY-txA.html
+DieselDucy The Empire State Building is starting to become a little bit unhappy with filming too. The last time I went there I almost plummeted with dad in the express going back down to the mezzanine from floor 80.
Security must have been bored out of his mind. On a side note, I HIGHLY recommend that you do not ever turn a camera off when asked by security. Video evidence never lies and turning off a camera equates to covering up a truth.
+alpalJL Although it is illegal to disobey their filming policy, I would agree. I would advise to pretend to stop the recording but actually keep it going, if only really capturing the audio.
technicalboy 3000 Could'a should'a would'a too late, it already happened, but I still recommend NOT to turn a camera off. Use your common sense, not another source. It equates to your computer crashing and not having it backed up. Personally, I'd hate to lose my info. Turning a camera off is ridding yourself of your credibility in the argument. My advice to those reading this, DON'T TURN OFF YOUR CAMERA IF YOU ENCOUNTER SECURITY!!!!
+JoshCraver9000 And not just no need, but he also probably caused a major inconvenience to other people needing to use the elevators. Putting an elevator in fire service without permission is ILLEGAL!!! Turning fire service on can sometimes summon the fire department just like pulling a fire alarm summons the fire department.
+gluse YEA! ABSOLUTELY! *IT'S EXACTLY LIKE PULLING A FIRE ALARM JUST NOT FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING JUST THE ELEVATOR SYSTEMS LEAVING THE DARN PEOPLE TRAPPED ON THEIR ROOM FLOORS WHO THE HELL WOULD TAMPER WITH A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????*
+technicalboy “techgeek5000” 3000 It usually doesn't summon the fire department directly. If the elevators are tied into the fire alarm control panel, which they aren't in some buildings, manually activating fire service can trip a relay and put a trouble or supervisory condition on the panel. The abnormal condition is usually reported to the company that monitors the system. I don't think they would send the fire department for a supervisory condition, nor do I think he had it activated long enough for the company to feel the need to contact the maintenance company. This is a misconception that I often hear that I like to clear up, and that is placing the elevator on recall is not same thing as pulling the fire alarm in many ways. Doesn't mean he was justified in doing it, but something he probably couldn't get in trouble for.
+msj191961 I know a fire alarm tech in Atlanta. Putting an elevator in fire service will NOT sound the alarm or put a trouble on the panel. I know this for sure.
+TheElevator&AlarmGeek I am sure that msj has more experience in fire alarms and elevators and I agree with him that in some cases, the FA panel is tied with the elevator system
Completely unprofessional. I hate it when businesses use the whole "terrorist" crap to cover up their very uncouth methods of prohibiting photography. I think that guard was abusing his powers, to say the least.
+22408aaron The sad thing. it was just security. EVERYTHING else about this motel was amazing. Wait til u see the hotel tour coming up in the next couple weeks :)
+22408aaron One time I watched one of +Transit PLUS's videos of the Macy's Herald Square Security pulling the September 11 crap on him for filming the express elevators in the shopping complex.
At least you managed to film a lift (sorry, "elevator!") returning to the lobby under fire control which was pretty cool. Makes me wonder why some people "would" treat you that way, unless they get some kind of commission for the "number of guests you can annoy in a day", or he is just a grumpy "job's worth" that gets a kick out of being nasty and grumpy. Why would he WANT to treat you like that, when it seemed from what you were saying, other members of staff disagreed with his actions. I would have refused the $50 and suggested a "complimentary trip around the motor rooms" instead haha! Great video as always. Matt
CHG It isn’t exactly illegal but it is misuse as it disables the lifts for no valid reason (which is definitely bad for a high rise) He shouldn’t really have a fire service key anyway.
As much as security was trying to do their job, putting the elevator in fire service? That is both excessive AND ILLEGAL. Imagine if there were other guests in the other two elevators trying to go up to their rooms, and the elevator starts buzzing and taking them back down to the lobby? They would be traumatized! I know for a fact that the Hilton company is one of the best when it comes to lodging, and very much welcomes guest photography. This property apparently is partly owned by Millennium hotels as well, which would explain the poor security. Anyways, rambling aside, That guy handled his job unprofessionally, and just ended up making an ass of himself. Thankfully this was done late in the evening when the elevators would be less busy. Otherwise, that stunt he pulled might have cost him his job.
