City cameras track anyone, even Minneapolis Mayor Rybak

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | August 17, 2012 | ERIC ROPER

[BobL]

On Aug. 3, a mobile camera spotted Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's city-owned car on 5th Avenue downtown. On Aug. 7, it found the car again on Nicollet Island. On Aug. 9, another camera saw the mayor's car on a side street near the University of Minnesota.

All of that data resides in a city of Minneapolis database containing millions of license plates scans, captured by devices mounted on city police and traffic vehicles. As a Star Tribune public records request shows, knowing someone's license plate number gives anyone access to city data about where that vehicle has been seen.

[BobL]

License plate cameras are real, and very effective. They will store data on every vehicle that passes them. Most state legislatures, like the idiots here in Texas (no doubt) don't see a need for privacy protection, since no one has been stalked and killed, yet. But it sure would be nice to see some people proactive on this, for once.

[j_tull]

I sure they are also feeding Trapwire.

[gorush]

I’m sure there is an emanation from some penumbra that makes this perfectly constitutional.

[Da Bilge Troll]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about. We will decide if you have something to hide or not. Better ask permission first. A couple hundred bucks in the right hands can insure your liberty. We’re just trying to help you, so STFU.

[Grams A]

I am proactive - but I do not consider having a camera with the capability of scanning my car tag and reporting its every move as protecting my privacy. We have way too many cameras already IMO.

[Defiant]

The require you to have a number on your car that identifies you, then they use that to track your every move. Nice step on the road to slavery.

[BobL]

“The require you to have a number on your car that identifies you, then they use that to track your every move. Nice step on the road to slavery.”

Yea, it wasn’t the intent, but they have it now. No different than transponders and RFIDs on cars. These cameras are not cameras as we understand them, they’re specialty instruments that essentially turn license plates into transponders. They don’t miss, or if they do miss, they ping the police immediately.

The problem is that government will use them UNTIL someone stops them. It always works that way, and most people (especially the pansies here in Texas) won’t care if every movement they make is stored in a database, for further review by ‘authorities’ (or anyone else with access).

[gunsequalfreedom]

Try and get the police to comply with an info request for camera data. Not likely

[BobL]

“Try and get the police to comply with an info request for camera data. Not likely”

About as likely as getting the serial numbers from their 9mm’s. They don’t like to share their toys.

[T. P. Pole]

No different than transponders and RFIDs on cars

You haven't looked closely at the year-sticker they send you when you renew, have you?

[BobL]

“You haven’t looked closely at the year-sticker they send you when you renew, have you? “

I have, here in Texas, and still haven’t found any circuits. But I did hear it’s being done.

[BenLurkin]

I love Big Brother.

[UB355]

I have wondered if the license Numbers being checked by the devices in squad cars are stored.

[BobL]

“I have wondered if the license Numbers being checked by the devices in squad cars are stored.”

Of course. This stuff is WAY too tempting to not have handy. Think about when a person in court says they were at Point A, when the camera says Point B. If you confirm first that they were in the particular car, you’ve nailed him.