What’s Going On Here? No One Gave You Permission To Film Us — We All Want to Opt Out!

Confusion, confrontation, and one calm supervisor — a tale of two post offices in Deerfield Beach.

On Friday, May 9, 2025, I visited the Deerfield Beach Main Post Office, located at 212 E Hillsboro Blvd, to see how this facility would respond to public photography — especially after what went down a few miles away at the Village Post Office with Kevin and Julio.

This wasn’t just a casual stop. It was a deliberate comparison. Would the staff here respect my First Amendment rightto film in a public space? Or would they respond like their colleagues — with panic, misinformation, and a call to the cops?

The Scene Inside: Confusion and Objections

From the moment I walked in, cameras rolling, it didn’t take long to stir the room. One of the clerks looked over and asked, “What’s going on here?” The discomfort was immediate.

A customer who had just finished her transaction turned around with curiosity. She approached with a smile and asked what I was taking pictures of. When I told her I was photographing the post office, she asked, “Are you an insurance guy?” I told her no, I’m a photographer — which led to the inevitable question: Why would anyone want to film a post office?

I explained the First Amendment and Poster 7, which was posted in the lobby, authorizing photography in publicly accessible areas. But that didn’t stop the resistance.

Another clerk jumped in: “No one gave you permission to film us.”
Then came the viral line of the day: “We all want to opt out.”
They weren’t just speaking for themselves — they were claiming to speak for the customers too.

The Irony of Opting Out in a Public Space

At that point, another customer said something to the effect of needing to “sign something” for me to record her. I replied that I didn’t sign anything giving them permission to record me on their four visible security cameras — yet those were running nonstop.

That’s the fundamental misunderstanding so many people — even government employees — still have. If you’re in a public lobby, open to the public during business hours, and paid for by tax dollars, you do not have the right to “opt out” of being seen or recorded. Privacy in public doesn’t exist — at least not legally.

Nicola: Respectful, But Not in Charge

One of the clerks, Nicola, did remain professional. While other staff members were visibly irritated and objecting to being filmed, Nicola stayed pleasant and asked if she could help me. I explained I wasn’t there to mail anything — just conducting a First Amendment audit. She didn’t escalate the situation and walked away calmly once it was clear I didn’t need postal services.

But to be clear: Nicola wasn’t the supervisor. That person came out later.

A Supervisor Who Listens (Mostly)

A few minutes after Nicola stepped away, a female supervisor came out to the lobby. She asked if she could help, and I jokingly told her she could assist by filming me from another angle for B-roll. She didn’t take offense. In fact, she stayed calm, listened to what I was doing, and asked my name.

I explained I was conducting a First Amendment audit and comparing this location to the Village Post Office. She didn’t try to shut it down or interfere, which I appreciated. When I brought up Poster 7, she seemed to know what it was and acknowledged its relevance. I gave her my business card before moving on.

A Suspicious Phone Call?

Just as I was wrapping up inside, I noticed the supervisor quietly take out her phone. I clearly heard her say something about “a gentleman recording.” When I asked her about it, she denied making a call. Make of that what you will.

But notably — unlike my visit with Kevin — no police showed up. So even if she did call someone, it didn’t lead to a 911 overreaction.

A Final Word of Support

Outside, while filming some B-roll, a man approached and told me he appreciated what I was doing. “Use your rights or lose them,” he said.

That’s exactly the point.

🧐 Final Thoughts

This visit was a reminder that even when people work in federal facilities, many still don’t understand the public’s right to record. The clerks may not have liked it — but no one physically interfered, and the police stayed out of it. That’s progress.

Compare that to Kevin and Julio’s location just a few miles away, and you’ll see why continued audits are necessary. These aren’t isolated incidents — they’re teachable moments.

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