+NationalElevator im pretty sure that manager saw that the other elevators weren't full making it only logical to put it in fire service to bring it to the lobby because it wouldn't afftect anyone else. (IM NOT SAYING THIS OVERALL WAS LOGICAL, but the way he did it and how there was no passengers in the other elevators I think was fine)
+NationalElevator yes you're right NationalElevator and guess what! If you pull the fire alarm it will do the same thing to the elevators so why even bother? This incident should be put on Danger Dolan's *15 stupidest security incidences of all time*. You should so totally watch Danger Dolan's countdown videos.
+NationalElevator Yeah I know! It is not the security guard's to put the elevator in fire service! Leave it up to the fire department! Anyway how the hell did he get his hands on fire service keys?
+Nathan Andrew Davis (Bantam Jeep Elevator) Fire Department is the elevators worst enemy. The fire department does not understand how to do anything with an elevator other than break stuff and cost the building owner lots and lots of money. Never leave it up to the fire department. If an elevator mechanic can get to the property faster than the fire department, things will end better for everyone involved.
+NationalElevator You can put one elevator in fire service at a time. Does not require every elevator to go to the ground floor. Some older elevator fire safety systems do make them all go to the ground. But most do not. Fire service is not traumatizing for the passengers in an elevator. In modern systems a voice explains what the elevator is doing and asks the passengers to exit once the doors open. Not traumatizing one bit.
+ElevExplorings by JimLiElevators Indeed he did Jim. The security guard carelessly set the elevator in fire service without ever considered how it would effect the other people in the hotel.
+Elevating Denver Fire service can also sometimes be linked with the alarm system triggering the notification of and response of the local fire department. Unfortunately, this was not the case hhere. Otherwise that guard would have lost his job for sure.
+ElevExplorings by JimLiElevators The guard is basically pulling the fire alarm without physically pulling it down. now consider the thousands of occupants STUCK in their hotel rooms now they are never going to be able to get to the lobby or enjoy a swim in the pool because of that security guard. I hope DieselDucy is okay
+WestCoast Elevators I hope that next time he does it the fire alarms actually go off and the fire department gets a big red display on the computer screen saying that a security guard was tampering with elevator controls in the millenium hilton nYC
This is the incident that prompted me to make a video on how Anti-American security and other people are in NYC and harass anyone that does anything unusual like it's a crime! I've been waiting all summer for this one!
Security telling you put your camera away is one thing which I'd be alright with but putting the elevator in fire service mode while you were in was totally unacceptable and does illegal imprisoment.
If there isn't a backup of people waiting for the elevators, what harm are you doing? You aren't vandalizing, making noise in the room corridors, or otherwise interfering with the business. Apparently the larger the belly under the uniform, the more officious the security guard. They should have made that security guard apologize to you in person, even if it meant his commuting to the hotel during his off hours. Hopefully he at least got a severe reprimand for his conduct and (mis)treatment of a hotel guest (you) who had not violated any rules. And also he needs to spend some quality time in the gym each day.
*elevator photography* is considered *suspicious activity* in some cases, although I think thats super wrong. he has a licence to film elevators, right? I think so.
133travelguyIndo 8 one time last summer I was in Florida I filmed the elevator in the hotel & everyone else was so jealous :) The hotel manager & head of security gave me permission to film them...
