I like it... wrote on Nov 6, 2008 5:29 PM:I definitely think this is a cool tool. If my car was stolen I would hope to have my car retrieved by a device like this one. I'm sure Mr ACLU would like to have his vehicle recovered as well if it was stolen. Think about it.

sweet wrote on Nov 6, 2008 8:19 PM:Vista needs one too !!

Grump wrote on Nov 6, 2008 9:57 PM:This is great technology, Kevin Keenan and the ACLU need to get a life, "If you replaced the database of stolen vehicles with a database of Muslims and peace activists, you would have an incredibly powerful tool to track down people the government disagreed with." And if cats had machine guns dogs wouldn't mess with them.

ACLU at it again wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:13 PM:Am I the only one that is fed up with the ACLU, go do something productive already.

Michael Savage for president!!!

b wrote on Nov 6, 2008 11:27 PM:""It's part of the growing surveillance infrastructure that every citizen should be concerned about," said Kevin Keenan, director of the San Diego and Imperial county chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union." -

Hmmm. The growing surveillance infrastructure actually seems to benefit law-abiding citizens in part by helping police catch criminals. I'm not too worried about the government spying on me. Any man-made system has the potential to be abused, but this camera technology offers a great tool for police.

joke wrote on Nov 7, 2008 2:25 AM:Good going OPD, lets tell the world about this device.....

Patrick wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:13 AM:ACLU, what a joke.

ACLU Fan - Not wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:53 AM:The ACLU should be just as concerned with the probing into "Joe - the Plumber"'s background that was done by members of the Ohio state government. That type of intrustion by the government is what we should really be concerned about. By the way, the ones doing it were Democrats.

OMG wrote on Nov 7, 2008 7:42 AM:"Scanned plates can be checked against databases of wanted felons or hit-and-run suspects."

AVAILABLE SOON!!

Yes on 8 discriminators can get a model that compares vehicles licenses against a database of illegally married gays so they can be brought to justice under God's laws!!!!

Oh Thank heaven for new technology!

Craig wrote on Nov 7, 2008 7:59 AM:to OMG: Way to stay on topic. Go whine on a Prop 8 article instead.

Two sides wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:10 AM:My daughter's car was stolen a few months ago, and recovered 3 weeks later, thanks to this system.

On the other hand, yes, it does worry me that, at some point in time, it will be used against the citizenry. Good discoveries and inventions are always eventually subverted for evil purposes. This is not a partisan issue - it is an issue of good vs. evil, and the wicked people in this world who will do anything to obtain and maintain power.

Theft on TV wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:19 AM:If you watch the show Theft on cable, you can see a camera like this in action.

Just driving down the street, thousands of places are scanned. Every city should have multiple cameras like this.

Sad that the ACLU continues to protect criminals at every turn.

Cameras for All wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:20 AM:If you are a law abidding citizen, you have NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!!!

So odd how the ACLU and the scare public get this confused.

Sheeple wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:31 AM:Maybe if officers did more patrolling and fewer checkpoints the car thieves would find another line of work. It may seem like a good idea, but why is the public paying for this in a down economy when the insurance companies would probably be glad to pick up the tab. Considering the mass transit users in the Oceanside area, why should their taxes pay for this new police toy? Furthermore, the highest areas for vehicle theft in the county are UTC/La Jolla and Del Mar. Finally, as the device scans plates does it store the plate number and the location, even if the plate is not associated with a felon or stolen vehicle? Such information if retained by the system can be misused against those not in the mentioned databases. Keep giving the government control, even in things that sound reasonable, and when you wake up to your enslavement it will too late.

All for it wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:50 AM:Our car was broken into twice and finally stolen a year ago. It was recovered after a week by Escondido police. Finally we see local agencies getting the technology to protect local citizens. The ACLU works to protect the criminals.I'm all for the police and the checkpoints and this new technology. The article on the checkpoints a few weeks back showed EXACTLY why I'm for it. A male that had lost his license for drunk driving was driving without a license. He actually had the nerve to say it wasn't fair that the police impounded his car. ARE YOU KIDDING??? GREAT JOB OCEANSIDE POLICE. Why is Vista not doing ANYTHING to protect citizens like the surrounding communities?

Laughable sheeple wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:52 AM:I can't believe how some can be so scared by a camera.

Oh yes, insurance companies would pay for this NATION WIDE. Um, your right.

Wonder if people choose their atm's they use by if they have a camera or not?

Vista resident wrote on Nov 7, 2008 9:04 AM:I agree, Vista needs to get pro-active to protect citizens. Check points and new police technology are good things, why aren't they using any of it?

