How To Make CCTV Cameras Even More Awesome: Put 'Em On Wheels
from the we're-watching-you dept
The UK has taken great strides towards being one of the most surveilled societies on Earth, and cops in Manchester are doing their part by attaching CCTV cameras to Smart cars (via Boing Boing). They deploy the vehicles at intersections to catch distracted drivers, they claim, filming cars as they pass by, then reviewing the footage later to determine if drivers are talking on mobile phones, putting on makeup, or performing other distracting activities. Offending drivers then get a letter in the mail, usually with a fine. Police say the measures "are reasonable, proportionate and fair in light of the fact that we are trying to save lives." Is it that likely the cameras will actually save lives? The safety argument when applied to traffic cameras generally seems suspect, and so if that goal's out of reach, how reasonable is the surveillance?Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: cameras, surveillance
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So what's the fine for being distracted by a weird little vehicle with a fecking periscope sticking up out of it?
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Rule, Britannia?
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Re: Rule, Britannia?
Indentured servants maybe...
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Re: Re: Rule, Britannia?
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Re: Rule, Britannia?
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The government shouldn't be doing what it is doing even more so.
The people being distracted is a slippery slope to an accident.
The government putting total surveillance on its people is a slippery slope to tyranny.
Which would you prefer? Think carefully.
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It's for your protection and you don't have anything to hide anyways.
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Yeah, people shouldn't be putting on make-up in the car. Arguably they shouldn't be talking on their cellphone. But I don't think that makes it right for the government to spray-and-pray videotape it's citizens...
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Anyways, pick our battles? What's that supposed to mean? "OK, ok, we'll let you monitor our daily routines as long as you don't listen to our phone calls." How about no, you can't monitor me and, no, you can't listen to my phone calls.
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The REAL trouble
There's a reason we strive for what's reasonable in the courts. Reasonable monitoring of possible infractions is always acceptable. Hound-dogging infractions is a pitiful waste of the resources of any justice system.
When you waste justice system resources, you waste justice.
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Soon enough they'll want them in your homes... oh wait they already do that some places.
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Safety or Revenue
I vote the latter.
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Laws are put in place so when people do something illegal they are punished for it. The punishment in itself should be enough to deter anyone from committing the act in the first place. The job of law enforcement is to arrest offenders, not to spy on every single person waiting until they make that offense.
Surveillance doesn't make anything safe, it just lets you know immediately if you're fucked or not. Quit allowing the government to rape your civil liberties and take over your personal life just because you think they're taking your best interests into consideration, I can guarantee you they don't give a flying fuck one way or another; just pay your taxes and be on your marry way.
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very nice article !!
thanks to author
Regards,
cctv camera in chennai
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Smart car CCTV
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Dang it!, I got sprinkles on my uniform
Because there is no money in it.
Why exert energy running down a perp when you can relax in your smartcar eating donuts?
Arrest a white collar criminal? - No way! You might lose your job because there are political connections.
No, its much easier getting the low hanging fruit, and this police state mentality is cutting down the trees.
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Re: Dang it!, I got sprinkles on my uniform
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statute of limitations
How long do they have to review this stuff before they send you a nose picking ticket and are they retroactive? What if next week they decide that wearing a hat whilst driving is an actionable offense, can they look back through the old files and send out a butt load?
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Sneaky is as sneaky does, Sir.
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Re: Sneaky is as sneaky does, Sir.
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Hard to beieve
On the other hand the evidence is overwhelming.
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Re: Hard to beieve
You hear people complain about this stuff all the time here, yet no one will do anything about it.
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We already have mobile surveilance...
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Minority report
I do see how this argument could also be applied to DUIs, though I think it is a stretch. Alcohol causes an actual, measurable, physical impairment in all people. The degree varies, but delayed responses and coordination are always present. And, unlike other distractions, the effect of alcohol can't be adjusted down by the multi-tasking/prioritization abilities of the brain. It also can't be "turned off," like a phone, radio, razor, make-up, conversation with a passenger, etc.
In any case, with moves like these "smart cars," it seems the UK is moving ever closer to a Minority Report-like situation, where drivers are being fined for the probability/possibility of committing a crime rather than the commission itself. Why don't they just start fining everyone driving, since there's a chance they could cause an accident?
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Revenue
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Wholesale cctv cameras
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Re: Wholesale cctv cameras
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home cctv security
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aappreciation
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cctv camera in chennai
very nice article !!
thanks to author
Regards,
cctv camera in chennai
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CCTV Camera In Bhubaneswar
its really great the uk police has taken great step from safety point of view,thanks for such innovative ideas,thanks to author and the blog keep doing such posts.
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