Lancaster most watched city in US

[FHL85]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,3641451.story

I thought this was the money quote:

No state or federal law governs use of public cameras, so Morales is drafting ethical guidelines for the coalition's 10 staffers and dozen volunteers. Training has been "informal" until now, he said, but will be stiffened.

Morales said he tries to weed out voyeurs and anyone who might use the tapes for blackmail or other illegal activity.

"We are not directly responsible to law enforcement or government at this point," he said. "So we have to be above suspicion ourselves."

I feel safer already!

[semperfi]

Thanks for the great link! Disturbing to say the least! And no public outcry!

[lprgcFrank]

I wounder what they do when they see someone OC'ing?

Time for a visit to Lancaster to find out?

[FormerUser123]

I wounder what they do when they see someone OC'ing?

Time for a visit to Lancaster to find out?

OCDO @ Long's Park? It's the biggest park in the city.

"Years ago, there's no way we could do this," said Keith Sadler, Lancaster's police chief. "It brings to mind Big Brother, George Orwell and '1984.' It's just funny how Americans have softened on these issues."

Frightening that the Cheif says this off the cuff, seemingly completely nonchalant. He might as well have said "Yep, the masses have been blugeoned into apathy. Ain't it grand?"

[PocketProtector]

Couple that with this. Big Bro is on the move.

http://www.newswatch50.com/news/loca...lOmBVxFOg.cspx

A monitor inside an operations trailer shows a close-up view of a boat skimming across the water on Lake Ontario.

The image was taken from an unmanned aircraft more than three miles away.

A Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has been temporarily based at Fort Drum since early June in an experiment by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office.

The Department of Homeland Security is using the extensive restricted air space over Fort Drum to test whether the drone could be a good fit along this stretch of the northern border.
Video of a boat on Lake Ontario captured from 19,000 feet above (John Moore, NewsWatch50)
Video of a boat on Lake Ontario captured from 19,000 feet above (John Moore, NewsWatch50)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has five of the aircraft but so far none of them based permanently in the Northeast.

The Predator will operate out of Fort Drum for about three weeks for testing and training, and to evaluate its use to law enforcement.

John Stanton, director of CPB's Office of Air and Marine, said state, provincial and local law enforcement agencies were quick to take up the offer of added surveillance of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

"So while we were flying, we were asked by our partner law enforcement agencies if we would be kind enough to be on the lookout for suspicious activities," Stanton said.

The surveillance also includes the land border between the U.S. and Canada after the border peels away from the St. Lawrence River.

By flying in restricted air space at 19,000 feet, the Predator avoids lower-level air traffic, cutting the risk of collisions, Stanton said.

The aircraft is virtually identical to Predators used by the military, with the exception of lower-power engine and no weapons, he said.

[DonSmithnotTMD]

The thing is, you don't have an expectation of privacy in a public place. It's just like videotaping hoodles operating near your home. Whatever they do is fair game.

[FormerUser123]

The thing is, you don't have an expectation of privacy in a public place. It's just like videotaping hoodles operating near your home. Whatever they do is fair game.

This may be true, but do we have the expectation to be able to go about our business without fearing all of our actions are being constantly scrutinized?

Just read the second page of that article...

J. Richard Gray, Lancaster's mayor since 2005, ...a self-described civil libertarian

What an asshole. Not only is he a heavy handed, progressive nutjob who hates gun owners and believes in constant public surveillance, but now he has the gaul to call himself a libertarian...This guy needs a good smack back to reality, then send him back to wherever he came from.

[Evolution]

I live in Manheim Township and have not had much time to OC in Lancaster City. I will try and make some time or take a stroll down town. Down town is most likely where you will encounter the most cameras.

[DonSmithnotTMD]

Obviously, I don't know the local situation, but I'm still not really seeing the problem. Of course there should be guidelines which the city should be be able to do since it's a contract service. It doesn't sound much different than traffic cameras.

here's some more on UAVs:

http://www.officer.com/web/online/Technology/UAVs-for-Airborne-Law-Enforcement/20$47096

[goofin]

The problem is you shouldnt have to be subjected to being watched everytime you walk down the block. Just another reason to stay away from the city. I wonder if Select Security has anything to do with it?