For the past two mornings as I inch along in traffic on my way to work theres been a police car in this one town parked on the side of the road with these devices on his trunk lid that are projecting a beam at passing licence plates. Anybody seen this technology yet? Whats he looking for? Stolen cars? Registered Republicans?

Sounds like this

Thanks regulator. Thats pretty awesome.

this tech has been on teh streets up in Toronto Canada for over 5 years now. They are only allowed to use it to look for stolen cars though, no idea what the limitations here are.

Like the guy said in the video (with his cavalier attitude): "vehicles of interest". This is rife for abuse. None of his business who's in a parking lot.

not sure i like big brother spying on me that much... definatly has it's good points though.. I also have a stolen plate to call in today off one of my yard trailers, found it missing last night while closing up..

Like the guy said in the video (with his cavalier attitude): "vehicles of interest". This is rife for abuse. None of his business who's in a parking lot.

I understand the benefits of systems that can collect passive information and make it searchable, but I don't care for any technology that has that kind of potential for abuse. I feel the same way about traffic light cameras.

I understand the benefits of systems that can collect passive information and make it searchable, but I don't care for any technology that has that kind of potential for abuse. I feel the same way about traffic light cameras.

I agreee

I understand the benefits of systems that can collect passive information and make it searchable, but I don't care for any technology that has that kind of potential for abuse. I feel the same way about traffic light cameras.

I feel the same way, but it does have it's benefits. stolen property has my attention..it is definatly nothing more than a money maker for the township..

We demo'd a few LPR systems and they are indeed very cool... The system simply scans for plates and when it recognizes something that looks like a plate converts the numbers and letters to text like an OCR scanner for your computer. The data is then compared against a static or networked database. If the plate matches a flag in the system it alerts the patrolman/operator. Flags range from stolen car, expired registration, registered owner suspended, registered owner warrant, etc. We were looking to use the technology to speed up inbound traffic onto our campus during the morning rush. We are expanding our site to support almost 10,000 employees and contractors up from the 6,500-7,000 we have on site now and our current infrastructure is inadequate to support the additional volume. Our intent is to use the LPR system to compare plates with our static db of employees and contractors and alert the gate officers when someone driving up is not in the db so they could challenge their credentials. We hope to have our system up and running by the 3rd quarter next year. It is impressive technology.

My SIL in south Jersey was in a left turn lane on 73 near West Berlin...cop apparently got a hit with this system because he wedged his car in the space in front of her and did an "active takedown" of this hardened criminal. Her crime? License renewal was 3 days overdue. My 5yo niece, strapped in the back was quite upset as he ordered mom out of the car with his hand on his gun like she'd just pulled the Brinks heist. What a dickwad.

I understand the benefits of systems that can collect passive information and make it searchable, but I don't care for any technology that has that kind of potential for abuse. I feel the same way about traffic light cameras.

Here's where I'm at. If I'm not doing anything wrong, who the hell cares? Can only potentially help me down the line if my car is stolen or whatever.

 

Same with traffic light cameras. I got bigger issues to worry about than cops trying to record traffic violations and find stolen vehicles or people with active warrants or whatever they're doing.

Here's where I'm at. If I'm not doing anything wrong, who the hell cares? Can only potentially help me down the line if my car is stolen or whatever.

 

Same with traffic light cameras. I got bigger issues to worry about than cops trying to record traffic violations and find stolen vehicles or people with active warrants or whatever they're doing.

 

I really don't have an issue with these systems as long as it's used for real crimes. The License plate scanning is great for stolen cars and for wants and warrants. Keep it off private property and don't pull people over for stupid stuff.

 

Traffic light cameras are simply there to enhance revenue. They serve no other purpose. All the non-biased studies show that the single most effective measure for traffic safety is a 4 second yellow light. The red light cameras do indeed reduce the number of T-bone collisions but they increase the number and severity of rear-end collisions.

I wonder if the technology is out yet to scramble the numbers that thing see's? Maybe have it display "EAT ME" on the officers laptop.

A device like this is the next logical technological step for police work. At anytime police are told to "be on the lookout for..." It isn't humanly possible to remember and process all of that while driving or watching traffic roll by.

I may just be clinging to a simpler time, but I find it intrusive.

 

I'm still of the belief that as someone who has done nothing wrong, and has nothing to fear from LE, my personal travel habits and destinations are my private and personal business and have no place in a searchable database.

 

I absolutely see the benefits, but I dislike being included in the haystack when the search for the needle is being conducted. I don't do EZPass for the same reason. I'm not a nut trying to live off the grid, but I think the line between personal privacy and societal protection has to be drawn somewhere.

I wonder if this was how they found the lady that hit my car and had no insurance/registration. That would be awesome. Court date on the 1st..

I may just be clinging to a simpler time, but I find it intrusive.

 

I'm still of the belief that as someone who has done nothing wrong, and has nothing to fear from LE, my personal travel habits and destinations are my private and personal business and have no place in a searchable database.

 

I absolutely see the benefits, but I dislike being included in the haystack when the search for the needle is being conducted. I don't do EZPass for the same reason. I'm not a nut trying to live off the grid, but I think the line between personal privacy and societal protection has to be drawn somewhere.

 

Once again i agree with ken, one thing that bugs the heck out of me is the onstar equiped with my new car can shut down my car to a crawl, ok great for stolen car but suppose the system starts getting used when you go above the speed limit how sucky would that be all in the sudden your car comes to a crawl and fifteen minutes later a cop pulls up behind you with your summons

They have this in lower manhattan around Broadway and Wall Street. In my opinion, it's there not for stolen cars or expired registrations...

