Asking for Permission

sneakes_ · 10 Oct 2015, 10:58 am

Hey guys,
I'm interested in doing some urbex/rooftopping around my city of Brisbane (boring, I know haha) but I really can't afford fines and such, only working a few days a week.
I've thought of asking building managers for permission, maybe using the approach that I'm a photographer, give a business card or such.
Just wondering what experiences people have had with these techniques.
Alternatively, how would you go about talking your way out of getting in trouble?
Thanks

f1ex · 10 Oct 2015, 11:07 am

Asking at reception works sometimes depending on the building, as well as asking security.

phytrix · 10 Oct 2015, 11:28 am

You are overestimating the risk involved in rooftopping. I've never run into security or police, and even alarms and cameras are super rare. Even then, you can defer fines to SPER or transfer it for community service if it does happen.

But, in my experience, rooftop permission is difficult in Brisbane. Possible, but more often than not they'll just tell you to piss off

sneakes_ · 10 Oct 2015, 11:30 am

phytrix wrote:You are overestimating the risk involved in rooftopping. I've never run into security or police, and even alarms and cameras are super rare. Even then, you can defer fines to SPER or transfer it for community service if it does happen.

But, in my experience, rooftop permission is difficult in Brisbane. Possible, but more often than not they'll just tell you to piss off

Thanks for the tips. Do you know if trespassing goes on your criminal record? Sorry, I sound pretty lame but it wouldn't be great.
Appreciate the help.

phytrix · 10 Oct 2015, 11:37 am

duckie wrote:
phytrix wrote:You are overestimating the risk involved in rooftopping. I've never run into security or police, and even alarms and cameras are super rare. Even then, you can defer fines to SPER or transfer it for community service if it does happen.

But, in my experience, rooftop permission is difficult in Brisbane. Possible, but more often than not they'll just tell you to piss off
Thanks for the tips. Do you know if trespassing goes on your criminal record? Sorry, I sound pretty lame but it wouldn't be great.
Appreciate the help.

If you're busted on a rooftop, you'll get slapped with a high risk activity charge instead of a trespassing charge. If falls under the category of public nuisance, so it's pretty minor/negligible. Factors depending, your first 2 minor charges (public nuisance, trespassing, etc) will leave you with a small fine (~$300) and no conviction. So usually, only on your 3rd charge or thereafter will it be put on your criminal history

Note: it will be shown on your traffic history, but your employers will never have access to that. Basically the same as a speeding ticket.

Kto · 10 Oct 2015, 5:22 pm

duckie wrote:I've thought of asking building managers for permission, maybe using the approach that I'm a photographer, give a business card or such.

Building managers and property owners will always tell you to piss off. Unless you can cough up money into their greedy a$$ wallets they don't want anything to do with you - - and where the hell is the fun in getting permission for something anyway?

I have been able to snap photos of two rather rare places that not many people have pictures of simply because I asked for permission, but these days I would never ever waste my time calling up some reptilian shape shifter over the phone and bounce around in a conquest of tennis-match like phone calls trying to find the right person only to be told "no" or lied to with a "we will get back to you"

Anyway my advice is screw permission, you'd be amazed with what you can get away with. I scaled the ledge of a very public building in broad daylight, twice across a fortnight, and no one did anything at all to stop me..? I guess because with this kind of activity, we're actively seeking these forgotten buildings but remember a time before you were into exploring when you didn't even notice these places? That's the case with everyone else - no one gives a damn, otherwise it wouldn't be abandoned.

spigot · 10 Oct 2015, 11:08 pm

I often liaise with the maintenance people at my work. Not sure about the building's you're going after, but getting a roof access permit is a real headache if you're not a licensed tradesman with the proper safety inductions. We had a film crew film someone atop our 13 storey building a while ago (maybe 4-5 years) and the regulatory hurdles they had to jump through almost lead to them scrapping the idea. It took a few months and everything's gotten tighter since.

I'd also advise that you can get caught when you least expect it, and it can bite too. I've been pulled up by the cops a couple times before and let off with a warning. However, I did a location not long ago that I was assured was very low-risk security wise. I was detained by the police, issued with a trespass charge and thankfully it went to diversion (essentially a $x00 'donation' to the court fund). It could have been worse, the magistrate on the day was pretty grumpy and it was likely my clean prior record that saved me from worse. Trespass can go on your criminal record, depending on the circumstances. It's a case by case basis. Your mileage may vary.

theedge · 19 Oct 2015, 10:15 pm

Just a note that any conviction that is supposed to be "spent" (ie: disappear) after certain period will still appear if they decide to do a check for a longer period.

For example - For a conviction resulting in a fine will be spent/disappear after 5 years and if someone asks if you've been convicted then you can say no.
However if someone asks you whether you have ever been convicted in the last 10 years it will be best to mention it as there's a chance that their check will see it.
Travel Visas where countries asking for criminal convictions is another one which I'm not sure about. I know Uncle sam is pretty strict where they ask "if you've ever been arrested.." but ironically they can't even get their own house in order with the stupid gun crime and the corrupt NSA I think is no worse than the reformed passenger that boards a plane for a straightforward holiday to the US without disclosing their history.

I'm no lawyer and law is a real grey area which is always open to interpretation. I just happen to work for a company that likes doing criminal records checks before employing/promoting/transferring overseas people although the promotion/overseas transfer side is now exempt to save some dough.