Ill. Uses Rest Stop Security Cameras

AP | 8-20-02 | n/a

[Temple Owl]

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2002

Ill. Uses Rest Stop Security Cameras

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The state is spending nearly $4 million to equip highway rest stops with security cameras and emergency call boxes, officials said Monday.

The system, expected to be in place by mid-October, will let people contact state police if they feel threatened at any of the state's 53 rest stops and will give police a record of crimes committed there.

People needing help simply push a button on the emergency box. That automatically alerts authorities and sends them pictures from that camera so they can see what is happening.

``It adds to our homeland security,'' said Mike Monseur, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

[Temple Owl]

Voyeurs, that's all they are, voyeurs.

[kidd]

As I read it, the cameras are only activated after the button is pushed by the person in trouble. I don't see a problem with this - in fact it seems like a pretty good idea.

[andy_card]

``It adds to our homeland security,'' said Mike Monseur, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Assuming, of course, that Al Qaeda has decided to switch from attacking major American landmarks to going after Illinois truck stops.

[glc1173@aol.com]

See what a street spy camera system looks like (photos)!

[Temple Owl]

Pretty neat.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"Pretty neat."

These are here in Burlington, North Carolina. The pattern in this state is such setups now showing up on major roads only - and not in small towns. The things are supposedly run by the North Carolina Dept. Of Transportation; who monitors them is unknown.

[spunkets]

It's a waste of money, $75K apiece. All it does is allow the possibility of having an attack recorded on video. It's a jobs program for the camera business. If IL was interested in preventing crimes in secluded places, they would allow their citizens effective self defense. They don't.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"It's a waste of money, $75K apiece. All it does is allow the possibility of having an attack recorded on video. It's a jobs program for the camera business."

Brit experience has been that serious crime continually went up after Britain's streets were saturated with spy cameras to the point that now there's one per 25 Brits!

In fact, Brit "mainstream" dailies now report a rebellion against which the spy cameras can't even protect themselves; Brits - even without guns - are destroying spy cameras and traffic cameras there in such innovative ways as lassoing the things with a rope hitched to car bumpers.

Nor has the Orwellian network of omnipresent spy cameras in Britain stopped terrorism; IRA guerrillas rocketed the headquarters of Brit intelligence headquarters and successfully drove off and were never caught recently.

[Larry Lucido]

will give police a record of crimes committed there.

automatically alerts authorities and sends them pictures from that camera so they can see what is happening.

Much better to simply record crime, than to allow concealed carry and actually stop crime.