Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

License plate tracking nabs criminals, keeps tabs on thousands of innocent people
Post standard, Syracuse NY ^ | March 23 2014 | Marnie Eisenstadr

Posted on 03/23/2014 6:15:30 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- There are 1,228 cameras mounted on the trunks of police cars across New York.

From the tiny village of Jordan to New York City, the cameras snap a picture of every plate on every car that drives by.

It's an effortless 100 pictures a minute for each camera, called an automatic license plate reader. A few pictures each shift might produce an alarm from a statewide hotlist updated daily: The registration is suspended, the car is stolen, the driver is wanted.

But the rest of the plate pictures - millions a day across the nation - are mostly warehoused in databases where they sit for anywhere from months to years. Most of the pictures are seen by no one. If they were, they would show where millions of innocent drivers have been.

The license plate readers are a massive fishing net that is effortlessly cast. This is what makes them so popular and feared. They are the paradox that is intelligence technology.

The data socked away has been used to solve crimes and stop violence. But it also documents to the government where law-abiding people have been for months and even years.

(Excerpt) Read more at syracuse.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: cops; nsa; spying
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: Behind Liberal Lines

***There are 1,228 cameras mounted on the trunks of police cars across New York.***

Ah, wait a minute. If it is mounted on the trunk it can only take photos of cars behind it, IF they have a front plate.

Many states do not issue a front plate.

Now a dash cam doing the same thing is a different matter.


21 posted on 03/23/2014 6:54:07 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Sometimes you need 7+ more ammo. LOTS MORE.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

...or the reporter meant to write “hood.”


22 posted on 03/23/2014 6:58:12 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

“Ah, wait a minute. If it is mounted on the trunk it can only take photos of cars behind it, IF they have a front plate.”

They are turned forward at a 45 degree angle over the deck lid on each side. I believe they can also read the bar codes on the window reg. and inspection stickers.


23 posted on 03/23/2014 7:03:28 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (What would Scooby do?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Iron Munro

If it were limited to “democratic” babies it might not be a bad idea.


24 posted on 03/23/2014 8:01:39 AM PDT by Cen-Tejas (it's the debt bomb stupid!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: relictele

Yep. I tried to report burglaries and vandalism to my property in NYC and was told that I could fill out a report to give to my insurance company, but that they would not investigate or even come to the scene. Very rude and hostile. I felt like I was being implicitly threatened simply for walking into the station to report a crime.


25 posted on 03/23/2014 8:56:29 AM PDT by Monmouth78
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kozy

And that is why they won’t do it.


26 posted on 03/23/2014 9:41:47 AM PDT by cableguymn (It's time for a second political party.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Behind Liberal Lines

Best to hire a Mexican national at below-minimum wage to ride shotgun with you on all car trips.

When you’re pulled over, let Jose do the talking. Just nod along and pretend you understand Spanish.

When the cops discover you both are most likely illegal aliens, you will be sent on your merry way, muddy plate or no.


27 posted on 03/23/2014 10:31:53 AM PDT by relictele (Principiis obsta & Finem respice - Resist The Beginnings & Consider The End)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Kozy

Do it at all polling stations to track voters.


28 posted on 03/23/2014 11:02:25 AM PDT by SgtHooper (If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Iron Munro

They already collect the DNA for every newborn under the guise of ‘genetic testing’.


29 posted on 03/23/2014 11:06:24 AM PDT by Black Agnes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Behind Liberal Lines

I’m still looking for the “reasonable expectation of privacy” we can expect while driving around on public thoroughfares.

Good luck banning this surveillance.


30 posted on 03/23/2014 11:09:27 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (H.L. Mencken: "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Great trade off.


31 posted on 03/23/2014 1:08:20 PM PDT by servantboy777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson