A new way to find hot carsNorth Charleston police: PlateScan sends clear message By Noah Haglund (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, May 12, 2008
AP Video
North Charleston officer Pfc. Victor Buskirk gives a demonstration of the PlateScan, a new system that allows police to photograph license plates and check them against national criminal databases. Watch » North Charleston police are using new technology that promises to bring them closer to one of law enforcement's Holy Grails: an all-seeing eye. A patrol car outfitted with three special cameras can photograph hundreds of licenses plates per hour and look them up in a national database. An officer cruising a parking lot or a freeway can, within a few short minutes, check whether scores of cars are stolen. It also alerts the officer if the vehicle belongs to a wanted criminal, registered sex offender or someone with a restraining order. It's so useful that it's addictive, according to one patrolman. Pfc. Victor Buskirk said he's tempted to take detours through parking lots, even during time off, to see what he can find. "Criminals like hotels — they can pay in cash, they have that anonymity," Buskirk said while demonstrating the plate-scanner near Montague Avenue. "But if they have a vehicle, it'll tell on them." Before, officers had to call in every tag number over the radio. During an eight-hour shift, they might scan 100 plates. Now they can scan 2,500 or more. Within a few weeks, North Charleston had recovered two stolen cars, an overdue rental car and a stolen plate. They keep a permanent record so they can check later where a particular car was seen. That database recently surpassed 24,000 scans. Police chief Jon Zumalt hopes the plate-scanner will send a signal: "Don't come to North Charleston with a stolen car. Don't steal cars in our city. "This is terrific technology that helps us better police and provide safety to our citizenry," Zumalt said during a recent interview. "The message is: Criminals are getting smarter; so are the cops." The city put $24,000 in this year's budget for the system after City Councilman Bobby Jameson pushed for it, according to the chief. North Charleston police said they were the first agency in the state to buy it, though Georgetown police are testing it as well. PlateScan of Newport Beach, Calif., makes the equipment, which is a kind of Automated License Plate Recognition system, or ALPR. The roof-mounted cameras take pictures of plates and overview shots of the vehicles they belong to. Software picks out series of numbers and letters from the landscape. One of PlateScan's co-founders, Bob Pinzler, said about 70 police agencies around the country use it, most of them in California and Texas. Two companies offer competing products. "The driving force behind it was the search for stolen vehicles," Pinzler said. Relatively new in the United States, the technology originated in the United Kingdom in the 1990s for entirely different reasons, Pinzler said. It was designed to help British authorities track down cars used by bombers from the Irish Republican Army. New police techniques often give rise to legal problems, and PlateScan is no exception. The American Civil Liberties Union has objected to storing scanned information, according to news reports in other parts of the country. The ACLU's national office in New York did not have anyone available to comment last week, and its Columbia office did not return calls. Miller Shealy, however, doesn't foresee PlateScan giving rise to privacy concerns. "It's just like the cameras that are on the bridge or the other devices that read your speed," said Shealy, a former state and federal prosecutor and assistant professor at the Charleston School of Law. "It's all publicly observable." He said equipment that merely enhances the five senses poses no problems under the Fourth Amendment, which safeguards citizens against unlawful searches and seizures. Sgt. Todd Morgan, North Charleston police's technology supervisor, said, "There's really no expectation of privacy out on the road. "If my car were stolen and if there was a tool out there that would find my car," he said, "I would want it." Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postand courier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 52 comment(s)
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 12, 2008 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The cruiser you see in the construction site all night is probably an officer who is working an off-duty security detail. Meaning, they are getting paid by the construction company to sit there all night and make sure some ya-hoos don't come by to steal the air compressors, utility trailers or other stuff.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 12, 2008 at 1:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish they would do more to catch people speeding. They would save more lives and generate more revenue. It's an out of control problem that should be more important than something like this.
Posted by tripsa on May 12, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"... closer to one of law enforcement's Holy Grails: an all-seeing eye."
thats great, all for our own good - bigger and more intrusive government.
V
Posted by carolinadude on May 12, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good morning all/tripsa,
It is more intrusive but necessary in my opinion to use available technology. I want local law enforecement to know who's out there in our neighborhoods in view of the open border crisis that has in fact become an invasion from the south. Now "the good guys" will know who and where they are and where they're "hanging out". If and when we get the SC General Assembly to enact "immigration reform", local law enforcement will then be able to coordinate this data and work with ICE to enforce immigration law. I believe this scanning technology can be used to greatly enhance the security of our citizens.
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 12, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great more intrusiveness. Now if the law can keep up with the technology but it won't. It keeps giving those in power more control over the average citizen. We keep creeping towards a police state and for that I'll probably be dubbed a cop hater. Oh well.
