Pinellas Sheriff’s Office Plans Camera System In Cruisers
The Pinellas County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office is adding a camera system to its patrol cars with which deputies can take digital photos of people to be compared against a database of felons and fugitives.
The digital camera and laptop computer with specialized software will be carried aboard 50 vehicles.
A carefully crafted policy will require deputies to ask subjects for permission to take their pictures at traffic stops or during investigations, although deputies can also try to take one from a public place.
However, Jay Stanley of the ACLU’s technology and liberty program warns that people may be reluctant to refuse when an armed law-enforcement officer is making such a request of them.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Associated Press (06/17/04) .