I wonder if the technology is out yet to scramble the numbers that thing see's? Maybe have it display "EAT ME" on the officers laptop.

 

Generally the cameras are mounted on the sides of the cruiser looking left and right. There are polarized license plate covers that block the ability to read the plate at certain angles. These are the most effective way to combat photo lights, radar, etc. but of course like everything else are considered illegal as they obstruct the ability to view the plate...

Those who think this is an intrusion of your privacy need to realize that this is already being done by cops, only they are inputting your plate into their computer manually. What they are doing is running a "random inquiry" which runs the registered owner through NCIC(system where all wanted criminals are entered, as well as stolen vehicles, parole violations, missing persons), checks to see if they are properly licensed, and makes sure the vehicle is registered. The only info the LEO sees is vehicle year, make, model, and date of expiration. He does not see any owner info, unless there is a hit via NCIC, or the owner is suspended, or the vehicle is unregistered.

 

What this system does is speed up the whole process, and make the LEO a safer driver, since he no longer looks at or types in license plates and can focus on just driving.

Generally the cameras are mounted on the sides of the cruiser looking left and right. There are polarized license plate covers that block the ability to read the plate at certain angles. These are the most effective way to combat photo lights, radar, etc. but of course like everything else are considered illegal as they obstruct the ability to view the plate...

they also dont work...but of you want to waste your money....go right ahead. While i;ve never been petty enough to wrote someone for obstructing the plate...if i see one of those covers, i'm going to look a little harder at how the vehicle is operated.

Those who think this is an intrusion of your privacy need to realize that this is already being done by cops, only they are inputting your plate into their computer manually. What they are doing is running a "random inquiry" which runs the registered owner through NCIC(system where all wanted criminals are entered, as well as stolen vehicles, parole violations, missing persons), checks to see if they are properly licensed, and makes sure the vehicle is registered. The only info the LEO sees is vehicle year, make, model, and date of expiration. He does not see any owner info, unless there is a hit via NCIC, or the owner is suspended, or the vehicle is unregistered.

 

What this system does is speed up the whole process, and make the LEO a safer driver, since he no longer looks at or types in license plates and can focus on just driving.

 

This... When i was working solo, part of what i would do was run license plates in parking lots after certain hours..and i averaged about 2 stolen car recoveries a night doing so. Depedning on how busy we are, I'll run anywhere from 75-100 plates in random during a shift while my partner is driving around, at least 10% of them will have some sort of hit, from expired registration (usually just a "Hi there..get this taken care of please" unless it's months past due)to Suspended, warrants, ect.

Ah, so that is what it is... I see these on the cruisers in Marlboro all the time.

 

Honestly, I dont mind this, and am glad this is being used. Makes the LEO safer drivers not having to futz on the computer while driving and drinking Dunkin Donuts. =)

 

So what about red light cameras? Bitch all you want, but if you ran the red light, you ran the red light. If you think people are out to get you, they are out to get you. the LPR system is just a more efficient system, and safer to use. If an LEO wants to run your plates, he can do it anyway.

I may be wrong but I think cops running random plates in parking lots was challenged in court and it is allowed.

Ah, so that is what it is... I see these on the cruisers in Marlboro all the time.

 

Honestly, I dont mind this, and am glad this is being used. Makes the LEO safer drivers not having to futz on the computer while driving and drinking Dunkin Donuts. =)

 

So what about red light cameras? **** all you want, but if you ran the red light, you ran the red light. If you think people are out to get you, they are out to get you. the LPR system is just a more efficient system, and safer to use. If an LEO wants to run your plates, he can do it anyway.

 

Mak I dont like the Red light Cameras on a number of levels. the MAIN one is that they are monitiers by an outside contractor..who gets a percentage of every summons. Plsu, it has been proven that they play games with Amber times, which ends up causing Collisions. RLC's have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with Revenue generation..and that is NOT what the law is meant to be.

Mak I dont like the Red light Cameras on a number of levels. the MAIN one is that they are monitiers by an outside contractor..who gets a percentage of every summons. Plsu, it has been proven that they play games with Amber times, which ends up causing Collisions. RLC's have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with Revenue generation..and that is NOT what the law is meant to be.

 

 

That I did not know. who monitors RLC's? That is nuts to think it is a for profit organization and that they mess with yellow lights.

I may be wrong but I think cops running random plates in parking lots was challenged in court and it is allowed.

As long as you are running them for valid only, you can run any plate you wish. You have no expectation of privacy vis-a-vis registration status on Public property, or Quasi-public property...PRIVATE property is a different matter, but there is also caselaw that follows that as well. it's the guys that run the Cute blond's plate to get her address...or they Exe's new Boyfriend's plate that get themselves in trouble.

Mak I dont like the Red light Cameras on a number of levels. the MAIN one is that they are monitiers by an outside contractor..who gets a percentage of every summons. Plsu, it has been proven that they play games with Amber times, which ends up causing Collisions. RLC's have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with Revenue generation..and that is NOT what the law is meant to be.

 

X2. If I know a red light camera is monitoring an intersection the second I see yellow I'm nailing the brakes, and probably getting rear-ended.

I think the police need monitoring too. GPS units in the cruisers to make sure they are where they are suppose to be and not at the donut shop. A camera in the car to monitor their actions - like talking on the cell phone , texting , stopping to chat with friends .

If your going to police others you need to police yourself first.