I disagree it's not like the cameras on the bridge, they are used to monitor the flow of traffic to help report on traffic congestion not scan your plate numbers. Enhance the five senses? Please. The drivel they try to justify and sell this stuff with.
Taxpayer purchased police vehicle used by off duty officer for private gain. Oh I see nothing wrong with that (Sure) but the subject is the license plate scanners.
Posted by jammanofdi on May 12, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Big brother is watching you! My question is, how long until this same technology gives cops even more information about the vehicle and driver. It'd be willing to bet that even right now, armed with this information, cops can be fed more than they're admitting to in this article. I bet that they can just as easily pull criminal reports, credit reports, driving records - whatever they want background wise - based on a license plate number.
Posted by Early on May 12, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think if they start shooting everyone wearing a hooded sweatshirt, in 80 degree weather and baggy pants around their knees this would solve the crime problem much faster. Be surprised how fast those white shirts and kaki pants will appear:)
Posted by Weeeee on May 12, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And I would be three for Early's idea.
As for this plate tech, useful but I'm sure can be developed to perform the same amount of bad as is good.
Posted by CountryGirl on May 12, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The technology is only as good as the person using it. A lot of good cops out there, but it only takes one rotten one to mess up a good thing. What about all the paper tags on cars? We have some people in our neighborhood that have had three cars towed because they were stolen or used in a crime. I heard they bought them at auction??? They always have cars in their driveway with paper tags on them.
AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS P&C RE-SETTING...IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO READ THE POSTS BECAUSE IT KEPT RE-CHARGING OR SOMETHING.
Posted by PalmettoDP on May 12, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm fine with this scanner being used as it is now - to find stolen vehicles. But I'm afraid it's just a matter of time before they become "greed cameras" - scanning plates and mailing traffic tickets. If you're falsely accused, you have to take a day off of work to fight the ticket. Don't get me wrong, I think traffic laws ought be reasonably enforced - but not with these cameras.
Posted by tripsa on May 12, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
harpo, i have nothing to hide - yet...laws are written and imposed with a stroke of a pen. the arguement that if you dont do anything wrong you dont have anything to worry about is pure ignorance.
one day the laws will include something you think is perfectly ok, then it will be you that is the lawbreaker.
I am sure the german people and the Jews, thought nothing of the re-location of jews by the Nazi's.
The more rights you are willing to give up in the name of the greater good, the less the greater good will be as the power of the government grows. power corrupts.
beware the police state.
wearing a seatbelt was a choice, now its required...one small example. smoking, fatty foods, smoking in your car with a kid present...it goes on and on, all in the name of safety or law enforcement.
I am sure they could catch many rapists and murders if EVERYone submitted a DNA sample for a national data base...you for that Harpo?
Wake up
Posted by tripsa on May 12, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"carolinadude
Good morning all/tripsa,
It is more intrusive but necessary in my opinion to use available technology. I want local law enforecement to know who's out there in our neighborhoods in view of the open border crisis that has in fact become an invasion from the south. Now "the good guys" will know who and where they are and where they're "hanging out.."
They know where they are hanging out. nothing is done. why dont you know who is in your hood?
I am all for LE, but I dont want to have to start carring my "papers" from summerville to N. Charleston.
Posted by sbs920 on May 12, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey! just think! Next it will be ROBO-COP !
I can't wait. . .
Just imagine the videos of police brutality. . . LOL!
Can't play the race on the ROBO !
What was that 4th Objective again now. . .
Posted by PalmettoDP on May 12, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I should clarify - I'm fine with them using the scanners to check for stolen vehicles - as long as a police officer personally checks each "hit" to verify it is accurate. I would be against a fully automated system because of the risk of false accusations.
Posted by blondjes on May 12, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tripsa: your comparing this to the holocaust????? if some low life thief stole your car and the cops found it using this system you wouldn't be complaining one bit, i'm glad they are actually out their looking for these guys, their are tons of people who never see their car again! we are paying cops with our taxes and you complaining about them actually doing their job? you must not have a lot to worry about in your life if your so concerned about this!
Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have no problem with this system.
Posted by suec on May 12, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
some of you people suffer from ATC- Addiction To Complaining
Posted by Early on May 12, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I suffer from lack of nookie:)
Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
VERY serious condition Early. I'd get that taken care of right away if I were you.
Posted by Weeeee on May 12, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't have a problem with this either...as long as some cop doesn't knock on my door and try to arrest me for not paying taxes or some bs. Yeah. I sure did pay them. Big chunk out of my wallet.
Posted by tripsa on May 12, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
blondjes - I am comparing it to how quickly people except the increased power, control and intrusivness into their daily lives. As did the German people. I am sure no one thought the re-location of Jews would lead to their death.
As I am sure no one here thinks that this new LE tool, cant be used in an abuse of power down the road by a differant state or federal governmental system.
