In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, there’s this story from the Joliet (Ill.) Herald News.
Travelers along Old Route 66 sometimes stop to shoot photos of the nuclear power plant in Braidwood.
But they’re likely to face questioning by police or plant security.
Heightened surveillance around Exelon Nuclear’s Braidwood Station is part of the post-Sept. 11, 2001, industrial world.
“When we see someone who stops to shoot pictures or video, we do investigate,” said Neal Miller, spokesman for the Exelon Nuclear plant in Braidwood. “Every time, it has been something innocent,” he added.
If each instance of investigating someone shooting photos near the plant turns up innocent parties, it’s time to re-assess this policy. Route 66 draws thousands of tourists to it each year, and it stands to reason that many of them have cameras.
Nuclear plants are built with so much thick concrete that even flying a 747 into it would do nothing but destroy the plane.
Besides, if the Braidwood plant was that concerned about photo security, it’d better shut down Google Maps, where I was able to zoom in on the plant with a satellite photo in about two minutes.
This policy along the Mother Road is nothing more than busybody overkill.