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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Driving Somewhere? There's A Gov't Record Of That

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chances are, your local or state police departments have photographs of your car in their files, noting where you were driving on a particular day, even if you never did anything wrong.

Using automated scanners, law enforcement agencies across the country have amassed millions of digital records on the location and movement of every vehicle with a license plate, according to a study published Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union. Affixed to police cars, bridges or buildings, the scanners capture images of passing or parked vehicles and note their location, uploading that information into police databases. Departments keep the records for weeks or years, sometimes indefinitely.

As the technology becomes cheaper and more ubiquitous, and federal grants focus on aiding local terrorist detection, even small police agencies are able to deploy more sophisticated surveillance systems. While the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that a judge's approval is needed to track a car with GPS, networks of plate scanners allow police effectively to track a driver's location, sometimes several times every day, with few legal restrictions. The ACLU says the scanners assemble what it calls a "single, high-resolution image of our lives."

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Typical invasion of privacy but god forbid you video tape them harassing somebody

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness someone is watching out for me.

Anonymous said...

Want to have some fun? Just sit in your car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at oncoming traffic.

Anonymous said...

I think this is how they caught the Accomack arsonists. Saw they drive around seemingly aimlessly in the middle of the night, tracked them and then had an idea what properties to stake out.

Anonymous said...

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS GOING AROUND, THEY CATCH WANTED PERSONS, SUSPENDED LICENCES, WARRANTS,CHILD SUPPORT,

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK COPS WE NEED EVERY POLICE CAR TO HAVE THEM,

PEOPLE WANT TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD RIGHT?

Anonymous said...

That's right 4:19-it's all about "public safety" and "the children". You are much safer now that big brother knows every time you fart.

Anonymous said...

So once again a bunch of sheep who thinks this government voilation of our righrs is Ok..well as we all know once they get a foothold it will be abused and used against us..so you keep given rights away and allow government to place a boot on your neck...not me this is not alright... whenever the BS of its for the children... your safety... terroist invasion and you libtarded nazis idoits bend over please sir may i have another..

Anonymous said...

532-535..........ANY Warrants ?

Anonymous said...

6:36 and sheep..No warrants..never arrested.. native white vet with a job..just dont like the abuse we witness every day.and i dont brake the law ..expect for a lead foot...but if you feel further instrusion is ok..just how far are you willing to take it...??...keep letting them turn the vise another notch..someday day when your told what to eat the bible ..guns ..free speech..donuts...driving on sunday and your mommas estate are illegal the machine will be ready to scoop your sorry ass up and spit you out

Anonymous said...

You have no expectation of privacy when you are in public.

Anonymous said...

wonder if they can tell me where I was on august 12 of 1979 I've seem to forgot

Anonymous said...

NAZI's with Badges!

Anonymous said...

3:55-Probably so,but why did it take so long? Snowden set this whole thing off,and every since it's resonated in every direction and every branch of government is suspect of spying on us.I think the whole issue has been drastically overrated to scare us.Intimidation is the only enforceable form of law enforcement.Make em prove what they can do,and for heaven sakes don't believe it if you don't see it with your own eyes.This load of crap has gone far enough.