Flock Cameras

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Any examples of the abuse of these cameras?  I've always held the opinion if you arent trying to hide something, why are they such an issue?

Not saying you are right or wrong.. Just looking for a different perspective.

First off, they're quite literally warrantless surveillance. Seriously. WTF is wrong with people?

Second, a quick search will yield dozens of reports of "law enforcement" using it for all sorts of nefarious purposes, such as tracking ex's and spouses. And that's barely scratching the surface. If that is what is published, just imagine what hasn't been published, never mind what has not been discovered.

[hazmatt]

I've always held the opinion if you arent trying to hide something, why are they such an issue?

Not saying you are right or wrong.. Just looking for a different perspective.

I like to shut my blinds and curtains too. It doesn't mean I have something to hide.

[Tumor]

First off, they're quite literally warrantless surveillance. Seriously. WTF is wrong with people?

Second, a quick search will yield dozens of reports of "law enforcement" using it for all sorts of nefarious purposes, such as tracking ex's and spouses. And that's barely scratching the surface. If that is what is published, just imagine what hasn't been published, never mind what has not been discovered.

Maybe but, SCOTUS say's you have no expectation of privacy on Highways/Roads etc.  I don't know shyster toejam, but that's the kind of thing that either needs changed, or at least addressed. 

Otherwise, If they have them, they will abuse them.  That is the way... don’t ask me how I know, but you would be aghast with great vengeance and furious anger.  WAY before Flock. 

[Eagler]

So a few bad cops should shelve an other wise useful tool that has already saved numerous people...

How about we just get rid of the bad cops..

You guys against every camera on the roads or just these flock branded ones..

Cameras have been used for decades..and always will be ..

As I said these cameras don't invade on one's privacy anymore than your phone or Alexa does but has gotten their got goat up fighting against the man for their latest cause that we are all supposed to be for or we are part of the problem too..

Eagler

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

How about we just get rid of the criminals?

Oh, yeah, you have to catch them first. And hope someone will prosecute them. I say that as former law enforcement.

Turns out, in many cases, red light cameras cause MORE accidents.

Yeah, I'm opposed to ALL warrantless surveillance.

If you go into a store, you consent to their rules. It's not the same.

I have a problem with the government, which obviously cannot be trusted, and is full of criminals, constantly taking pictures of citizens in case they do something wrong.

Try getting constant warrantless surveillance on government officials. They actually work for us. Let me know how it works out for you.

It really amazes me how utterly spineless people are. Big brother has no intention of "taking care of you", warrantless surveillance is just being sold to you under the premise of it being "for your own good".

[Vulcan]

Maybe but, SCOTUS say's you have no expectation of privacy on Highways/Roads etc.  I don't know shyster toejam, but that's the kind of thing that either needs changed, or at least addressed.

And the irony is when you try and film police, police cars, police stations/property entirely legally (in any country) they absolutely hate it.

[Eagler]

Florida has pulled them...

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has revoked all active permits for automated license plate readers (ALPRs), including Flock Safety cameras, on state highway right-of-ways. Local agencies have 30 days to remove the devices

Curious to see if blue states follow or now love them as this conservative one obviously doesn't..

Silver and amber alerts will have a tougher time in the sunshine state..

How about we get rid of abusive police officers along with criminals..and leave tools that help fight/solve crimes..

Eagler

[Animl-AW]

Cops in or wanting relationships is not secluded to cams.

We had a child, I filed paternity to do the right thing. When most gutless makes run from it. She didn’t want me to have control because she was nuts and I would have gotten custody.

As we all know now, I had a cop after my GF. Fine if she wants you take her, no one needs garbage. To get me out of the way I was being charged with half-baked half-truths and posted many bails, some up to $28k. The town I lived in the cops, who served the warrants knew me, they wanted to buy the black labs I raised and trained, knew something was wrong and refused to serve anymore warrants on me. I was facing ip to 12 yrs.

When court came my “GF” and this cop walk into the court room as a couple. This is a major no-no and showed biased charges. Obviously she was cheating on me and a part of it.

This huge defense we had ended in one sentence from my attorney, as he saw this, turned around and saw this, pointed at them and said “Your honor, I think we can all see why we are here today.”

The judge dismissed all charges, the cop was later fired. Had they not made that mistake I would have been in jail for nothing. Even though I was free it cost me $40-50k.

They are using these cams to do this stalking to know and go after the BF
Point being, a cop who cannot sustain a relationship is a very dangerous cop.

They should not have ANY control of these cams. Only dispatch should.

Thats the real story on what I was doxxed about. They refused to show all charges dropped.

[Spikes]

Where I live, those cameras were banned and replaced with Axon that can provide a bit more accountability. The police need to provide reason for accessing the information and it is audited frequently. Whether or not people would be punished for abusing the system, who knows, but it is better than nothing.

I think at the end of the day, these types of cameras can be extremely helpful but there needs to be trust from the community that they will not be abused. Unfortunately, I don't think that'll ever happen (that they won't be abused, and therefore there will never be trust).

[AKIron]

I'm gonna say no to automated public surveillance. Body cams for cops have proven to be useful though. I wouldn't deny individuals the right to record while in public.

[Eagler]

A Flock Safety license plate reader camera recently helped St. Petersburg police locate a missing, confused 99-year-old man driving his truck, allowing officers to safely reunite him with his family within four minutes of his license plate being scanned.

https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/flock-camera-helps-locate-missing-99-year-old-man-in-st-petersburg/

Eagler

[LilMak]

A Flock Safety license plate reader camera recently helped St. Petersburg police locate a missing, confused 99-year-old man driving his truck, allowing officers to safely reunite him with his family within four minutes of his license plate being scanned.

https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/flock-camera-helps-locate-missing-99-year-old-man-in-st-petersburg/

Eagler

They also have a 30%+ rate of errors. Many innocent people have also been accused of crimes and even jailed based on data these cameras have provided. For every one of these that were able to prove their innocence, there are some that just happened to be driving in the wrong spot at the wrong time and are incarcerated and innocent.

We’re already being watched enough as it is. Compromising freedom under the guise of safety is truly a slippery slope. What’s being witnessed about these cameras is only the tip of the iceberg. Only the issues we know about and are being documented. The institutional abuse won’t ever likely come to light. I’m, frankly, not willing to give up what freedom I have left so grandpa can be found before his truck runs out of gas.

[Eagler]

I think the family of the 99 year old isn't worried about stupid cops tracking their cheating girlfriend or wife with the tool that just saved him..

It's a distraction really as they are just replacing the flock camera with other more secured ones..the surveillance isn't going away..stay paranoid 

Eagler

[Randy1]

Flock like cameras have been used by repo companies for some time now.  They are mounted in police cars as well.

Even in our tiny town we have flock cameras.  They are well supported by the community.

[Animl-AW]

There’s a big difference between cameras every where we go, which an individual officer has no control of and those they do have control of. It should be up to dispatchers or the like. Not an individual officer.

Even plate readers probably get their data from the department for things like stolen cars.

Police have no hand in repo.

Many towns and cities have cases of officer abuse of Flock cams. So it’s not just paranoia, like floating Chinese lanterns as UFOs. Many have been fired.

It’s not cams that are the problem, it’s the design of them and who they allow to control them.

Not only that, they are too easy to destroy.

Locks are for honest people. Thinking everyone who wears a badge, even military, are all honest is foolish.

We already have cams everywhere, it’s the design of this one that is the problem. They bought crap.