It's official, DC is a police state, (I knew this since '95)

Dennis Toy · Post by **Dennis Toy** » 2003-02-26 11:54pm

From the Washington Times...

Every individual who lives in or visits the nation's capital is now an enemy of the state. Or so it seems. How else to explain the vast network of closed-circuit cameras that are popping up all over town? If you think this is hyperbolic rhetoric — which is precisely what D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey once called the debunking of his money-grubbing photo-radar program — then, then next time you're in Georgetown, look atop the Banana Republic at M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Still a doubter? Just ask yourself this question: Do you want a policeman watching as your little girl hitches her dress an inch or two as she adjusts her slip?
Spying on the public is big business in Washington, where Chief Ramsey's Metropolitan Police Department and more than 30 other law-enforcement agencies plan to hook up hundreds of cameras to monitor not just traffic, but schools, parks, subway stations and government institutions — all in the name of public safety. They think the cameras make a nice fit with the ugly barricades and other symbols of a closed society that now dot Washington's landscape.
Most folks, though, should not be fooled. The emphasis placed on costly, sophisticated technology — from rooftop transmission towers and tracking devices to photo-radar cameras — is hardly a post-September 11 thing. Uncle Sam has been planning his omniscient reach for years. The horrific attacks of September 11 merely gave him what the news business calls a "time peg."
At spy central — er, the high-tech command center — local and federal officers and investigators collect an unprecedented amount of data, analyze it and then disseminate it to interested agencies. For example, electronic maps show the locations of emergency calls and patrol units, the crime history in a particular neighborhood and possible suspects. This can be useful in solving crimes. But the data can also cough up, with alarming quickness, personal information as well. In other words, think of "Enemy of the State," the action thriller that starred Will Smith, Gene Hackman and the menacing national security chief played by Jon Voight.
During a public hearing on Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP warned D.C. lawmakers about the possibilities of abuse, while the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center said that the benefits of video surveillance "have been significantly overstated." Private citizens, like Robert Wolf, a retired federal lawyer, decried the loss of privacy. Their complaints seem to have fallen upon the deaf ears of D.C. Council members Kathy Patterson and Carol Schwartz, who convened the hearing and have bought into the September 11 fear factor.
Dozens of agencies have access to the command center, the information and the video film as well. Who is in charge? What would happen if a sibling rivalry broke out between the Little Brothers who work for the local police department and the Big Brothers who work for Uncle Sam? Guess it's time to call on Congress to really and truly find out what's going on.

I live in DC, and if you drive around the downtown area, you will see a shitload of jersey barriers and steel posts, you can't drive on any street becxause everything is closed off... Like it would deter a determined terrorist. If someone decides to activate a mini-nuke in Downtown, aint shit the barriers gonna do but add to air pollution.

Im moving to Canada.

That above is just my own opinion, feel free to disregard it.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-02-26 11:57pm

There is no such thing as spying in public. Your in public and thus have no expectation of privacy. Anyone expecting privacy in public is an idiot. If you mind a cop watching you on a camera you ought to freak out when 500 people can watch you.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-26 11:59pm

Cameras watching public places aren't a sign of a police state. Arrest and indefinite detainment without due process, criminalization of certain topics of discussion (see DMCA), criminalization of unpopular political views, and wiretaps without a warrant are the real signs of a police state.

David · Post by **David** » 2003-02-27 12:07am

This system has been used for a long time in some European countries, especially Britian. Germany uses them to depense speeding tickets.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2003-02-27 12:10am

Camera's in public places aren't necessarily a police state. I mean, if you are going to commit a crime, why do it in public anyways? Adding cameras is just like adding another police officer to watch a certain area.

Coaan · Post by **Coaan** » 2003-02-27 12:12am

Especially in britain these days...cctv is everywhere and so are speed cameras to catch speeding motorists...They are there to help cure crime when it happens..in public it's fine.

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-02-27 12:12am

As has been said, there is no expectation of privacy in public. And would you be opposed to more policemen (say one per camera) standing on street corners? Doubtful, so why the opposition to cameras?

In Australia we have extensive street surveillance (a very good thing meaning that street crime in surveilled areas has dropped significantly - and no, crime has not relocated, due to the urban dynamics of our cities), we have red light cameras and speed cameras. For fucks sake you're complaining about being fined for BREAKING THE LAW. I'm sorry, but who are the criminals again?

David · Post by **David** » 2003-02-27 12:38am

Please continue with rational discussion, thank you.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-02-27 06:25am

What is DMCA, btw?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-02-27 07:05am

Another bill on the long road to facism. I expect, however, that it will be struck down the first time it comes up in court.