USATODAY.com - Misinformation about your photography rights continues to spread:

The law in the United States of America is pretty simple. You are allowed to photograph anything with the following exceptions:

• Certain military installations or operations.

• People who have a reasonable expectation of privacy. That is, people who are some place that's not easily visible to the general public, e.g., if you shoot through someone's window with a telephoto lens.

That's it.

Know your rights. Always be polite and respectful when dealing with police, of course, but still - know your rights, and stand up for them.