Candid Camera to Catch Criminal Cars in Fla. Town (Jack Booted Thug Alert)

Fox News ^ | 04/27/04 | Orlando Salinas/Fox News

[CanisRex]

MANALAPAN, Fla. — This fall, Manalapan will become the first town in the country to use digital cameras to snap photos of every car passing through.

The new $60,000 system uses powerful computer software to compare cars’ license plates and drivers' faces against those of stolen cars and wanted criminals in a police database.

(snip)

[The kings dead]

my expectation of privacy, even if I'm a criminal, is that I won't be suspect unless I see a cop and there is probable cause (heh) to be pulled over.

Running a license plate number is not equivalent to being pulled over or being regarded as a suspect, nor is it an invasion of privacy.

[Hodar]

The government PROMISES not to misuse or abuse this technology!

And exactly how can this be abused? If you are a fleeing felon, this will be used to track you. If you are 'John Doe'; no one cares if you are going to the nudie bar (well, maybe your wife...).

[skinkinthegrass]

Stop using logic.

I Agree...Thanks for the suggestions...and the street are public property. :))

[Hodar]

How do you feel about the "I won't go to the (insert newspaper here) website because I have to register" crowd?

I typically don't register, because I don't want SPAM. But, that is their web page; hence their rules.

Driving is a priviledge, not a right. Those are not 'YOUR' roads. Not a fair comparison.

[FourtySeven]

I think the following is important to note about this new system:

And advocates of the criminal trapping device say all the images will be erased from the system after 90 days.

Since the data will be erased, this would hardly be some kind of "big brother" type of control. I think it's a good use of technology.

I think it's important to keep an eye on things like this, so don't get me wrong. It's just as long as systems like this agree to delete the data after a certain amount of time, then they hardly pose a threat of "control" over the population.

[G.Mason]

Anything made by man can be circumvented by man.

Take the Constitution for example.

[Travis McGee]

Why not put digital cameras hooked up to central computers on every street corner?

We could catch lots of felons that way.

If you have nothing to hide, why care about being digitally tracked throughout your day?

[G.Mason]

"Driving is a priviledge, not a right. "

The sad thing? You probably believe that.

Which goes to prove if you hear something long enough, and from enough sources, it become true.

[Travis McGee]

And exactly how can this be abused?

C'mon, you're kidding, right?

One example, of hundreds I could rattle off. This is one of the milder ones.

You're abused by a government official (zoning dispute, whatever) and begin to write letters-to-the-editor, and call talk shows. Become a real pain in the neck to said official.

Your own digital signature somehow becomes "flagged" for special watching. Every time you step off the curb, you are nailed for jaywalking. Every time you exceed the speed limit by 5MPH you see blue lights behind you. Every time you leave a bar, a police car is following you.

Won't be abused? Sure. Hey, I've got a great bridge in San Diego to sell you, with unlimited toll revenue potential. Let me give you the details, I'm ready for a quick sale.

[flying Elvis]

I had a friend in Georgia who looked just like Eric Rudolph. Various authorities showed up at his house on more than one occaision. He sure was glad when Rudolph was finally caught. lol

[Travis McGee]

Since the data will be erased, this would hardly be some kind of "big brother" type of control.

Your trust in Big Brother seems rather naive.

[cowtowney]

Actually the modern day license plate is anything but modern. I see a future license plate built with a RDIF chip or like a Toll Tag with personal information in it. When you pass thru any place where there is a scanner your info gets swiped.

No, I don't like this. I just see the logical extension of our present technology.

[biblewonk]

ping. First town!? we musta missed that honor by 2 weeks.

[cavan]

"If you want privacy, stay off public roads"

And we know how much Billy Joel values his privacy.

[Doctor Stochastic]

A data base that can be (even years) later searched by divorce lawyers and political opponents.

[Lokibob]

Today the system only pulls over wanted felons....

TOMMORROW... sheriff Barney Fife decides that he doesn't like people carrying guns, sooo... he gets a list of CCW permits, cross references them to plates and programs it into the computer.

When the Deputy stops someone and finds a gun, CCW or not, it is an entirely different stop than asking for driver license.

[Hodar]

So, when did driving become a right?

Perhaps you own the roads? If so, can you fix some of your pot holes in my neighborhood? You never had the 'right' to drive. If you want to drive, you follow the rules, you purchase insurance, and you make certain that your car is safe to drive. Then, you are allowed the priviledge to join the rest of us.

If driving were a right, then there would be no restrictions on it. You could drive in any lane, at any speed, in any condition, with anything you could put tires on. That obviously is not the case.

[FourtySeven]

Your trust in Big Brother seems rather naive.

My "trust" in Big Brother only goes so far as the condition that all data be erased in a certain amount of time, is met. Until someone can PROVE otherwise, a rational person must believe that they mean what they say. I can go around dreaming up conspiracies everywhere; that doesn't get me very far in life. In fact, it'd eventually drive any sane person mad.

For example, I can say that the official report for the "Roswell Incident" is false, and really just a cover story to hide the "truth" about an alien crash landing at Roswell, but unless I have PROOF of that, my protestations mean very little, don't they?

Or do you think people's "feelings" on a subject constitute proof?

[wbill]

You believe them when they say that they're going to delete the data, right?

Normally, I try to stay away from the tinfoil hat crowd, but I think that cameras on the public right-of-way (for speeding, redlights, etc) are wrong.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Do you really believe it when someone tells you, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help".

Do you REALLY believe that the police don't stop people they don't like the looks of and "ask" (i.e. intimidate them) to search their cars so that they can "find" drugs and confiscate the car?

Do you REALLY believe that the liberals don't want to disarm civilians so that the government has a monopoly on power?

Do REALLY believe that the prosecutors don't conceal and hide evidence or facts that would acquit the accused?

Haven't you read where city governments gave ticket collection powers to private companies to "monitor" intersections for red light runners (one of my pet peeves) who (the private company) then tweaked the length of the yellow light in order to increase revenues?

If you believe the the government WON'T abuse any power it gets, then you have already to joined the ranks of the useful idiots.