Vista too wrote on Nov 7, 2008 9:27 AM:I live in Vista also. Our car was broken into and stolen and recovered in Escondido. They have been on the cutting edge. And when the person that stole it was put in jail, it has not been broken into again. I wish Vista would do more about the aggressive drivers sppeding through neighborhoods and day laborers taking over Escondido Ave. I think we'll have to get rid of Mayor Vance to bring any change here.

OMG wrote on Nov 7, 2008 9:54 AM:Laughable sheeple [-] wrote on Nov 7, 2008 8:52 AM:

Here is where it will lead.

Prosecutor to defendant:
Mr Defendant, our vehicle license survelliance system was used to apprehend you while driving past one of our community churches on Nov5,2008. After we reviewed our survelliance archives it was discovered that on Nov3,2008 at 8:37am you were on-camera withdrawing money from the ATM in Hillcrest, at 10:15am you and a male companion were seen on-camera entering the county administration building and at 10:45 exiting the building.

Our records also show that you used the money withdrawn from said ATM to pay for your civil ceremony and was married to said companion as notarized at 10:30 that very day by the county clerks office.

The proof is overwhelming, jurors, that this person is in fact an illegally married gay person that does not deserve the same rights as normal God fearing idividuals. his punishment should be to the fullest extent of the law, which includes annulment of the marriage, discrimination for life in this world, and eternal damnation in the after life.

Justice served as defined by this Police State and "God's law" according to the Religious right.

To OMG... wrote on Nov 7, 2008 10:18 AM:Sounding a bit bitter, there. Move on with your life, California voters got what they want...accept it.

chatter wrote on Nov 7, 2008 10:20 AM:if everyone had one on the hood of the car and it radioed to the local police ? how long would it take for stealing cars would change?

John E wrote on Nov 7, 2008 10:20 AM:In case no one has noticed, San Diego County has a huge problem with stolen vehicles and an even greater problem with unlicensed and/or uninsured motorists. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and reasonable public safety measures are entirely justified.

OMG wrote on Nov 7, 2008 11:00 AM:To OMG... [-] wrote on Nov 7, 2008 10:18 AM:

I am not bitter, gay,or married. Iam hopwever tired of the majority taking minorities constitutional rights away because they don't agree with the lifestyle.

I will never accept it, tax the churches!

Sheeple wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:09 PM:Subjects may not object to living in a police state, but citizens do. Just how much should be accepted under the guise of reasonable public safety?

Dont Break the Law wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:24 PM:If you don't break the law, you are fine.

Why is it so hard to understand?

Big Brother wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:43 PM:Olga will stop this madness, I tell ya big brother is everywhere!

Yes wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:47 PM:We need these cameras, up yours ACLU.

Craig wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:49 PM:to OMG: why don't you scurry on down to the police station and sign a waiver that they are not allowed to use any sort of technology that infringes on your constitutional rights to fight any crime that might happen against you.

David wrote on Nov 7, 2008 1:10 PM:To OMG: Time for you to move to France. Get a life, grow up, etc.

Local Yokal wrote on Nov 7, 2008 1:26 PM:I'm for the ACLU, and I'm for the cameras. Put one on Highway 15 and catch all sorts of crooks, that's a good thing, and I support that. Use it to spy on people, it's a bad thing. The ACLU helps protect you and me from people/organizations abusing our U.S. Constitutional Rights - and that's a good thing!

Cool wrote on Nov 7, 2008 4:00 PM:I think this new tool is awesome, if only all the police & sheriff deparment's in ALL cities had this available. With so many cars being stolen this will help recover them quicker.

Vista Resident wrote on Nov 7, 2008 4:58 PM:Big Brother seems benign -- until it is used by the government to squash disent. Hitler's Germany was a police state. Germans actually voted Hitler into office. A majority were fine with that police state as long as it was the other guy that was getting persecuted.

In a related issue, I read that Yahoo and Google are keeping tabs on what you do online. There was a detailed article about how every move you make could eventually be targetted on a cell phone and you could receive targetted messages as you move about. Sorry, but I'm not ready to give up my privacy like that.

Freedom isn't free. It requires constant defense and vigilance by an informed public that cherishes its freedom. Are we willing to put up with a little bit of hassle for the sake of freedom? That's where the real battle for freedom is.

Vista has already put up cameras at the corner of Escondido and Santa Fe. So, we've already got Big Brother watching us. Using this new police tool sacrifices our privacy. When privacy is sacrificed, then citizens start to get ansy about giving voice to disent. Our freedom and privacy gets sacrificed so gradually that we barely notice it....

way to go opd wrote on Nov 7, 2008 7:06 PM:To: OMG,Your on the wrong news article. & it sounds like you have a rainbow stuck somewhere! The police have to do whatever means to catch these low lifes. And if the parents would keep track and be held accountable .... We wouldn't need to use other means. Notice the kid in the artical was 16! I say we get more. I'll pay more taxes for this.

