I think there are arguments from both sides of the coin going on here, problem is you are missing one critical point.
Law enforcement has been HIRED to catch stolen cars, people with warrants, etc. If you don't want them to spend any or much time on these tasks, the laws need to be changed.
For example, if you made me Chief of Police and then a book of local laws, I am going to want to find as many creative but effective ways to make me look like I am doing my job (pride booster included). Funny, so many people are against cameras that find stolen cars or people with warrants because of the potential that they would actually be trying to do their job. Also, the fear of law enforcement using their job's abilities or equipment to target innocent civilians strikes me as strange. Again, 99% of the cops out there just want to do their job and go home...they are still human like you and I don't forget.
Does that mean that there are those out there who abuse their job? Of course, but if we use poor logic (conspiracy theory)to make all of our decisions, then it is also a good idea to take away their guns too. After all, there are probably bad cops who are going to shoot someone that was innocent (happened many times).
The reality is, we can't. They need weapons to catch the bad guys and we need them to do it. We can't /won't so we HIRE people to catch bad guys and stolen cars.
ERGO, they go out and find new and yes, "cool" ways to do this. If you don't want your license plate scanned they or ran against a database of criminals, then go ahead and take it off. Then you can have your name in that database too! [
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Truth is this technology is great for small towns. In many small towns all across Oklahoma, tens of thousands of cars drive through and the respective PD's are unequipped to cross check cars with potential drug traffickers, stolen cars, etc.
Again, if you think that we should not have them looking for the people trafficking drugs as best they can (legally), then change the laws, but don't hire these guys then tell them they have to use ineffective equipment. It isn't fair to the officers. Should we not allow them access to computers with internet because someone might exploit it? Or should we instead give them the tools and resources they need to do the job we have asked them to do.
Hats off to the TPD for looking for innovative and new solutions for doing their job better. Wish more city officials did it.
Cannon_Fodder: Do you think we should not have laws and enforce them because someone will try to find a loophole? So we should just give up altogether? I agree, some crooks are smart, but come on, you are stretching things a bit don't you think? Every casino in Vegas would shut down if they had to because they could not catch everyone that out smarted them. It is funny you brought up the equipment being used to steal cars. Are you aware of the advancement in technology there has been in the tools car thieves use?
Don't worry, I get it, we shouldn't bring that in to the discussion because even if the crooks are using more and more advanced equipment to steal cars, even if we DID know how to help stop it, we wouldn't want to because SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, would abuse the system and we will all end up in a concentration camp where we wont even need cars. (sorry, not saying you are implying this, it just seems like that is where the conversation always goes)
HIRE good people, PROMOTE innovation, REWARD excellent results. That is how you will keep ahead of crime, IMO.
Sid