Privacy villain of the week: DC's traffic cams [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [NCCP] Privacy Villain: DC's money cameras
Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 17:56:06 -0400
From: J Plummer <jplummer () consumeralert org>

                            Privacy Villain:
                           DC's money cameras
by James Plummer

A recent report on the traffic spycams installed throughout Washington,
DC gives the lie to the oft-repeated claims that forced loss of privacy
is balanced by greater security.

When the DC government started installing traffic cameras all over the
city a year or two back, many protested. A lawsuit was filed asserting
that the cameras were a violation of civil rights, in that the person
owning the car photographed (or allegedly photographed) was deemed
liable for the fine incurred until proven otherwise. ('Guilty until
proven innocent' supposedly not being the standard for jurisprudence in
this country.)

But when the case was decided, D.C. Superior Court Judge Melvin Wright
brushed aside those Constitutional concerns and stated in his opinion:
"Although cameras operated by the government are a concern regarding
privacy issues, those concerns are outweighed by the legitimate concern
for safety on our public streets."
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20030612-112125-7552r.htm>

Yet a recent report in The Washington Times reveals that the number one
money-making camera in the district is placed such that it does
virtually nothing to make for a safer roadway, being placed as it is on
"A six-lane highway bordered by two service roads with no homes,
schools, churches or hospitals nearby."  The speed limit on the road
leading out of the District quickly picks up from 40 to 45 to 55 mph
across the border with Maryland.
<http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20040429-101731-8457r.htm>

Indeed, as another report pointed out, three of the top 10
most-dangerous intersections in the city are not even covered by the
government's 39 red-light cameras, indicating a preference for dollars,
not safety, by the District muckety-mucks.

In fact, placing traffic cameras on pedestrian-free highways like New
York Ave. and Anacostia Parkway may increase danger on the roads by
mixing drivers going at 'highway speed' and other drivers slowing
preciptiously to below the too-low speed limit, anxious that a camera
will snap them. This is a recipe for disaster that compromises both
safety and privacy.

It's not a stretch -- studies of red-light cameras have shown that
panicky drivers are more likely to slam on the brakes when they see a
yellow light for fear of the redlight cameras, causing rear-end
collisions. It is easy to see how a similar phenomenon would work with
drivers who believe they've suddenly entered the range of a hidden speed
camera. Last year, Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich, in rejecting speed
cameras, went so far as to point out that even the state Transportation
Department questions whether current speed limits have any particular
relation to optimum roadway safety.

And that is surely the crux of the matter. For the state has seized the
monopoly on roadway travel and leaves people with few if any other
options to get from A to B without falling under the roving eye of Big
Brother. There is no legitimate safety reason for expanding state
surveillance in such a way -- and the fact that to do so butts up
against constitutional protections is indication enough that these
programs go too far. For recognizing all of these problems and putting a
stop to the Big Brother madness bubbling up from the state legislature,
Gov. Ehrlich is this month's Privacy Hero.

----

The Privacy Villain of the Week and Privacy Hero of the Month are
projects of the Consumer Alert's National Consumer Coalition Privacy
Group. Privacy Villains and Heros audio feature now available at FCF
News on Demand. For more information on the NCC Privacy Group, see
www.nccprivacy.org or contact James Plummer at 202-467-5809 or
jplummer () consumeralert org . This report available online at
<http://nccprivacy.org/handv/040514villain.htm>.



--
James Plummer
Policy Analyst
Consumer Alert
(202) 467-5809


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