And yes I do worry, I worry about folks like you that are so quick to give up others individual rights so you can feel safer.
And if some low-life stole my car, it is probably my fault for not taking the proper precautions, in addition, I dont think I would want it back after they get done with it.
and yes - Early, that is a very serious condition, but not as serious as lack of concern for ones rights, that are slowly and incrementally eroded with the help of useful idiots.
Posted by Early on May 12, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes but mine can be cured:)
Posted by mosinfan on May 12, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tripsa, good points...
Posted by theronce on May 12, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hang this auto-refresh.
Posted by suec on May 12, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tripsa,
"And if some low-life stole my car, it is probably my fault for not taking the proper precautions"
So if someone steals my car, it is my fault, not the theifs?
That one sentence pretty much sums up why we have so much crime. People who steal think it is ok beacuse after all...the owner should have had a security system or live in a gated community.
When a thief steals, it is the thief that is doing wrong, not the victim. It doesn't matter if I left the car running with the doors unlocked. It may be a stupid thing to do, but it does not give someone the right to steal my car.
Posted by tripsa on May 12, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
suec, my point is; precaution. I said probably. Look up the stats on car thefts. Sure the criminal is at fault for the crime. But did I help to facilitate it? If your car is stolen and you have left the keys in it, good luck with your insurance helping you out.
For instance, SC passed a law several years back that make it a crime to leave your car running un-attended. Why? Because that gives the thief the oppurtunity to act. Thus, LE saw a chance to reduce that chance by punishing those that leave their vehicle un-attended and running.
Would you leave something of value unlocked, guarded or otherwise easy to take by a bad guy?
Posted by suec on May 12, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No I would not, but even if I did, it is the thief who did wrong, not me.
I don't agree with the law about leaving your car running un-attended, especially if it is on my own property.
Should I also be fined for sleeping with my windows open? How about if I go to the store and don't have pepper spray in hand as i walk to my car?
Posted by brittany0315 on May 12, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by Early on May 12, 2008 at 9:11 a.m.
"I think if they start shooting everyone wearing a hooded sweatshirt...and baggy pants around their knees this would solve the crime problem much faster."
The majority of people who wear hoodies and baggy pants are young black men. What are you really trying to say here?
Posted by Weeeee on May 12, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Brittany, don't read into it. I just KNEW someone would post something about race here...especially after that comment. Notice how Early said EVERYONE in that statement too. Since when does everyone mean "young black men?" Besides, if you want to take it as racial, your post is just as bad if not worse than Early's because all you're trying to do is stir up some crap.
Posted by LowcountryMoose on May 12, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aren't about 90% of stolen vehicles recovered already? It would probably help catch more of the thieves though.
How's about some real useful technology that would find and punish deadbeat dads or find and deport illegal aliens?
Posted by JohnS on May 12, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is nothing new. They were using this in London five years ago. The London Met police can even scan your face from a security camera against known wanted people in their database. The lic plate scan is how they track unpaid ticket offenders and for other reasons like stolen cars.
Posted by Weeeee on May 12, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They "found" my stolen car alright. They found it smoldering in a field. Oh, the perp was (dare I say it) a black man.
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 12, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow alot of people that are very quick to give up their right to privacy for that myth called protection. They trust the government implicitly and have no problems forking over their freedoms that others earned for them.
Personal responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow citizens from crime? What a concept that is obviously lost on some of you.
Those that give up freedom for security deserve neither. Ben Franklin was right. You don't want to take responsibility for you own safety but have no problem at all turning all your security needs over to the police/government so they can decide, not you, what you should and shouldn't be protected from. What a bunch of lemmings.
Posted by Slick50 on May 12, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if it will alert the police to EXPIRED TAGS as well.
Posted by Weeeee on May 12, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
haha yeah I guess when the year is an obvious prior one it's just too difficult for a cop to tell.
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 12, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Weeeee now that is just plain mean..hahaha
Posted by Weeeee on May 12, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Along with something like this, SC should re-introduce vehicle inspection. There's something definitely wrong when you've seen a car without a driver's side door driving around town.
Posted by suec on May 12, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gatorbait,
What freedom are we forking over? The freedom to steal a car and not get caught?
Posted by ForPnC on May 12, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great tool for the police to have but I see it be thoroughly abused by big brother in the immediate future.
Do I have anything to hide? Nope. But my business is MINE. NOT YOURS.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just can't see a problem here. I can't think of anything that a policeman can get from scanning my tag that I care about him having. If you’re doing nothing wrong, than the only information they can get is maybe a database of your vehicle habits (where you go, how long you stay…) I don’t care if they know that kind of stuff. I don't see myself giving up any rights here either? What rights are being sacrificed? Your plate doesn't belong to you anyway. It belongs to the state. Driving a car is not a right. It’s a privilege the state extends to you. If you don't like this new tool, it's pretty easy for you to sell your car and avoid the whole thing. That is, unless, you want to continue with the conveniences that that state grants you when they allow you to drive in SC.
