What do traffic cameras have to do with gun crime? According to advocates for license plate recognition technology, quite a lot. Shootings along Illinois expressways have decreased by roughly a third since the state started using this technology. These cameras also make it easier for police to track down stolen vehicles and recover guns used in crimes that offenders have discarded along highways. However, the ACLU and other civil rights organizations have opposed the use of traffic cameras to collect detailed information, including plate numbers and vehicle descriptions, citing privacy concerns. If you were recently arrested after being spotted by one of these high-tech cameras, you need a knowledgeable Cook County, IL criminal defense attorney to defend you.
What Data Do Traffic Cameras Collect?
Traffic cameras can do much more than mail you a ticket for stopping just past the white line at a red light. These cameras now collect a wealth of information about any vehicles that happen to drive past them – even if there is no reason to suspect that the driver is breaking any laws. Traffic cameras can now collect your license plate number, the make, model, and color of your vehicle, and timestamped GPS coordinates. The cameras can also capture images and video.