[Scan-DC] License Plate Readers

[Doug Kitchener]

Well said.  I know how _I_ feel about it.  Interestingly enough, I've been involved in a similar discussion on "wastebook" and I have a whole bunch of concerns about all this stuff.  One of the largest is that all this stuff (readers, red light cameras, speed cameras) has been snuck in on us very gradually, a little bit at a time, so as to be nearly "under the radar".  It's also very powerful, and the information is very powerful (someone mentioned a missing wife, LPRs and extra-curricular activities.)  Even electronic tolling can be used for stuff like that, or simply for issuing speeding citations (distance = rate x time, and if you get from one tolling station to another too soon, you get your green stamps in the mail - 7th grade math, or less).

I could go on and on about this, but will wrap up with a couple more thoughts / observations / opinions:

1)  In my opinion, this speed camera stuff is blatant revenue generation.  It _might_ have its place in school zones, high-pedestrian-traffic areas, or near senior communities, but anywhere else is ( ).  And further, 


2)  (Again, in my opinion), under the Sixth Amendment, use of this technology is unconstitutional, period.  "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a 
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district 
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have 
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; _to be confronted with the witnesses against 
him;_ to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, 
and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."

"TO BE CONFRONTED WITH THE WITNESSES AGAINST HIM".  Sorry for the "shout", can't do italic or bold in plain text, but think about that phrase, what it means, and who (or what) the "witnesses" are.

3)  Again, a lot of this stuff has come on line very gradually.  One thing I've resolved to do very soon is to check out a copy of _1984_ and reread it.

4)  My biggest concern,Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?  (Who guards the guardians?)  The police have a lot of technology, and a lot of power.  Who has the oversight, and where is it?  In any jurisdiction in this area, is there a civilian ombudsman?  This is huge, and there's a lot more behind it.

I can't help but wonder what the reactions our forefathers and foremothers would be to these points.


Thanks for the bandwidth - I'm done, because that's as far as I want to go here.  Also sorry for no direct scan content; would be happy to discuss all of this more off-list.

Regards,

Doug




----- Original Message -----
> From: David Lloyd <lloydde at verizon.net>

(snip)

> However, from the constitutional side of things, not sure how I feel about the 
> data being kept and used.  Other than a rare event, how useful will the data be, 
> how long will it be kept, how will it be used, etc.  
> 
> I'm all for technology and I guess it's kinda interesting/scary that one 
> camera can do so much more than one patrol officer sitting at an intersection 
> and writing down plate numbers, just in case the plate may come up again and be 
> useful. 
> 
> Just my four cents,
> David