Smile When You Pass That Traffic Light

The top two suppliers of cameras used to capture motorists who run red lights and speed are now selling local governments on video technology that can be used to identify drivers and their passengers, reports Newspaper.com. Redflex and American Traffic Solutions are selling the enhanced systems as a way to help police track down Amber Alert cases and stolen cars. Redflex's new technology "allows officials to keep full video records of passing motorists and their passengers, limited only by available hard drive space and the types of cameras installed," according to the article. "To gain public acceptance, the surveillance program is being initially sold as an aid for police looking to solve Amber Alert cases and locate stolen cars."

Police officers will only need to input a license plate number into their laptops to then receive an email if that number is recognized by a red-light or speed camera.

According to the article:

Such programs would be fully consistent with existing law on searches and seizures. In the 2003 case Washington v. William Bradley Jackson, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that police could not use a physical GPS tracking device to monitor a suspect's movements without first obtaining a warrant. No warrant would be needed or restrictions applied to license plate tracking systems which do not require any physical contact. Instead, individual police officers could monitor the movements of suspected criminals or even their wives and neighbors at any time.

Hat tip: Slashdot