It’s not like they have a camera or microphone stuck inside your house. I just can’t see this being an issue. It doesn’t give the police anything they don’t already have. All it allows them to do is work more efficiently.
Is this going to “slowly erode my rights”? No more than microphones, cameras or tape recorders did when they were invented.
Posted by brittany0315 on May 12, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not about race Weeeee. It's about the stereotype that Harpo was refer. Baggy pant wearing folks are criminals and white shirts and khaki pants wearing folks are not? I said the MAJORITY of people who wear baggy pants are black men and nowhere did I say that was everyone. I wasn't pulling the race card, but simply pointing out that an unfair statement was made. And if I misunderstood Harpo's statement, that's why I asked for clarification.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 12, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree with Harpo that the majority of the guys wearing baggy pants and hoodies are thugs or thug wannabies (and no, I'm not using the word "thug" as an endearing term). My nephew in-law dresses that way. He just got out of jail for DUI, resisting arrest, aggravated assault. He's a skinny little white punk that needs to be back in jail as far as I'm concerned. There are probably a few guys that dress that way because they think its "cool", but they don't actually cause any trouble, but the majority of them are causing trouble.
It’s not a race thing; it’s a multiracial culture thing.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 12, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Car theft in North Charleston is so small a problem I see this as a waste of time.
Illegal mexicans are a problem in North Charleston and all the crime they commit. All the drugs in North Charleston are a major problem. Car theft is at the bottom of the list of crimes being committed.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 12, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Other police departments can type the tag number in on their car computers systems.
So what is the REAL cost, mark up, and profit to the salesperson and business on this equipment? Who solicited the City of NC? Are they related? Do they know Sheriff Nash? lol
Posted by whome on May 12, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"It's so useful that it's addictive, according to one patrolman. Pfc. Victor Buskirk said he's tempted to take detours through parking lots, even during time off, to see what he can find."
==========================================================
Something tells me that this type of search may be illegal. While the Supreme Court tends to find little Fourth Amendment expectations of privacy in the automobile, a search of private parking lots might be a little too intrusive. Of course, the analysis would depend on whether the plate was visible from the road, etc.
Posted by DontSpamMeBro on May 12, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This type of activity is NOT illegal, unconstitutional, or any other ill- or un- type of activity conspiracy theorists might associate with it. It is simply using a machine to view what is easily and openly viewable by anyone on the road.
Posted by suec on May 12, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen Harpo!
I say do what ever it takes to give the good guys an advantage over the bad guys.
Phone tapping, profiling, metal detectors...if it stops the criminals and keeps my family and other innocent peopel safe then I am all for it.
Posted by tripsa on May 13, 2008 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo - "anything to fight crime"
suec - "ditto"
Think about what you are saying. How about just random house searches? How about stopping every 3rd person at the mall entrance to search their bags?
Anyone can become a criminal...one day, something you see no harm in my become outlawed - then what harpo and sue.
The "nazis" dont need to take over the south, useful idiots are giving away freedoms left and right.
Good luck in your coming police state...you two should enjoy life in state control....lol, it is sad to see such willingness to sacrifice freedom to FEEL safe.
Posted by tripsa on May 13, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Martin Niemoeller Foundation web site:-
When the Nazis came for the communists, I said nothing; I was, of course, no communist.
When they locked up the Social Democrats, I said nothing; I was, of course, no Social Democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I said nothing; I was, of course, no trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
When they came for me, there was no one left who could protest.
The following version of Martin Niemoller's famous quotation or poem actually comes from the text of an Address he gave to the United States Congress in 1968 and which appears in the Congressional Record, October 14, 1968, page 31636.
"When Hitler attacked the Jews
I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the Catholics,
I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists,
I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned.
Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church --
and there was nobody left to be concerned."
just replace who they came for with, smokers, trans fat eaters, no seat belt wearers, and so on.....
Posted by ColdBeer on May 13, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I was not aware that we had so many paranoid people in the low country.
Posted by Early on May 13, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by raregar67 on May 12, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Early...I was just made aware of your condition. I have contacted "Hertz Rent a $lut, help is forthcoming. The Raregar
Man, thanks for that, best 20 seconds of her life! ur my life!
brittany0315, I often find that those who can make up words out of a statement from others and proclaim it is a racial statement are the ones that are most racial indeed but, hey nice second post in a year!
Posted by tripsa on May 13, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
COLDBEER - I AM NOT PARANOID...hold on, someone is watching me type this....