None of the townspeople who were interviewed knew what the cameras were for. They were installed over the past few days without notice. Eventually, the news team received an answer from the town manager. The cameras are going to read license plate numbers, and so that they can alert the police to cars that are stolen or related to amber alerts.
Comment: All in the name of safety, of course.
What's so alarming about this case, is the complete lack of transparency. When the town manager was asked about the secrecy, he claimed that they were planning to announce the presence of these cameras after they had all been installed. In response to the concerns of residents, he said "It probably is fair, this is technology, we're always learning about it, and so every time you think you've got it covered someone brings up a new idea." This Fox affiliate reported on these cameras being installed in traffic lights in Paradise Valley last February, and were met with the same secrecy from public officials.
Reader Comments
Graffiti anyone? Ha! They should 'stick' to cameras on poles that are hard to reach. Cacti don't swivel. Lol. Not that I condone such a thing, but it seems inevitable given that everything else in AZ gets spray painted eventually... Waste of money. If they are going to spy on us they should at least have the huevos to be up front about it. Cowards
The saddest thing I ever did see was a woodpecker pecking on a plastic tree. And friend he says to me, things aint as sweet as they used to be.