DHS Expands License Plate Dragnet, Streams Collections To US Law Enforcement Agencies

The DHS has provided the public with a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) on its use of license plate readers (LPRs). What the document shows is the DHS's hasty abandonment of plans for a national license plate database had little impact on its ability to create a replacement national license plate database. The document deals with border areas primarily, but that shouldn't lead inland drivers to believe they won't be swept up in the collection. 

The CBP [Customs and Border Protection] defines the border as anything within 100 miles of the country's physical borders, which also include international airports. 

Consequently, more than 2/3rds of the nation's population reside in the CBP's so-called "Constitution-free zone." 

DYI:  Constitution-free zone??  My A$$...If you or anyone else is on American soil you are automatically governed by the constitution, there are no ifs, ands, or buts – no exceptions.  The hubris of DHS is just another long litany of reasons to CLOSE DOWN this agency. 

The plate readers discussed in the PIA aren't just the ones drivers and visitors might expect. While the CBP operates many of these at static locations at entry points, other LPRs are mounted on CBP vehicles or hidden in areas the CBP patrols.

DYI:  The article is a bit off in its severity License Plate Reader technology (LPR’s) is being installed into local police and sheriff departments.  A criminal who has stolen a vehicle simply steals a plate from a similar make and model; until the owner realizes his plate has been swapped or more than likely pulled over with the officer believing this is a stolen vehicle.  Of course would be quickly put to rest as the VIN – Vehicle Identification Number – would quickly shown not to be stolen.  So…What we have is nothing more than a police state at all levels – Federal, State, and Local – all sharing data of drivers’ movements.    

The addition of the DEA adds law enforcement to the mix. This means the DHS is intermingling its collection with existing law enforcement databases, allowing it to build an ad hoc national database without having to inform the public or hire a contractor to build one from the ground up. 

As for US citizens, they can expect this Kudzu-like growth of surveillance to continue, especially around airports or borders, even as the country remains only minimally threatened by terrorist activity or illegal entry into the country.

DYI:  Terrorist threat is total bull$hit anyone with half a brain knows that 911 was an inside job by our government – with the help of the Israeli Mossad – as an excuse to war all over the Mid East.  Our southern border the built up areas erect a wall 15 feet high and 10 feet deep with electronic and physical patrols.  The remainder a triple fence system with razor wire between the fences with electronic monitoring with fast react teams either by trucks or helicopters.  Simple.

DYI