Although you and many others may disagree, I believe the hotel security acted properly and accordance to their internal guidelines. Whether or not the misuse of the fire service mode was used, some elevators actually do have a function for security recall and deliver the elevator to any floor specified as a security holding procedure. This video is a perfect example of a successful security audit, which could arguably be used by others to exploit vulnerabilities within the facility for nefarious purposes. 1. This proves the hotel is actively monitoring and responding to responds their security feeds. 2. Verifies identification based on hotel records, although security may not have access to your name directly when booked via travel sites (expedia, travelocity, priceline, etc) Which, you even admit the room was booked under another name, although you paid for it. 3. Security documented the incident and captured proof of identification, just because it was a cell phone, don't make the assumption it's a personal device, it can be provided via the facility for use while on duty. Management responded to your communications via email, confirmed the deletion of your identification after they indeed verified you were a guest and had done nothing wrong. They responded to your Facebook message and even offered to make it right. Others might see this as rude or an inconvenience, but it actually makes me want to stay at their properties over others, especially in light of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. I actually give props to Hilton on this one, although security probably should have better access to hotel records or checked with the front desk in the event they don't. I'm sure you had a room key, or a badge that could have verified the information you had provided them. - Also, just checked your channel out, glad you have the intro video - gives me a better understanding of who you are and what you do. I'm sure if you had explained to security it could've made the situation less tense. Additionally .. you might have brought light to the idea that I too, may also have Asperger syndrome. I know this video is quite dated, but if you happen to read this comment, I'd really enjoy chatting with you. Hope you're doing well, keep it up!
"Cannot take pictures for terrorism reasons" Wait, what? That's ridiculous, it's public property. I can't believe people are still using "Well I'm probably not right but I'll just say terrorists do it" and expect it to work.
+Brandon Martinez The hotel is actually not public property. They have every right to ban photography inside, although it being "for terrorist reasons" is absolutely ridiculous. Having security is one thing, abusing it is another.
Looking at the comments, there is missing content of the origonal video and description, are they lying around anywhere on the internet? Re-uploads copy-pastes of description, that kind of thing...
D Mack I do not believe so. I don't think anything is missing from the description that used to be there, and the video was never reuploaded. Andrew edited it before uploading. There has always been a little bit of missing information. I'm not sure if Andrew decided to cut some parts out or if he shut off his camera when he realized the guard was hassling him.
That definitely is illegal for the security guard to use his personal cell phone to take a photo of your ID while he was harassing you for filming the hotel’s elevators. Thankfully that was able to be resolved soon enough but that guard though was really out of his mind overall in many ways!
That is the problem with security guards. Many seem to not know the official policy set by management, and seem to automatically think that photographers are spies for terrorist organizations such as ISIS. Security guards can't go harassing people. They need to treat the public, guests, and employees with respect. I hate it when staff act like jerks.
+georgef551 I would connect a RU-vid player to the loudspeakers and blast Danger Dolan across all of the lobby and Mezzanine on loudest volume so the security guard's ears can malfunction and fail.
Tallest hotel I've ever seen! My mom says the States have been a bit jumpy since 9/11. (We live in Canada, about an hour and a half west of the Peace Bridge.)
They use 9/11 as an excuse to treat everyone like terrorists now, while the REAL terrorists are the US government, that has the world by the BALLS... don't get me wrong, I love America and lived here my whole life, but I do not like what its turning into!
1 thing that's really cool about this elevator is Otis used genuine Concave Buttons which is typically not used in North America, most of the time Concave Buttons are mostly used in Europe or as replacement Buttons in NZ, Australia & Asia
Filming in a hotel is not illegal. How do you think people do room tours and reviews of the hotel? That's just BS they fed you because they don't like you. To them someone holding a camera in an elevator at some random hotel in fuck-all nowhere is a terrorist threat. But this is NYC and it's also a rich snob's hotel so there you go.
Pathetic. Security guards get all nervous that there's going to be like a repeat of 9/11, that they have to be all rude, telling people that they can't do things that they're allowed to do, like film elevators and say whatever they want. Next thing you know, it's a whole big deal over something very little. I can imagine that before 9/11, rarely any of this crap would happen.
It is illegal to extremely detain someone who is filming elevators, and/or transit, just because they do it as a hobby, like because they are an elevator fan, and/or they are a transit fan.
@@kg4bojUmm yes it is, particularly if they have business being there, whether they are staying in the hotel or are waiting for a bus, train, or catching a flight
+LittleRockElevators Pulling a fire alarm causes panic and the fire company will come to turn it off, putting a elevator to make it go down to the lobby is not the same lol
Jeffrey Z & bigpopparand1 Putting the elevator system in fire service mode on high-rise elevators sends an alarm to the fire department dispatchers. So the fire department treats it the same as a regular alarm and sends emergency services.
