Australian Police Want Aerial Surveillance Drones to Track License Plates and Monitor Cars of Intere
47 replies, posted
[QUOTE]With hackers, DIYers and the military using them for years, domestic police forces the world over are apparently itching to get some surveillance drones of their own. Now Australian authorities have discussed using drones alongside a new license plate recognition system, autonomously tracking vehicles of interest.
The city of Canberra is installing a suite of new point-to-point speed cameras, which read a car’s license plate to calculate its average speed between two set points. The system can thereby determine whether a driver is traveling within the speed limit. But Aussie authorities also mulled other uses for the two-camera technology, like using them to detect stolen cars or unregistered vehicles. Or integrating them into a broader surface-to-air surveillance network.
“A specific benefit would derive if the P2P cameras were linked to UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) which could track vehicles of interest,” a senior police officer wrote, according to government documents reported in the Canberra Times.
This was apparently discussed sometime last year, but it just became public under a Freedom of Information Act request filed by political opposition leaders. Several groups oppose the idea, according to the Times.
It would not be the first time a domestic police agency aimed to use aerial support for its vehicle-surveillance work. The UK is leading the way on several such projects. A couple British towns set up trials that integrated satellite surveillance with the P2P cameras, as we told you last year. And in March 2010, a quadrotor drone got its first-ever collar when it helped policetrack down a car thief.
The Brits also have plans to deploy UAVs for domestic monitoringduring the 2012 Olympics, where they could be used to watch ATM machines, prevent theft of equipment and even “monitoring antisocial driving,” as the Guardian put it last year.
In the U.S., FAA regulations remain a roadblock for police forces hoping to fly drones, but some police departments are testing drones for eventual use.
This Australian concept raises a few unique questions, however. The P2P cameras have been controversial because they empower a computer to hand out speeding tickets — there's no human accuser a driver can confront. This is one reason some Australian Opposition authorities are writing legislation that would prevent any fines from being issued, at least for the first few months, according to the Times story. Involving a drone just adds another layer of civil rights and privacy concerns.[/QUOTE]
Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-09/australian-police-want-surveillance-drones-track-license-plates-and-monitor-cars-interest[/url]
:tinfoil:
Oh Australia.
You aren't the UK.
why dont they just use photo radar cameras?
[QUOTE=Ermac20;32463236]why dont they just use photo radar cameras?[/QUOTE]
Because that would be cheap and smart :v:
Why not just ban cars, then nobody can break the law with them.
[QUOTE=dogmachines;32463387]Why not just ban cars, then nobody can break the law with them.[/QUOTE]
but by illegally driving them wouldn't you be breaking the law with them?!?!
Wow, police state much?
"If you have nothing to hide, you won't mind our cameras in the sky."
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;32463557]Wow, police state much?
"If you have nothing to hide, you won't mind our cameras in the sky."[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/01/14/Police-seek-drones-to-fly-over-US/UPI-72321295021472/[/url]
Wow police state much
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32463728][url]http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/01/14/Police-seek-drones-to-fly-over-US/UPI-72321295021472/[/url]
Wow police state much[/QUOTE]
Yes, it's a terrible idea here too.
People have a right to be left alone and presumed innocent, and no police department should have the right to park cameras in the sky and indiscriminately watch people without a warrant.
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;32463903]Yes, it's a terrible idea here too.
People have a right to be left alone and presumed innocent, and no police department should have the right to park cameras in the sky and indiscriminately watch people without a warrant.[/QUOTE]
What about speed/red light cameras then?
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32464024]What about speed/red light cameras then?[/QUOTE]
I don't like those either. It's more public surveillance, doesn't require an officer to witness the offense, presumes guilt, and every ticket they issue gives a kickback to the private corporation that built them.
Instead of buying tech toys that prey on the general public and farm them for money, I'd rather they devote their time and resources to pursuing real criminals.
