Austin Police Cameras

J

judgroybeanbag

500+ Posts
First the red-light cameras, and now the new police chief is going to install surveillance cameras at 3 high-crime locations, with possibly more in the future. He states that "you have no expectation of privacy in a public place". While I understand the need for crime prevention and that the cameras may serve a good purpose, this still bothers me. Just the general attitude bothers me.

I think I could accept this, with the caveat that they be installed in all public offices as well, since they are public places. So whoever advocates putting up cameras gets one in their office as well. With sound.

What are your thoughts on surveillance cameras by the authorities?
 
I am torn on this. In general, I don't like it. And I don't like the attitude that goes with it.

But then, I look at the crap that goes on at the intersection of I-35 and Rundberg, and I think that we need not only cameras there, but remote mounted .50 cal machine guns.

Maybe I believe that measured and reasonable use of such surveillance devices, if they are tied to a specific area where crime is known to be a problem (in short, they are used in relation to solving a specific problem), and NOT just as a general prophylactic "we'll all be safer if Big Brother watches us all the time" measure? I don't know. On this one, it's hard to reconcile my hardcore libertarian tendencies with my concern for real and specific crime problems in specific locations.
 
Kind seems like this is just a cost saving matter. If you are opposed to these cameras in public places, would you also be opposed to a polie car at every intersection? Would it violate your rights?
 
My department has cameras placed atop traffic lights around the retail area in town. It was touted as for safety and to reduce crime. They have yet to provide a benefit and I doubt the criminals know they are there. There was a news story on the cameras around the holidays to show the city was being proactive and to encourage people to spend their plastic money here but I doubt the criminals were watching the news. We have had a few crimes in the area and the cameras have yet to catch anybody. The theory sounds good but there are too many factors that affect how effective they are. Lighting, time of day, Direction the camera is pointing in relation to the crime, distance from crime. The cameras can be controlled by dispatchers but lets be realistic. They are answering multiple 911 calls and working the radio. I don't think trying to determine what camera they need to control and then which way they need to point it is high are there list during a 911 call.

Good for PR not good for catching bad guys!
 
The only thing I see at the intersection of Runberg and Lamar are people waiting at bus stops.

Maybe they'll catch people throwing their cigarettes out the window of their car.
 
Police state! Holla! This and the unmanned drones flying over Houston...this is awesome! I love the theory too. If you're not doing anything what do you have to worry about? Well then I am going to walk around with a Guy Fawkes mask on because if I'm not doing anything wrong what do you have to worry about?
 
I wish that these mike foxtrots would at least come to WE THE PEOPLE with hat in hand to ASK us if they could do this. Look, we have crime. We think this will work for this SPECIFIC location for this particular time period and we will come back and report to you on the effectiveness and will ask permission to keep it going or will remove the GD things.

When did we lay down and let the MFs tell us "Hey, we're doing it here in these three spots. If it works out for us we'll put 'em whereever the flip we want". "Here's a note to you, YOU DON'T HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY IN A PUBLIC SPACE!" "Get used to it."

When did this start?
 
no real problem with this, "rights" wise, but I do think it is about the dumbest way to fight crime. just go sell crack on a different location where there are no cameras.
 
If this were really about public safety, he would park cops at those locations 24/7. I could care less if video evidence leads to the swift apprehension and conviction of the guy who shot me.
 
meanwhile, the cameras in their cars will continue to mysteriously go without tapes, unable to record
 
Police do not PREVENT crime, all they do is RESPOND to crime.

It's so ridiculously easy to get away with anything you want to do if you have half a brain.

I'm very annoyed that about 70% of the Austin city budget goes to the police.

More cameras is just a waste of money and it's probably motivated by the lobby that is trying to make money for the company which makes the cameras.
 
Two words Undercover Cops.

I think I just solved the problem and could actually prevent crimes in action. I should be the police chief.
 
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