+Elevating Denver My friend is on volunteer fire department here in new jersey, fire service mode does not call the fire department dispatch only heat and smoke sensors call the fire dept, and newer elevators go into fire mode when alarms goes off, fire mode in a elevator does not call fire dept here in new jersey they use fire mode to get sick people down the elevator in my mothers 5 story building all the time without alarms going off
Sadly this is the reason I quit the hobby years ago. Here in NY anyone with a camera is viewed as a terrorist. And being that I have chronic mental illness & anxiety disorder, it just wasn't worth having an anxiety attack over. Imagine if you weren't a guest in the hotel! I did get videos there in the past but won't chance it again. One day maybe I'll visit a City thats not as uptight as NY. And them using Fire Service should be some kind of violation, thats only supposed to be used by the Fire Dept. Its a shame I miss riding & filming these elevators but its not worth the stress. Even in malls you can be kicked out like so many years ago at Roosevelt Field. The old "Private Property" excuse. Should be a Federal Civil Rights law that protects photographers stating any property open to the public and within view of the public cannot be restricted from photography in any way. Until then, I stay in the woods where at least I don't have to worry about being harassed for taking pictures.
Honestly, I am glad that front desk lady stood up to that security guard with you! Because that security guard was a jerk, so was his boss! Forcing the elevator cars down to the lobby using fire service was absolutely never the way to go, or spying on you using the security cameras!
I myself once got caught by security filming at the Hotel Magnolia in Dallas. I was a guest at the time but it didn't really matter the guard just agreed that they were nice and rare elevators. Even bragged about them himself and allowed me to continue. I know you have seen those and how unique they are.
Misuse of the fire service controls can get someone into a lot of hot water. I'm surprised this security guard still has his job after his behavior. It's a bit ironic though. You are on a trip with the world's largest elevator company, and filming an elevator...
This bust was probably one of the worst ones in this community. I am so sorry this happened to you Andrew :-(. If they are so worried about this kinda stuff, this sounds kinda silly but why wouldn't they keycard off the elevators? Again, photography of any kind is not a crime.
It's illegal to videotape in bathrooms/changing rooms. Also illegal to videotape in healthcare facilities without consent from the patients/staff under HIPAA and military bases under 18 USC 795
The security man put the elevators in fire mode because he had enough of Andrew taking pictures of the elevator and riding it because the guard thought it was suspicious activity and terrorism due to 9/11. The guard gave him a chance to comply in the first place by calling him on the intercom of the elevator he was in but he noticed the guy in the elevator had come too far
Watching this today still makes my blood boil. That security guard should not only have been fired, but charged for abuse of fire safety feature on an elevator. Whether you broke the rules or not, you have video evidence of him breaking the law. You could've threatened to turn him in to NYPD
You handled that pretty well. I guarantee you if I was harassed by a security guard for filming elevators at a hotel that I was PAYING to stay at, I would not have been so nice about it.
I agree Lord elevator, Andrew did handle that very well but I must say this is very unprofessional for a security guard. Besides fire service is only allowed to be accessed by fire department, hotel staff with permission or elevator technicians running some tests on the elevators.
If I was taking photos of elevators and I had a call from security on the intercom and putting the elevator and fire service while I was a guest in the hotel heading to my room since that elevator had a stop switch instead of a key and I was getting busted by security I would pull the stop switch and wait until security comes back on the intercom and tell him what I was doing
I was kicked out of one elevator there, because of some patients that needed to be in that elevator, and the person told me to go to another-elevator in the building!
I'm sick of security guards detaining lift filmers illegal. This is a mass problem in the lift enthusiast community. This has to stop, you are a lift filmer Andrew, you need to tell the security guard that lift filming is NOT a crime. I am a lift filmer and I got caught filming by a mall cop, basically I instantly noticed them that lift filming is not a crime. Hope my advice helps and have fun filming.
