Plate scanners.......a step too far....?

ciar

New Member
My goodness you are testy. I said I gave off the cuff scenarios. And honestly, they are not that far fetched. Judges grant all kinds of search warrants based on our new-ish terrorism laws. If all the information is going to some central database, with unknown control factors - who knows what the possible outcomes could be, who that information could be given or sold to, how things could be "interpreted' by the all knowing government authority. It can have some disturbing consequences and I can see the OPs POV.

Fine if the police are doing this for the right reasons, however, I believe defined controls should be in place for the database, so that things don't happen for the wrong reasons down the road. Location control of citizens seems like the book 1984 has come to life.


You mean things like this?

Driving Through Maryland – How The Lawful Florida Gun Owner Was Targeted… (Hint: Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center) | The Last Refuge
 

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
“I don’t like this particular arc of this particular part of history,” said Schechter. “I’m screaming ‘stop’ as I vote ‘yes.’”

The cameras in Jackson are part of the “Falcon” line, which sends instant alerts to law enforcement. There are different models of the AI surveillance technology, each named after birds: Raven, an audio device for detecting sounds of crime such as gunshots, breaking glass, sawing metal, and screeching tires; Wing, which combs through thousands of hours of footage for specific vehicle identifiers for police; and Condor, which provides a live feed with zooming capabilities. The model names match the company name, Flock Safety, which calls its AI-powered mass surveillance system “TALON.”

TALON has stirred up controversy for its similarities to the technology in science fiction realities portrayed by TV dramas like “Person of Interest” and “Black Mirror,” both of which first aired 12 years ago. In the former, the government relies on an AI program that predicts crime by monitoring the public through surveillance video and all other electronic communications. Multiple episodes of the latter, each of which are stand-alone dramas reminiscent of the “Twilight Zone,” touch on the abuses and extremes of government-involved mass surveillance.

Unlike its TV drama counterparts, Flock Safety says their cameras only capture and retain data on license plates and vehicles — not people — for 30 days or the timeframe required by state and local law.

Yet, much like “Person of Interest,” the real-world AI program by Flock Safety can predict personal associations through “convoy analysis,” which identifies proximity and travel patterns of vehicles. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) characterized Flock Safety’s technology as “Orwellian,” following an investigative report released last year.



 

3CATSAILOR

Well-Known Member
So, during a recent discussion, it was brought to my attention that the Automated license-plate-recognition systems (ALPRs), which I had thought only checked scanned plates against a list of wanted tags, do much more.

They log each plate with time, date, and GPS location, which data, in some cases, is purged by the locality that did the scanning. However, in MD, they upload it to the state, which apparently keeps a database of this info for further referral.

Maryland to store license-plate scanner data at intel fusion center | Center for Investigative Reporting

Now, heres a funny, in the regular media coverage, any hint of possible misuse is ignored, while the benefits are touted.

plate scanners maryand - Google Search

Sorry, to me, this smacks of officers taking pictures of citizens walking down the street, asking them for ID, them logging that data. We wouldn't abide that, but because this is automated, folks ignore it.

what prompted this thread was the sight of three St Marys cruisers on GMR, one stopped in the center turn lane with scanners going, and one east and west, I assume to be dispatched should a scanner hit occur.

Also saw two more SMCS cars on Rt 235 15 minutes later, I think running red light patrol, which would be the first time I have seen that.
It sounds like an interesting case for SCOTUS. The Supreme Court's ruling for Privacy in the Digital Age issued its landmark privacy decision in Carpenter v. United States, ruling that the government must get a warrant before accessing a person's sensitive cellphone location data. This seems to be a similar case of Carpenter v United States whereas Law Enforcement knows where your vehicle is but cannot necessairly identify you as the driver. Although the vehicle may be registered to you, it cannot specifically identify you as the driver. However, in today's Digital Age, it would be easy to link your Vehicle Registration to your Driver's License which does have your photo. It is true that more cameras have popped up in the County, pardon the pun. However, I believe there are many more to follow.
 

black dog

Free America
Start lighting more of them them on fire.
Or a few thousand could show up at the county meetings and tell them, you vote for them, we will burn each of them and vote you out with the next election.

 

glhs837

Power with Control
Start lighting more of them them on fire.
Or a few thousand could show up at the county meetings and tell them, you vote for them, we will burn each of them and vote you out with the next election.



Different tech. At least the SHA shut Cameron down when he tried for red light cameras. I suspect his predecessor will try again.
 

Bare-ya-cuda

Well-Known Member
this is 100% true......about 2016, some Maryland Transportation Authority POlice officers at the Baltimore tunnel were reading tags, the owner, and IF the owners had the designation of a concealed gun carrier would stop the , car asking where their gun was... You see, if you run someone's name and do an inquiry, its "M-Gun" the "Meters" program, under Maryland CJIS, it will indicate the gun(s) they own.
If the hey had a concealed license why would they want to stop them and ask to see the gun? I read that story as well and was skeptical of it being entirely factual. Unless the ccw is from another state, which I don’t believe Maryland would be able to see. Not all states tie ccw to drivers license.
 

black dog

Free America
If the hey had a concealed license why would they want to stop them and ask to see the gun? I read that story as well and was skeptical of it being entirely factual. Unless the ccw is from another state, which I don’t believe Maryland would be able to see. Not all states tie ccw to drivers license.
Not ll States are CCW States. Some are Constitutional Carry, Some of those are CC or OC or both.
Like Indiana, we are not only Constitutional Carry, Our handgun permits are free, and you carry what and how you wish to carry.
Our permits simply say, Permit to Carry a Handgun along with your info. They are not tied to our DL.
Oh and it doesn't have your picture on it.
 

