Police and The Vigilant System

[RPM 26,227]

I've long suspected this was true and today I had it confirmed. A friend of mine is a local attorney and has a daily blog. Today he went off on The Vigilant System. It's a plate reader that not only checks for warrants, it links to a national database and tracks your movement. Big Brother is here.

It's a good read.

 

[washparkhorn 9,935]

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/vigilant-solutions-surveillance/427047/

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/01/no-cost-license-plate-readers-are-turning-texas-police-mobile-debt-collectors-and

I followed it for some time. There was case in Arkansas that went up to the 8th Cir., where Vigilant lost their suit against the State of Arkansas (which banned license plate readers) on Eleventh Amendment grounds. 

I believe there is a 4th Amendment argument to be made under a mosaic theory, but I did not get that far into the analysis. Good for your friend (and you) for being aware of it. It is troubling. 

[Mrs Whiggins 13,049]

So, the following is not about The Vigilant System, but it is about the police. I believe there is a topic about the officers killed in NYC in Daily Texan, however, I don't want to take up space with politics over there because that brings down smitings. I looked about three pages deep into this section and couldn't see anything where it fits. Anyway, this tweet happened and it is a growing concern of mine with the way the President has been calling out urban centers, the way the President spoke when he addressed a national conference of police chiefs, and the way Bill Barr has been speaking nationwide about justice and the judicial system with respect to law enforcement. The police are increasingly militarized, increasingly infiltrated with white supremacists, and seem to operate within and without the laws as they see fit. Are all forces this way? I don't believe that to be true, but I don't think the problems should be ignored, especially as things (in my own narrow and biased observation) appear to be escalating. Thoughts? Who will the police protect besides themselves if the President declares war on the populace?

 

[washparkhorn 9,935]

That is the bleeding edge of our democracy, Mrs. Wiggins. It is ugly. Police are tired of protecting the 1%, who in turn criticize them.