You seem to assume we enjoy all the different things our police does, Zeke.
[QUOTE=StickyNade;32464088]You seem to assume we enjoy all the different things our police does, Zeke.[/QUOTE]
That's not what I'm doing, I'm trying to see if he's consistent on his viewpoints because hypocrisy is the most annoying thing ever. Don't assume that I'm assuming.
Turns out he is, and I agree with him.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32464024]What about speed/red light cameras then?[/QUOTE]
I think they only take a picture when you speed/run a red light. It isn't as indiscriminate as a drone flying above just cause the government wants to take a peek and actually works to discourage speeding or running a light, which can lead to the injury or death of others.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;32463728][url]http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/01/14/Police-seek-drones-to-fly-over-US/UPI-72321295021472/[/url]
Wow police state much[/QUOTE]
I don't see them mentioning monitoring individual cars in that article.
Looks like Australia wants to be Oceania.
Yay, more fuel for the "Australia is a nanny state" fire.
[QUOTE=dogmachines;32464332]I think they only take a picture when you speed/run a red light. It isn't as indiscriminate as a drone flying above just cause the government wants to take a peek and actually works to discourage speeding or running a light, which can lead to the injury or death of others.[/QUOTE]
I don't really buy the safety argument, IMO people slamming on their brakes to avoid a ticket are more dangerous than people that accidentally run a light a moment after it changes. As for the people that run lights a few seconds after the change, a camera isn't going to stop that, because that's just pure inattention.
I think departments are using them for no other reason than to farm revenue. As a car enthusiast, I'm very uncomfortable with police departments trying to balance their budgets by squeezing money out of drivers.
[QUOTE=dogmachines;32463387]Why not just ban cars, then nobody can break the law with them.[/QUOTE]
Hey! You can't use that joke anymore, we're getting an R18+ rating for games now.
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;32463557]Wow, police state much?
"If you have nothing to hide, you won't mind our cameras in the sky."[/QUOTE]
What is the worst case scenario of this technology?
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;32463903]Yes, it's a terrible idea here too.
People have a right to be left alone and presumed innocent, and no police department should have the right to park cameras in the sky and indiscriminately watch people without a warrant.[/QUOTE]
My dad was pulled over in Florida because the police had a plane in the air with a radar gun. Needless to say by the time he had paid the $175 ticket, they had canceled the plane fly-by's because it wasn't cost productive. Go figure.
"Oh if you've got nothing to hide then you won't mind this camera that wanders 'round your house, right?".
This is something I genuinely consider a "slippery slope" type of situation.
I don't get why cameras are such a big deal.
It's not a problem when a police officer stands on a street corner, so why is it a problem when a camera is posted on one?
This would be a good idea for tracking known criminals and such, but they'd end up using it on cars that are speeding, which would be a huge waste of time and money.
[QUOTE=Eluveitie;32468019]This would be a good idea for tracking known criminals and such, but they'd end up using it on cars that are speeding, which would be a huge waste of time and money.[/QUOTE]
Yeah because speeding drivers totally aren't a problem.
[video=youtube;eryfhMWfl1U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eryfhMWfl1U[/video]
[QUOTE=Ermac20;32463236]why dont they just use photo radar cameras?[/QUOTE]
Because we already do.
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;32467996]I don't get why cameras are such a big deal.
It's not a problem when a police officer stands on a street corner, so why is it a problem when a camera is posted on one?[/QUOTE]
This. Everyone's acting like the police are going to use it to watch us shower or something.
I'd rather this than the faulty pieces of shit speed cameras
(Most are innacurate)
[quote]The city of [B]Canberra[/B][/quote]
[quote] Aerial Surveillance Drones[/quote]
well no shit, Canberra always blows money on snazzy toys
Sounds cool
Looking at the level of CCTV in some areas, something mobile would hardly make a difference
[IMG]http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content10/half-life-2-city-scanner.jpg[/IMG]
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