Posted on 09/27/2010 8:29:34 AM PDT by justlittleoleme
Privacy-conscious travelers may cringe to think of the full-body scanners finding their way into dozens of airport checkpoints around the country. Most likely aren't aware that the same technology, capable of seeing through walls and clothes, has also been rolling out on U.S. streets.
American Science & Engineering, a company based in Billerica, Mass., has sold U.S. and foreign government agencies more than 500 backscatter X-ray scanners mounted in vans that can be driven past neighboring vehicles or cargo containers to snoop into their contents. And while the biggest buyer of AS&E's machines over the last seven years has been the Department of Defense for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the company says law enforcement agencies have also been using them domestically, deploying the roving scanners to search for vehicle-based roadside bombs in American cities. "This product is now the largest-selling cargo and vehicle inspection system ever," says Joseph Reiss, AS&E's vice president of marketing.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Those things use an incredible amount of electricity. If the government is looking for dangerous stuff in vans, they should start with the power source of the scanner device.
That’s the kind of room you’ll need to surf the FR in a few years. Will have to run the signal along the barbed wire all through the country side too ...
Would a couple of lead corner cubes overwhelm the return signals?
Won’t matter, Obama is seeking to wiretape websurfing habits.
In the interest of protecting America. While he is okay with jihadists making death threats while serving in the US military...
So they are searching privately owned vehicles without a warrant?
Sort of illegal isn’t it?
If they claim it is legal then why can’t they just walk up to any car parked on the street pop the trunk and search it?
You can archive for more info.
Future Tech: Beyond X-ray Vision
Discover ^ | 16 jul 02 | Ivan Amato
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/717037/posts
“In June 2001 the Supreme Court ruled that the use of thermal imagery to detect heat from a private home without a court-ordered warrant violated the occupant's Fourth Amendment rights. What about an X-ray scanner that can look into every passing car, or a millimeter-wave detector that sees through the clothing of everyone in an airport? Their success may depend on how much transparency people are now willing to accept in the name of security.”
What’s lead trading at nowadays?
Think I may pick up a few shares...
Just run hot and cold water pipes up and down around your room. They would have to screen out that thermal reading.
law is meaningless bump.
so much for rule of law.
On his radio show this morning, Glenn had a congressman from Utah talking about these x-ray devices.
the lawsuits over cumulative effects of radiation exposure from these things is gonna make Three Mile Island look like a parking fine
Emanuel Cellar’s wet dream comes true.
Back in the 1960s T J Dodd and Emanuel Cellar pushed for the first federal gun registration schemes inthe US. He later said he wanted a X ray machine cops could drive around NYC, aim it at people on the streets and see if they were carrying guns. Time to line the walls with lead!
Thermal immaging has already been used in the past. I remember a police hostage situation years ago in Memphis I believe.
A cop was held by some criminals. Thermal immaging of the house showed the heat signature of the cop fading showing he was dead. The police then stormed the house with thermal scopes and in total darkness shot all the criminals dead.
Ever heard of “Van Eck phreaking”?
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Spy-On-Your-Neighbors-—Van-Eck-Phreaking-2455034
Oh well, maybe next year...
Billerica? Interesting that this town has a section called “Crime-Hurst”...Pine Hurst.
The special ops guys need this in the WOT to see exactly where the enemy is hiding behind the women and children.
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