York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
Here's a letter to the editor I wrote on the subject of license plate scanners and the privacy implications of the devices. York City police chief Wes Kahley has said scanners will be deployed in York within the next month.
If fielded without limits, the devices become de facto monitoring tools used to engage in wholesale surveillance.
http://www.ydr.com/letters/ci_212411...ocent-citizens
BACKGROUND: http://yorklp.org/helfrich-wants-data-policy
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
That was a good letter. In my eyes the readers should only have two purposes.... the discovery of stolen vehicles and the discovery of registration violations and that's it....nothing more.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
In my eyes they should not exist.
But I know that ANY technology that exists will eventually be deployed, "to protect us".
Besides, think of the money to be made building, installing, operating, and taxing the new infrastructure. Jobs for constituents, tax proceeds for the states.
I salute the growing efficiency of the Fatherland.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shomari
I've seen a live demo of the PIPS system. It's pretty easy to fool the system into not recognizing a plate. Once you understand how the system works, what it does, you'll see that you can get a flexible magnet and some letter stickers from and arts and crafts store. This will confuse the system.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kommando
I've seen a live demo of the PIPS system. It's pretty easy to fool the system into not recognizing a plate. Once you understand how the system works, what it does, you'll see that you can get a flexible magnet and some letter stickers from and arts and crafts store. This will confuse the system.
Sounds like you're suggesting to temporarily alter or obscure parts of the plate? I'm pretty sure there's a law against that in PA.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
PSP has had them in use for a couple years now. Within the past year I've seen a few Philly PD cars with them and the Phila. Parking Authority has been using them for a long time as well.
.http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3542/3...9a380f30_z.jpg
.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
Quote:
Originally Posted by
streaker69
Sounds like you're suggesting to temporarily alter or obscure parts of the plate? I'm pretty sure there's a law against that in PA.
75 PA CS § 1332. Display of registration plate.
Quote:
(a) General rule.--Every registration plate shall, at all times, be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned or on which its use is authorized in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department.
(b) Obscuring plate.--It is unlawful to display on any vehicle a registration plate which:
(1) is so dirty as to prevent the reading of the number or letters thereon at a reasonable distance;
(2) is obscured in any manner which inhibits the proper operation of an automated red light enforcement system in place pursuant to section 3116 (relating to automated red light enforcement systems in first class cities) or 3117 (relating to automated red light enforcement systems in certain municipalities); or
(3) is otherwise illegible at a reasonable distance or is obscured in any manner.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
New York has had them for years, I have seen them driving along streets checking for stolen cars and violations, nothing new.
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tl_3237
75 PA CS § 1332. Display of registration plate.
On that line of thinking, does anyone know why there are so many PRNJ plates that look like they are blurry or running?
Re: York City Police Department to Deploy Automatic License Plate Scanners
Quote:
Originally Posted by
streaker69
Sounds like you're suggesting to temporarily alter or obscure parts of the plate? I'm pretty sure there's a law against that in PA.
It might count as a violation of this: 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1332
ETA: Well looks like I typed that a bit slow, see above.