Private business cameras or public sector cameras? Home entrance cameras or entrance to city cameras? Citizen views or political party views?
The recent decision by the Bluffton Common Council to sustain its previous inclusion for funding a license plate monitoring program for criminally-charged persons provided discussion from several perspectives. Though I initially had concern regarding the potential of “big brother” somehow using or monitoring the locally viewed plates and voted against the proposal in the Board of Works meeting, I found the rationale of other council members and the mayor to be convincing. The camera contract is for one year and the data usage and availability are strictly controlled per the contract.
Police Chief Randall was clear in his discussion and recommendation that the camera alert system focuses upon filed criminal felony charges or cases where the license plate number is registered with the FBI because of a felony charge. Any use of the system by Bluffton Police would be documented and would be required to be linked to a local criminal case number or a regional or national search. The filmed records must be dumped by the system after thirty days.
Subsequent to the March 1 Common Council meeting where the matter was discussed, I was reading the “Court News” in the News-Banner when I read of a person being charged with stealing items through “skip-scanning” at a local store’s self-checkout. Not just once. Several times. The camera records provided the evidence. Several months of evidence.
My interest was piqued. A drive around Bluffton and visits to various retail and governmental entities revealed numerous cameras in grocery stores, gas stations, financial institutions, storage businesses, restaurants, car dealerships and the Courthouse. So, where we shop, eat, buy gas, store our belongings and conduct county business are all in view of somebody’s camera.
Most interesting to me was the realization that unless I begin to be in disguise and pay with cash somebody or somebodies already know(s) where I shop, what I buy, how much I pay, how much is on my credit or debit card, and what I am wearing when I make the purchase. Business owners can determine for how long and for what purpose the camera records will be used. That makes sense though I’m not sure we all have realized the extent to which our comings and goings are part of someone’s record. Recently one such business’s camera record was a critical factor in the conviction of a driver in a traffic fatality case. My guess is that private business cameras are most often used to protect property — that use of cameras has become a necessity.
Government’s use of cameras is a whole other matter. But, if used and monitored properly, I think such use makes sense. When I walked into the courthouse recently, I was greeted by several cameras and a large screen displaying the view of each camera from each floor. I appreciate the wisdom of the County Commissioners and the County Council in providing this measure of safety for all of us. Some very difficult situations develop within that facility with the potential for many more. But, for the most part, we already know the people and their alleged crime when they enter the building.
Not so when a felon or about-to-be-felon drives into the city. Both property and lives are at risk; sometimes lethal risk. My license plate number will never cause an alert on the scanning system. And, any Bluffton Police officer using the camera records to search for my plate will be required to record the case number prompting his/her search. Thus, it won’t be happening. But, serving as Common Council Members along with Mayor Whicker, I know that our decision was based on the principle of our officers’ and publics”safety while ensuring, to the extent possible, the long-term privacy of our residents.
Principle or politics? Principle for sure.
Roger Thornton
Thornton is the Bluffton Common Councilman for District 1
