Excessive video surveillance will bring grief to this nation, mark my words
Filed Under (Tyranny at home) by Don C on 26-06-2008
Roger Vanderpool, Nevada DPS director:
“Photo enforcement exists to help slow people down, thereby ensuring the safety of everyone on the road. Sadly, some drivers have no regard for the safety of others as they continue to recklessly speed,” (Link)
In the story it seems a couple of dumbasses have been caught habitually speeding as if the cameras weren’t even there. So, what if you were not “recklessly” speeding? What if on a long stretch to work you routinely drive five miles over the limit? No more taxi cab stops or stopping past the white line or you can be subject to being arrested, jailed and fined. Well fined. The cops probably wait until the total fines are over $10,000 before sending out a squad car to pick these reckless citizens up. Like shooting fish in a barrel.
If you think cops are watching all this video for the sole purpose of public safety, you are naive. Video surveillance seems contrary in a free society but if we are going to have it we must be sure it’s done fairly. At a minimum we must make all real-time surveillance of all citizens freely accessible to the public.
Video sureillance of the public should not be left to the police. Let the public police themselves. Millions of eyes on millions of monitors. UsTube.com. At least that way the vigilant citizen can bring grief to errant public servants, which I bet would happen at a far greater rate for public officials than for ordinary citizens.