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
So, during a recent discussion, it was brought to my attention that the Automated license-plate-recognition systems (ALPRs), which I had thought only checked scanned plates against a list of wanted tags, do much more.


Company That Sweeps Up License Plate Data Faces Class Action Trial in May​



 
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LtownTaxpayer

Active Member
Homeland Security to Activate ‘National License Plate Recognition Database’


The details are included in a PDF attachment uploaded yesterday to the Federal Business Opportunities website under a solicitation entitled “National License Plate Recognition Database.”

The system will “track vehicle license plate numbers that pass through cameras or are voluntarily entered into the system from a variety of sources (access control systems, asset recovery specialists, etc.) and uploaded to share with law enforcement” in order to help locate “criminal aliens and absconders.”

In other countries that have activated license plate tracking networks, such as the United Kingdom, political activists have been targeted by having their vehicles added to a “hotlist” after attending protests. One example led to a man being questioned under anti-terror laws after he traveled to take part in an anti-war demonstration.

As the image above illustrates, the cameras are also used by local governments in Australia to keep records of people who violate parking restrictions. Critics of the system in Australia have condemned it as “a Pandora’s box for abuse of power, mistakes and illegal disclosure,” stressing that the technology allows authorities to record “your number plate at a certain time and location,” allowing police to “compile an extraordinary amount of data about you. This includes your name, address, contact details, driving history and licence status.”
I have a great idea. Instead of Homeland Security activating this database in order to help 'locate “criminal aliens and absconders.”,' they could do something crazy like STOP LETTING THE CRIMINAL ALIENS AND ABSCONDERS into our country.
 

RBK

New Member
Maybe some of you don't know , Dr Smith from SMCPS went to the school board asking to use a total of 1.46 million dollars for a new program, cameras for in the schools and parking lot and supporting hardware (IT servers etc). Google Avigilon. It has AI, facial recognition and license plate readers. If you have a problem with the police having license plate readers, think about some flunky in safety and security. Every time you go to the schools and fork over your license, it gets scanned into that system. They can use the AI to track your kids, you, even your spouse who works there, even months later. This was APPROVED with only 1 nay from the board. It's supposed to be up and running by end of THIS school year.
 

DannyMotorcycle

Active Member
glhs837, have read many of your posts, most sound pro LEO. The ALPRS scan plates as they go by and send out almost instanaus alerts for hits such as Bolo's, Tags expired, Owners License revoked, Reported stolen tags and reported stolen cars, flagged for expired insurance on vehicle, and my least favorite of all VEIP expired and not renewed in time violations. I don't see the problem, if you are not doing any of the above wrong why worry. I do have problems with law enforcement agencies planting tracking devices on your personal vehicle without a warrant though...

If you're ok with the gov't scanning your tags and uploading the time and location to a database.. then why are you against a gps tracker on your vehicle without a warrant? it's the same thing. Just imagine one camera on one street today, then the next block and the next block until one day it's on every block and just like a gps tracker, your location is tracked everywhere.
 

DannyMotorcycle

Active Member
You are not required to register shotguns in the State of Maryland. I have owned dogs all my life, and have never "registered" any of my dogs. I have been a police officer for over 20 years, and have never heard of a place where I could check to see if a person has a "registered" dog. Any information I querry in reference to a persons guns or criminal history is accounted for and subject to audit. I have to have a valid reason for that because that information is restricted.

Running a tag on a public highway doesn't give me any information about dogs, guns, bazooka's or other items the registered owner of that vehicle has. It also doesn't tell me who is OPERATING that vehicle.
If it's a maryland law, and you're a police officer in MD, then you could call the place where dogs are registered and say I'm officer so and so, I have a suspect in custody suspected of violating the law of an unregistered dog. Can you verify that this person does or doesn't have a license before i issue this citation.. OK maybe it's not set up like that but it could be. You could send an officer over to the regulatory office in person for this investigation. Does the county need a warrant to check county records to investigate a crime? i doubt it.
 

DannyMotorcycle

Active Member
When will it go south? NCIC has been collecting information for forty years. When is the Armageddon going to happen Bernie?

So just because it hasnt' happened to your knowledge means it's never goign to happen.. that's your logic?

Sounds a little arrogant. You want to guarantee big brother won't be a problem for the future generations?
 

LightRoasted

If I may ...
For your consideration ...

So just because it hasnt' happened to your knowledge means it's never goign to happen.. that's your logic?

Sounds a little arrogant. You want to guarantee big brother won't be a problem for the future generations?

Don't think he'll be answering you since he hasn't been seen here in 9 years.
 
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