License Plate Scans Beef Up Mall Security

[CGowen]

Holiday shoppers at Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento this weekend may have noticed something besides the crowds and crowded parking.

Two new high-tech security cameras are now on patrol.

The cameras were paid for by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to help keep a close watch on all the comings and goings at the busy shopping hub.

"We're going to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement when they can't be here," Arden Fair Mall Security Manager Steve Reed said. "We'll be able to scan plates as we go down each aisle and find stolen cars or vehicles with a felony warrant."

Reed said the information from the cameras would only be shared with Sacramento police and in those cases, only plate information would be passed on to law enforcement. Other personal information about shoppers, their vehicles or their purchases is not included.

...
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=36386

[Deep13]

1. The Fuhrer would be very proud!

:wtf:

[KG]

2. but, you know, we don't live in a police state.

nope. :eyes:

[gollygee]

3. "Homeland Security" was supposed to be about foreign terrorism

Yeah, I know . . . But my god why doesn't News 10 ask them why a grant from an organization that is supposed to protect us from terrorism is being used for routine police stuff involving primarily US citizens?

[CGowen]

4. the PATRIOT Act probably helps

Title VIII alters the definitions of terrorism, and establishes or re-defines rules with which to deal with it. It redefined the term "domestic terrorism" to broadly include mass destruction as well as assassination or kidnapping as a terrorist activity. The definition also encompasses activities that are "dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State" and are intended to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population," "influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion," or are undertaken "to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping" while in the jurisdiction of the United States.<141> Terrorism is also included in the definition of racketeering.<142> Terms relating to cyber-terrorism are also redefined, including the term "protected computer," "damage," "conviction," "person," and "loss."<143>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act

[ixion]

6. "intended to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population,"

which our own government does every day.

The terrorists are in charge.

[ixion]

5. land of the free my arse

:grr:

[SoCalDem]

7. "Vehicles" with a felony warrant??

Cars commit felonies?