Protecting our homeland in Vermont: The Early Daze

Longtime media observer Jim Romenesko visited his archive machine yesterday to see what he had been writing about ten years ago. Among other items is a Vermont based story the Rutland-Herald had in November 2001.Just months after 9-11 a photographer on assignment for the Brattleboro Reformer was seen taking photos of Vermont Yankee and threatened him with arrest under a Vermont treason statute.

Eagle eyed Vermont Yankee officials saw a photographer taking photos and called police. Rob Williams the VY spokes-person/ flack back then noted with gravitas worthy of the times:

“It’s a police matter. We have been in a heightened state of awareness and we’ve been working closely with the Vernon Police Department,” Williams said

The Vernon Police Chief Randy Wheelock (reportedly he knew the photographer) and Windham County State’s Attorney Dan Davis referred to Vermont Statute Title 13, Section 3481, titled "Treason and other offenses against the government,"

Davis said he became aware of the treason statute after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and especially after three men of Middle Eastern appearance were seen photographing the Bellows Falls hydroelectric station owned by U.S. Gen. “I don’t think it’s a good time to be publishing photos of Vermont Yankee,” Davis said. “But I didn’t write the law.”

The relevant Vermont law states that it is unlawful: “while the United States is at war or threatened with war” to map, draw, model or picture without authorization “property of any corporation subject to the supervision of the public service board, or of any municipality or part thereof” punishment calls for imprisonment of not more than ten years.

States Attorney Davis said he would be surprised if this case was prosecuted. The Rutland-Herald and others noted that an image of the Vermont Yankee control room was featured on the Vermont Yankee website.

My sense is that we aren’t that crazy anymore. However, if asked to I am not confident that I could prove it.