On June 9, a gunman opened fire on people attending a community block party in the Mission District of San Francisco. The shots hit nine people – five of them seriously. It was one of over 550 gun-related incidents so far recorded in San Francisco this year that has included eight homicides.
In the course of their investigation, the San Francisco Police Department located nearby surveillance camera footage of a vehicle as well as its license plate number in the area at the time of the shooting. The footage confirmed witness statements regarding the color and type of the vehicle and the shooter’s description.
They were able to do so using Automated License Plate Reader or LPRs, which read any license plate within view of its camera and run a check to see if the plate is associated with a stolen vehicle or other crime.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
On body-worn cameras and license plate readers, there should be a reasonable expectation of privacy
Steve Smith
On June 9, a gunman opened fire on people attending a community block party in the Mission District of San Francisco. The shots hit nine people – five of them seriously. It was one of over 550 gun-related incidents so far recorded in San Francisco this year that has included eight homicides.
In the course of their investigation, the San Francisco Police Department located nearby surveillance camera footage of a vehicle as well as its license plate number in the area at the time of the shooting. The footage confirmed witness statements regarding the color and type of the vehicle and the shooter’s description.
They were able to do so using Automated License Plate Reader or LPRs, which read any license plate within view of its camera and run a check to see if the plate is associated with a stolen vehicle or other crime.
Click to read the full article in the Orange County Register.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.