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Ohio Police Start Scanning All License Plates

D

dmcowen674

No Lifer
More from the Logans Run file:

6-9-2004 Ohio Police use optical scanners to catch criminals and look for stolen cars

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will use two scanners on turnpike gates and two scanners in patrol cars for four months. The system recognizes license plates registered with a national crime database that tracks stolen cars and serious crimes.

"It's a free society, and we're supposed to move as we like without the government tracking us everywhere," said Jeff Gamso, legal director of the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union.

The system, sold by Elsag SpA, scans license plates in all weather and between moving vehicles.

If the scanners detect a match, troopers will verify the plate number and confirm the entry is still valid before pulling over the vehicle, Born said.
 
I don't get what the issue is...they do this now only via radio....all this does is streamline the process.

"It's a free society, and we're supposed to move as we like without the government tracking us everywhere," said Jeff Gamso, legal director of the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union.
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Got news for ya bud...don't use a CC or get a drivers liscense......
 
It's a slippery slope to Fascism, though. First they start tracking cars, then having small cameras everywhere to track people. The arguments the same - the police already do this when they are driving or walking around, and if you have nothing to hide why are you worried?

Giving the police and government this kind of power GUARANTEES it will be abused. They might not start out looking for you (hey, we're doing it to track terrorists!), but in the end they will.

And just in case you can't tell, I am NOT being sarcastic...
 
It's easy to get all up in arms over some of the potential abuses of privacy possible with technology. OTOH, I really think that abuse is a lot more potential than real. Why? Human nature, and the fact that nobody really cares, unless there's some reason to care...

Think of all the surveillance cameras in all the liquor stores, convenience stores, banks, whatever... What happens to the tapes? Nothing, unless there's some kind of incident, some reason for somebody to care... Part of my job is to maintain surveillance cameras on our light rail vehicles. 99 days out of 100, the tape runs to the end, rewinds, and starts recording over the top of the old images... in every vehicle... every once in awhile, we'll pull a tape for security purposes, because of some alleged incident... other than that, we just try to keep them working... I'm sure it's much the same with license plate scanners- nobody bothers, unless there's a hit on a stolen tag... records? what records?

I will allow, however, that anybody actually concerned about this stuff should probably stay away from casinos- the level of surveillance and the use of information gained is staggering in the gambling industry...
 
I am not saying that there currently is a Cabal that records and watches everything we do. Why? We don't have the technology to do it yet. Give them 10 years and it will be so...

Tinfoil Hat Time? Maybe, I just think if you give them the ability to do it, it will be done. The excuse will be "terrorists". The words of Ben Franklin ring in my ears:

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
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Originally posted by: Jhhnn
It's easy to get all up in arms over some of the potential abuses of privacy possible with technology. OTOH, I really think that abuse is a lot more potential than real. Why? Human nature, and the fact that nobody really cares, unless there's some reason to care...

Think of all the surveillance cameras in all the liquor stores, convenience stores, banks, whatever... What happens to the tapes? Nothing, unless there's some kind of incident, some reason for somebody to care... Part of my job is to maintain surveillance cameras on our light rail vehicles. 99 days out of 100, the tape runs to the end, rewinds, and starts recording over the top of the old images... in every vehicle... every once in awhile, we'll pull a tape for security purposes, because of some alleged incident... other than that, we just try to keep them working... I'm sure it's much the same with license plate scanners- nobody bothers, unless there's a hit on a stolen tag... records? what records?

I will allow, however, that anybody actually concerned about this stuff should probably stay away from casinos- the level of surveillance and the use of information gained is staggering in the gambling industry...
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The difference is that with cameras storing the data is cost prohibitive with a license plate scanner there is nothing stopping the state from recording all movement past a sensor from now until the end of the world. Hell you could could keep years of data on one hard drive.
 
I live in Ohio. Believe me, the state has real problems with data entry. People lose their licenses for no insurance when they have it, demands for tax payments that have been paid, erroneous child support payment demands, and on and on. And idiot state employees that will actually tell you "If it's in the computer, it's right. Computers don't make mistakes.". This could be a real headache for a lot of people.
 
Born said the devices don't take pictures or make videotapes and don't create any databases of individuals.
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Gotta read the article, guys... the scanners read, compare, and then forget any non-matching data...

Probably need to stay out of supermarkets, too, and never pay with a bankcard, either...

Stay off the internet, too... the "potential" for abuse of that is truly staggering...
 
Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
I live in Ohio. Believe me, the state has real problems with data entry. People lose their licenses for no insurance when they have it, demands for tax payments that have been paid, erroneous child support payment demands, and on and on. And idiot state employees that will actually tell you "If it's in the computer, it's right. Computers don't make mistakes.". This could be a real headache for a lot of people.
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They are telling you the truth. The computer does not make mistakes. It is the human that enters the data and or programs the algorithms to analyze the data.
 
They are telling you the truth. The computer does not make mistakes. It is the human that enters the data and or programs the algorithms to analyze the data.
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Riiiight... and your computer never crashed, either...

Given the delicate balance between the hardware and the mostly miserable software, it's a wonder folks trust computers in the slightest...
 
