FC: Update on facecams, red light cameras, and photo radar ruling

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Eric Lee Green and others sent along this link:
http://www.sptimes.com/News/080801/TampaBay/_They_made_me_feel_li.shtml

It says that Tampa police used an image of Rob Milliron, a local 
construction worker caught on camera and not wanted for any crime, to 
demonstrate the facecam system to reporters. After U.S. News and World 
Report published the photograph, a woman erroneously reported Milliron as 
wanted for child support, and police showed up at his job. The experience 
of being interrogated by cops was quite pleasant, I'll bet.

More articles:

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,45950,00.html

   Reporters Scowl at Face Scanners
   By Declan McCullagh (declan () wired com)
   2:00 a.m. Aug. 9, 2001 PDT

   WASHINGTON -- In an attempt to allay growing public concern, defenders
   of face-recognition software for video cameras gathered in the
   nation's capital on Wednesday.

   The stated purpose of the press conference: "To stop irresponsible
   grandstanding and fear-mongering, and to start an open and honest
   dialogue on the shaping of policies, which will ensure responsible
   use," in the words of the director of the Security Industry
   Association, Richard Chace.

   The effect: not much.

   [...]


In the latest Washington City Paper, the local government columnist weighed 
in on DC cops, cameras, and tickets:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html

Also:

http://www.sunspot.net/news/printedition/bal-ca.plates00aug12.story?coll=bal-pe-carroll
License plate cameras raise privacy concerns
2001-08-12 05:35:51

http://www.detnews.com/2001/editorial/0108/12/a18-266863.htm
Rigging traffic lights hurts safety
2001-08-12 05:02:06

-Declan

*********

From: "Diamond, Richard" <Richard.Diamond () mail house gov>
Subject: Oregon Supreme Court Rules Against photo radar
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 14:44:33 -0400

If the state cannot find you guilty without proving you were actually the 
driver, photo radar is dead in Oregon, despite their AG's comments.  A 
similar Appeals court ruling completely killed photo radar in Alaska. This 
is a great victory for the rule of law!

Oregon Supreme Court Ruling 8/9/01
<http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/S46559.htm>http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/S46559.htm 


Alaska Appeals Court Ruling 1997
<http://www.freedom.gov/auto/cases/akappeal.asp>http://www.freedom.gov/auto/cases/akappeal.asp 


Richard Diamond
Office of the Majority Leader
US House of Representatives
202-225-6007 / www.freedom.gov

August 9, 2001, Thursday, BC cycle
1:48 PM Eastern Time Associated Press
High court overturns speeding ticket issued under photo radar law

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The state Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the 
conviction of a woman who was issued a $35 speeding ticket under the 
state's photo radar law.

The state attorney general's office said it does not appear the court 
ruling throws the photo radar law into question.

"It doesn't have anything to do with the constitutional issues of photo 
radar," said Kristen Grainger, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office.

[...]

********

Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2001 10:14:55 -0400
To: declan () well com
From: Jonathan Gewirtz <nqn () ix netcom com>
Subject: What happens when police are caught by speed-enforcement cameras?

That's a reasonable question for DC officials. Police and other govt
functionaries should be as accountable under law as the rest of us. Perhaps
those new impartial cameras will generate an increased incidence of traffic
tickets against drivers who now get a pass out of professional courtesy. In
such cases will officers be obliged to pay their fines, or will the system
be discreetly reprogrammed to ignore official license numbers? The latter
outcome would be fundamentally unfair, yet seems possible if this question
is not debated publicly.

********




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