http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1886.aspBerkeley is preparing to modify their laws so that their red light cameras can be used as general surveillance devices. I pshawed this specific threat a few years ago in another thread because I assumed the red light cams were only active when taking pictures of an offender, but I submit that I was mistaken.
This is a trojan horse of sorts, because it's part of setting a precedent that can be copied nationally by other cities to do the same thing. There is a rich history of evidence that backs the assertion that expanded government powers, no matter how originally well intentioned, are eventually abused and or used to strip liberties from citizens.
I understand the argument that "there is no expectation of privacy in public", but I feel the centralization by technology has lowered the bar for what this entails. An officer on the beat, walking down the street seeing what's happening is different from an officer that can watch 10 streets at once while a computer scans all license plates for warrants, expired tags, etc. Technology is gradually making the idea of a police state easier, and making it so that many fewer officers are required.
Is the direction we're heading as a society in-line with what our founding fathers would have wanted? If not, is it in-line with what we as citizens want? I think the long term consequences are at odds with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