Probably need to stay out of supermarkets, too, and never pay with a bankcard, either...
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That's funny - I don't go to supermarkets that use ID cards for savings. I really don't think they need to know what I drink/eat on a weekly basis. If I have to go into one, I use cash and tell them I don't have a card.

Bankcard? I pay cash whenever I can. I HATE debt. BTW: my credit rating is excellent...
 
This technology has already been in-use (for over 5 years) on the Southern Land Borders.

It scans the plate, attempts to match, then discards if there is no match. If the vehicle has no tags, or if there is a match for a lookout, officers know that a potential badguy's car has been spotted and may take appropriate measures. It also alerts for fake, false, and/or stolen license plates. It really will help in abduction cases where they are looking for a specific vehicle.

Expect more more sensationalism to follow form you local tin-foil hat crowd.........................
 
all you "they are tracking us now!" people are idiots

nothing is happening to your freedoms, please go away.....


worry about the FCC telling us what is and isn't appropriate, but not about an effort to catch criminals and fight terrorism
 
EagleKeeper
I thougtht I made it obvious that it was a data entry problem. There are apparently many state employees who do not understand that erroneous or incomplete data could possibly get entered into the computer system. If it is in there, it is right. Once had the state file a lien against my house for unpaid sales taxes (which HAD been paid). Found out by accident years later. Called and asked why I was never notified, was told my address was not in the computer (they had the address to file the lien though). Wanted sales tax money from 1½ years after I closed the business. They were collecting sales tax from another business at that location during that time and I had not renewed my state business license during that time either, but was told "it's in the computer). Did not have all my records 8 years after, so still had to pay about 2k (they wanted 8k) that I didn't owe. 2 years later, state threatens legal action for same BS, claims no record of past contact (or it would be in the computer of course). Had to produce a pile of paperwork to prove it. Have talked to several people and read many stories in the local paper of similar problems with the state with many different departments. Don't see how checking plates will be any different. If it's "in the computer" you are guilty until you can prove otherwise, often at great inconvience.
 
It's a slippery slope to Fascism, though. First they start tracking cars, then having small cameras everywhere to track people. The arguments the same - the police already do this when they are driving or walking around, and if you have nothing to hide why are you worried?
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Do you believe in the right to bear arms?
 
Originally posted by: NeoV
all you "they are tracking us now!" people are idiots

nothing is happening to your freedoms, please go away.....


worry about the FCC telling us what is and isn't appropriate, but not about an effort to catch criminals and fight terrorism
Click to expand...

who is a criminal? which of the criminals are terrorists? who will tell us which fall in which category? have you ever committed a crime? if this scan-and-forget approach is not invasive, then is scan-and-retain invasive? if not, what about facial-recognition scanners in airports? at football games? on the bus? on your streetcorner? is there a level of monitoring somewhere on (or beyond) this continuum that you would not support? sorry to be an idiot, but I just want to understand. thanks for your time-
 
Onstar tracks you all the time if you have it. If you ever call them on it they record you and use your call on the radio ad.
They probably have the capability to listen in on the car at any time as well.
 
Originally posted by: BugsBunny1078
Onstar tracks you all the time if you have it. If you ever call them on it they record you and use your call on the radio ad.
They probably have the capability to listen in on the car at any time as well.
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Not true.

I've installed the Network for Onstar and it goes out over the Analog Cell Phone system. It is only active when dialing out or receiving, not live 24/7 such as an active GPS.

Active GPS is used on Truckers, Armored Vehicles, Sears Appliance Vans and Car Rentals however.
 
Originally posted by: NeoV
all you "they are tracking us now!" people are idiots

nothing is happening to your freedoms, please go away.....


worry about the FCC telling us what is and isn't appropriate, but not about an effort to catch criminals and fight terrorism
Click to expand...

I woudl guess they are going to use the system to make money. All they have to do is get two of the systems and place them one a road and then as you drive by they record the time. When you pass the next scanner they would know the distance and the speed your travel, so you would get a ticket in the mail.
 
Welcome to the uber-surveilled society of the future... I tell you, it's only going to get worse... but then, you didn't hear me say it...
 
Dave, after your last "Logan's Run" fiasco I am surprised that you would try that ploy again.

Gotta say you're consistent.
 
Originally posted by: etech
Dave, after your last "Logan's Run" fiasco I am surprised that you would try that ploy again.

Gotta say you're consistent.
Click to expand...

That's because "Logan's Run" is here.

"Gotta say you're consistent"

Oh and Thank you :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: etech
Dave, after your last "Logan's Run" fiasco I am surprised that you would try that ploy again.

Gotta say you're consistent.
Click to expand...

That's because "Logan's Run" is here.

"Gotta say you're consistent"

Oh and Thank you :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That wasn't a compliment.

Consistently wrong and overboard is not something to be proud of.
 
Originally posted by: etech
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: etech
Dave, after your last "Logan's Run" fiasco I am surprised that you would try that ploy again.

Gotta say you're consistent.
Click to expand...

That's because "Logan's Run" is here.

"Gotta say you're consistent"

Oh and Thank you :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That wasn't a compliment.

Consistently wrong and overboard is not something to be proud of.
Click to expand...

Yea, that would be a problem IF I was wrong but I'm not.
 
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