If this ever happens again, please let the manager of the place know. That was completely unacceptable and uncalled for. What if other people were trying to get to their rooms? I hope that dude realizes that when he put it into fire service it recalled all the elevators.
+Superduper Julien Yeah. Same as pulling the fire alarm just not activating the fire alarms for the whole building just the elevators. Anyways today was my first day of high school and there's a 1930s otis freight elevator in my art classroom that goes up to the science lab, gymnasium, and cafeteria. I stared at the freighter for almost the entire time I was in art class and the teacher said "okay. I see you found something really interesting. Want to share it?" And I said "I found a 1930s otis freight elevator" and the art teacher said "Wow! I thought that was my personal parking garage."
It's not illegal. They can put it in fire service mode if they want to. Some buildings without call cancel buttons do that all the time when some jackass pushes all the buttons. It's also how they get drunks, homeless people, and other vagrants out of the building instead of having to chase them around.
Wow. That is quite a story. When he called you in the elevator, I thought he was cool with it the way he dismissed the call just like that. The whole time the elevator was going down to the recall floor, I was repeating to myself "you did not!" I have never stayed in a Hilton before, but I will not let this incident determine my view on Hilton. I am sure this was a one time incident and management did try to compensate you. But I cannot believe they recalled the elevators because of what you were doing. They probably held up a lot of people waiting to come down.
+DieselDucy The Hilton near my house is friendly they said once their elevators are finished being worked on they said I can come film the m they just finished a 12 million dollar renovation. they don't have as problem with me coming to film but I might end up struggling trying to film there
+Toongeek45 yeah. I hope that hotel has Office 365 so that all of the hotel visitors can collaborate on a giant mega class-action lawsuit for this incident.
That’s terrible that they had to put the elevators in fire service and send them back down to the lobby. I mean, what are you going to do in that situation. I think Andrew (dieselducy) handled it very well and for that security guard, he should quit harassing photographers and go live on the street.
Man, some of the comments against this guard are harsh. I'm going to go ahead and clear up everyone's misconceptions. I already told this to someone else, but putting an elevator on fire recall is NOT the same thing as pulling the fire alarm. The worst it can do is trip a relay putting the fire alarm system control panel into trouble/supervisory. When this happens, the monitoring company is usually notified of the abnormal condition, and maybe the maintenance company will be called to investigate. The fire department is not called for a little trouble condition. Plus, he probably didn't even have it on long enough for them to get concerned. In fact, he could have even gotten the key from maintenance who already bypassed recall on the panel. I've heard stories of security using fire service in situations like this, and if they think they're using it to protect the safety of the building, then I'd say they're technically justified. Not that recall was the smartest or most considerate option to use here, though. I don't agree with anything else the guard did either, like the rude behavior and the picture of the ID. He wasted Andrew's time and made himself look bad in the end, but I'm glad the manager made it right.
+msj191961 Yes Msj is completely right on this. Fire recall would have nothing to do with the main fire alarms of the building. The building management can authorize anyone to use it that would have a justified reason to and it is totally legal. I do however also agree that Andrew was treated terribly and his behavior for treating a guest in the hotel like that is unacceptable.
Hearing stories of something does not equal legality it could have been illegal but overlooked. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Also if they know saying they are protecting the building will keep them out of trouble, guess what they'll say. You also in excusing his behavior point out that others were possibly involved. May have knowingly aided him, disabled alarms and possibly prevented communication with the fire department. Everyone protected by the same excuse as him. The guard was right by the desk and as mentioned being told several times the man was a guest. The guard only pulling out the line he knew to say when shown to be wrong. The guard likely thought he was a tourist filming around in the hotel as he charged he was trespass nothing more. He displayed a common tactic by redirecting attention. Using a claim of threat, which oddly enough he didn't bother to pursue at all hmm.. Like he knew to say that. When shown to be wrong in his assumptions.
Thank you for clearing that first misconception. Far to many people think that putting the elevator in fire service will call 911. This misconception is ridiculous and untrue. It can not call the fire service over something as little as that.