Dave wrote on Nov 8, 2008 7:04 AM:Better yet lets put tracking chips in all criminals.
Love the camera, keep it up.

Vista wrote on Nov 8, 2008 7:39 AM:Get on your Councilmembers, City Manager, grant writers and police dept. to get with the program with checkpoints and new police technology.
We all understand why Vista needs to be more pro-active with their criminal system.

Why Doesnt wrote on Nov 8, 2008 9:15 AM:Border Patrol or CHP use these right at the border crossing? You WOULD catch lots of stolen cards before they crossd over.

ACLU get lost wrote on Nov 8, 2008 10:03 AM:They are finding our stolen cars! Come on. Law breakers just like the illegal alien LAW breakers that you routinely advocate for!!

To Dave wrote on Nov 8, 2008 11:20 AM:Even better yet, let's put tracking chips in EVERYONE. Only those breaking the law need to worry, right?

This week, the sheeple will all say, "No way, that's crazy talk". Next week, some police agency will start to do it, and those same sheeple (I like that word) will say "way to go, I feel so much safer".

It's like the "safer is better" people can't see past the end of the week, and most can't even seem to conceive of how to actually look at history and learn from it.

Freedom isn't safe. Just like it isn't free. Slave owners were "protecting" the poor slaves, who obviously weren't smart enough to take care of themselves. Tracking them with brands, not allowing them free movement, etc. Using all the technology of the day to keep their society "safe".

There are thousands of examples of how going down this road leads to bondage and fascism. Yet, the sheeple are willing to drive down that road at breakneck speed, staring at the pavement 5 feet in front of their bumpers, oblivious to the cliff they dangerously approach.

I find it ironic that people that have had cars stolen and recovered, write in here and say we need Orwellian level surveillance to get people's cars back. How did the police ever recover your car without it? At least lojack provides SOME promise that it won't be used unless authorized.

And the funniest thing of all is that it's the conservatives out there, always willing to "fight", and rightly so, for all those rights (guns, religion, etc) that are the first in line to trash some other right, just because it makes them feel "safe".

How about we chip every gun in America. Would you be up for that? Personally, I wouldn't. Just like I'm not too hot on letting the police track every movement of my car, or detain me in traffic at a checkpoint for absolutely no reason other than I MIGHT be a criminal. It's ALL THE SAME THING. Just a tad of consistency with regard to this would go a LONG LONG WAY to making sure our kids and grandkids still live in some semblance of a free country.

To to Dave wrote on Nov 8, 2008 12:51 PM:If you have something to hide you bring up the scare tactics of big brother or Nazis.
Well we are sick of the crime and the ACLU makes sure the criminals are back on the street ASAP. I'm all for tracking chips on criminals and tent chain gangs. Just what are you hiding??

Libertarian wrote on Nov 8, 2008 5:43 PM:This is a disturbing trend. The govt is watching and listening to everyone. Just where will it end?
The ACLU isn't perfect but I'm sure glad they're fighting for our civil liberties.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Nov 8, 2008 5:48 PM:I have to agree with B and others who aren't as concerned with "big brother" as we are with the thugs and criminals who prey on us by stealing our automobiles or car-jacking. I'm not one of the 'guilty ones' so it doesn't bother me in the least that systems like this are in place.

It's those who have questionable motives (for anything) including those who skulk around cheating on their spouses and do other sneaky things that are worried that their gig is up and they'd get caught.

Again, those of us who are LAW-ABIDING and who DO THE RIGHT THING (even when no one's looking) have absolutely nothing to worry about. I want systems like this utilized all over the place and would like to see this used at the border with Mexico to stop the many stolen cars from leaving our country.

how about.... wrote on Nov 8, 2008 6:14 PM:RFID chips or bar codes put onto every vehicle registered in the State of California, put scanners or receivers at strategic sections of major roadways and freeways, when a vehicle is reported stolen, it's ID number is entered into the stolen vehicle data-base, and as the stolen vehicle travels about, it would trip these sensors, alerting the state and local law enforcement as to the location, direction of travel, speed, and general area of where to find/watch for the stolen vehicle....the technology exists, lets use it....

Conservative wrote on Nov 8, 2008 7:23 PM:I may be stubbornly clinging to my guns and religion, but don’t count me in the crowd that thinks you can trade liberty for safety. True conservatives work for smaller government not police states.

T_Alberto wrote on Nov 9, 2008 7:05 AM:This is great! Go ahead, scan my plates! I have nothing to hide. But it sounds like Kevin Keenan does.