Running license plates the 2008 way

I’m usually on the side of protecting civil privacy rights, but for some reason I can’t readily find fault with police officers for using cameras to find stolen automobiles. After reading "License-plate scanning catching crooks, raising privacy concerns," it seems that in Arizona (and elsewhere too, in fact) some officers of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) have infrared camera units on the front of their patrol cars. They scan and photograph the license plates of passing vehicles.

That’s not against the law. Let’s face it; license plates are there to be read – notably by law enforcement. That is the license plate’s primary purpose. That being the case, why not put technology to use in thwarting criminal activity? According to the article, using only a police radio and checking with the dispatcher each time, officers can perhaps "run" 10 plates in an average day. Factor in the infrared scanning and a license plate reader and an officer and a computer can "run" over 8,000! Thankfully, I’ve never been the victim of grand theft auto, but I sure would appreciate it if technology could help me get my car back faster if it was stolen. One Phoenix resident reported his truck missing at around 10 a.m. and, according to the article, the DPS had located it by 3 p.m.

Michael Ferraresi’s piece in The Arizona Republic does point out that some lawmakers have raised the issue of invasion of privacy for citizens whose plates are being scanned. Ferraresi also points out however, that Arizona has already scanned over 1.6 million plates, which has led directly to 122 felony arrests. With Arizona usually ranking in the top five U.S. states in auto theft, they’re glad for the boost infrared scanning and photographing provide.

The numbers don’t lie; Phoenix reported a 26 percent drop in auto theft since 2007. I can’t help thinking that’s no coincidence.