bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
License Plate Scanners/Cameras
A few weeks ago there was discussion on a post regarding the license plate scanners/cameras at the border. The following article discusses that
technology:
N.Y. police scan cars with high-tech cameras
By Michael Frazier
Newsday
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — A symphony of bleeps inside the Long Beach police cruiser drowned out nearby traffic on a recent morning as Sgt. Bill Dodge pulled
into a public parking lot. The pace of the bleeps quickened when he passed the first row of cars in the lot. "There's nothing in here," Dodge said.
"Let's head out into the street."
Turning into traffic on Beech Street, Dodge passed dozens of cars before the bleeps gave way to an alarm, then a robotic voice told him about a parked
van whose registered driver has a suspended license.
"It just did in 30 seconds what usually takes an officer an entire day," he said.
The Long Beach Police Department is among a growing number of law enforcement agencies nationwide using the roof-mounted license plate reader, known
as the Mobile Plate Hunter.
At least 18 police departments on Long Island, including Nassau County and Suffolk County police, use readers, which cost about $22,000, said North
Carolina-based manufacturer Remington ELSAG.
More than 220 departments use it nationwide, the company said.
The electronic bleeps and alarms are emitted from the reader when the two infrared cameras scan license plates at a rate of between 15 to 25 per
second, the company said.
Images of those plate numbers are sent to a database in the car trunk and compared to a digital list of vehicles wanted for various crimes, traffic
violations, reported stolen cars and vehicles linked to Amber Alerts for kidnapped children, authorities said.
"If my car is stolen, it's good to know something is out there to help get it back," said cab driver Alexandra Pomposelli of Mineola.
The infrared cameras, which work like supermarket scanners, can record plates of moving or stopped cars.
The system, and similar ones, is more widely used in Europe.
"We live in a post 9/11 world," Remington ELSAG president Mark Windover said. "When you look at many domestic terrorism incidents, many times a
vehicle is involved."
Although the device has growing popularity in the United States, the New York Civil Liberties Union noted some potential problems. The group opposes a
New York City proposal called the Ring of Steel that would feature a similar license-plate recognition system.
The plan calls for infrared cameras to scan plates of Manhattan's inbound traffic as part of anti-terrorism efforts.
"From our perspective, police should be in the business of investigating crimes, not tracking law-abiding citizens," said Christopher Dunn, the
group's associate legal director.
Driving is a privilege, not a fundamental right, Dodge said, adding that officers have always recorded plate numbers for investigations. The reader,
he said, makes that work easier.
Since implementing the device in January, Long Beach police receive about 40 alerts daily for potentially stolen cars and suspended or revoked
licenses.
Before the reader, there were just a few a day, Dodge said.
Primary uses of the reader vary from each department.
In Arizona, Gov. Janet Napolitano said the device is helping to combat human trafficking. Because smugglers often use stolen cars, cruisers equipped
with readers at the Mexico-Arizona border can help break up trafficking rings, said Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer.
In Long Beach, Dodge recently parked near a busy intersection, scanning cars whizzing by in search for any stolen ones. He equated using the device to
playing the slots in Las Vegas.
"The more plates you feed it, the more of chance you'll find something, he said.
Copyright 2007 Newsday
|
|
|
amir
Senior Nomad
Posts: 559
Registered: 5-4-2007
Location: Todos Santos, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: chiropractic
|
|
THERE YOU HAVE IT!
...so where is that case of Pacifico that was promised in the other thread?
|
|
|
vandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 538
Registered: 10-10-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
I was driving across the US with a recently-purchased Honda Civic two summers ago. I had put the AZ tag from my van on the car and started driving
west from Rhode Island.
I was driving through Missouri when I saw a State trooper haul ass from the median under a bridge and turn on his light-bar. I immediately pulled
over and was amazed when he said that my plate was from a van, and that's why he pulled me over.
He let me go when I showed him the bill of sale and ID.
They had a license plate reader on the bridge and the alert cop saw my non-matching car and immediately grabbed me. Never would have happened in the
old days unless he was following me.
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
I like my Pacifico very cold.
Iflyfish
|
|
|
bajadock
Super Nomad
Posts: 1219
Registered: 12-20-2006
Location: Punta sur de \'Nada
Member Is Offline
|
|
Last month crossing at SY, guard stopped me with hand signal about 8 feet short of his shack. Waving me to him, his first words were "You living down
there now?".
I attempted engaging him on what info he had about me, but, failed. I'm only guessing he entered my plate. I'm not worried or paranoid, as I have
nothing to hide. My dilemma is phony "for show" security v. effective security. Don't know what the answer is and for my rare(1/month) San Diego
visits, it's just an inconvenience.
Still in good shape, maybe I'll strap on my nikes & mochila and try BajaGuy's suggestion of that alternative crossing a few miles east of Otay.
No churro vendors there, however.
[Edited on 6-22-2007 by bajadock]
|
|
|
Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
|
|
Tilt?
| Quote: | Originally posted by Hose A
FYI
Ensenada based State Police pickups have recently had cameras installed and personal trained to use them.
These cameras are for the sole purpose of checking licenses plates looking for stolen cars and wants / warrants. I am told they are linked to
American data base computers as well as Mexican. |
So...What would happen if they checked the State Police pickups in which they were installed?
|
|
|
Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
|
|
What they do when they find 'em.
I have a friend whose Benz got "disappeared". Nice expensive one. He got a call several weeks later from a guy in DF saying he had the car and then
offered $500 for the title. Said he was gonna keep it anyways but would like to drive it legal. 
|
|
|
Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
I have a friend whose Benz got "disappeared". Nice expensive one. He got a call several weeks later from a guy in DF saying he had the car and then
offered $500 for the title. Said he was gonna keep it anyways but would like to drive it legal. |
I would have said yes you can have it come on up and get it
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
 |
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
