posted 08-20-2003 05:57 PM            

The Associated Press
Published: Aug 20, 2003

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Tampa police have scrapped their controversial security camera system that scanned city streets for criminals, citing its failure over two years to recognize anyone wanted by authorities.
The system was intended to recognize the facial characteristics of felons, sexual predators and runaway children by matching passers-by in Ybor City with a database of 30,000 mug shots.

"It's just proven not to have any benefit to us," Capt. Bob Guidara, a department spokesman, said Tuesday. The cameras have led only to arrests for such crimes as drug deals.

Tampa was the first city in the United States to install the permanent camera surveillance system along public streets and the technology was used during the 2001 Super Bowl.

Critics welcomed the end of the program.

"It's a relief," said Darlene Williams, chairwoman of the Greater Tampa Chapter of the ACLU. "Any time you have this sort of technology on public streets, you are subjecting people who come to Ybor to an electronic police lineup, without any kind of probable cause."

posted 08-20-2003 06:10 PM            

The police state system is still being built.

In many states you still have to thumb scan to get a drivers liscense.

Add smart card technology and you will have a national ID card.

posted 08-20-2003 06:29 PM            

just like the dc sniper...takes people to catch criminals...always has...

posted 08-20-2003 07:31 PM            

I don't trust the bastards behind all of this.