Wilkes-Barre's high tech survailance system. (Marlin: high crime, casino, pros and cons)

[W-B proud]

Wilkes-Barre mayor Tom Leighton held a press conference yesterday on the one year aniversary of the installation of the city's camera network. He called it a success. I think it's to early to claim that it is a success or not. I see pros and cons to this system. The pros...It was paid for with gambling proceeds; it can be used as a crime deterent; it can be used as evidence in court against criminals; it will hopefully give people a sense of security in a city that is plagued by a long standing bad reputaion of being dangerous, crime ridden, and scary...the cons...W-B officials run it (that's scary), it could potentially be turned against the common citizen as a revenue generating tool i.e. using the system to catch people that ran a stop sign, using it to catch and fine people talking on cell phones while driving, using it to see if your car is inspected or registered and then fining you if it is not; some may say that the money could've been better spent. What are your thoughts? and Would you like to see a similar system in your city or town? So far...I'd say I am in favor of it (because the city needs to get the crime issue and the perception of danger and violence under contol) This cities #1 issue IMO..is the negative perception and high crime reputaion, if this system helps deter criminal activity and gives people a sense of security then it is worth it, but I am very cautios and skeptical that it will eventually be used in a bad and corrupt way like i mentioned above. What are your thoughts?

[frank754]

I noticed that story too on the news, I think it's a good thing they installed the system. I see them around town, but I think some of the would-be criminals don't know or don't pay attention to those little cameras. They should hang a sign on each one like "crime-free surveillance zone" or similar so that when they walk around town and see enough of those, it would get frustrating: "big bro' be watchin' me wherever I be" and they'd be a bit more paranoid before causing any mischief.

[varmintblaster]

IMO - Wilkes-Barre is trying to mimic Britain - where you can't even wipe your nose without being monitored.

I recall reading about the incident in the recent past where a common thief ripped off cars parked near Public Square in daylight hours and the officials in charge blamed "bad camera angles".

I wonder how many "beat cops" the city could have hired for what it costs for the high tech toys and recurring operating costs.
Even 1 or 2 REAL cops on the street, would do far more to deter the bad element than cameras. (I'm talking beat cops - either on foot or bicycle patrolling known trouble spots - not cruising around munching donuts...

p.s. -

1) does the Mayor cover for the hourly-wage slave assigned to "monitor those monitors".
2) do the camera's have face-recognition capabilities to inform the Mayor to pull the trigger on the parade confetti cannon if/when Reston returns to the area to "Save the City"


ooohhhh yeah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[W-B proud]

I don't know it seems that Wilkes-Barre gets ridiculed either way. People bash the city because of high crime and violence, and when the city employs a high tech camera system to help fight the crime then it gets ridiculed for spending money foolishly. If run properly (don't hold your breath..this is W-B after all) I believe these cameras can be a great tool to increase safety, reduce fear, and combat crime. The problem is it won't be long before someone in city governance hires thier lazy, incompetent brother in law to run the program because that is how things run around here.

[Gerania]

Would you be in favor of a high tech surveillance system in your city?

No, not really. I would prefer that everyone in the 109th, retired military, retired officers, seasoned hunters carry 24/7. Who in their right mind would hold up a Turkey Hill if they though that nearly all of the patrons were carrying? No one. So, if they're robbing the Turkey Hill...

[coalboy]

Originally Posted by varmintblaster

IMO - Wilkes-Barre is trying to mimic Britain - where you can't even wipe your nose without being monitored.





ooohhhh yeah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is your projection of Britain based on experience of actually visiting the British Isles or perhaps gleaned from NRA articles? or other sources???

Me, I'm a Life time Member of the NRA...and have visited th BI on many occasions in the last 15 years, on professional/fact-finding jaunts as a LE officer as well as recent Pub-Crawlin' with my long time 'mates 'in England whom I have learned to love and respect.

In the early seventies, me and my bro toured Europe 'by thumb'

Just sayin'... If you have never visited this cool, law-abiding, anti-crime, oriented country... that has been taken over by dum-a$$ed politicians ,,,
you have to realize they are just like us...

Wanna go meet some really righteous dudes... (Kosovo,Falklands, Vets in their hometowns, bars,?? (not so unlike our respective hometowns)

Give me a holler, I was thinking of a early 2012 trip. Jan-Feb

All we need is passports and beer money.

[sheena12]

Since I do not plan to shop lift or rob a store or deal drugs, I have no problem.
I just have to wear make up more often with this constant threat of Candid Camera. :-)

[varmintblaster]

Originally Posted by coalboy

Is your projection of Britain based on experience of actually visiting the British Isles or perhaps gleaned from NRA articles? or other sources???

Me, I'm a Life time Member of the NRA...and have visited th BI on many occasions in the last 15 years, on professional/fact-finding jaunts as a LE officer as well as recent Pub-Crawlin' with my long time 'mates 'in England whom I have learned to love and respect.

In the early seventies, me and my bro toured Europe 'by thumb'

Just sayin'... If you have never visited this cool, law-abiding, anti-crime, oriented country... that has been taken over by dum-a$$ed politicians ,,,
you have to realize they are just like us...

Wanna go meet some really righteous dudes... (Kosovo,Falklands, Vets in their hometowns, bars,?? (not so unlike our respective hometowns)

Give me a holler, I was thinking of a early 2012 trip. Jan-Feb

All we need is passports and beer money.

I stand firm in my support of the 2nd Amendment. I am no longer a member of the NRA - I stopped contributing two years ago after Wayne Lapiere failed to heed my warning letter to cease & desist the constant bombardment of my mailbox with solicitations for MO MONEY !!!

I offered him a choice - send me one solicitation for annual dues and collect it, continue to bombbard me with solicitations - get nothing.

Wayne chose B. Tough luck.

**********

Except for former military flight stopovers, I've never been to Europe, I have no intention of ever visiting Europe. If I won a free trip to Europe I would not go to Europe.

The Brits are cool. They are our #1 Allies (even though our idiotic POTUS berates them). However, I am willing to bet that Britain's greatest generation, many that are long dead after fighting in WW2 to protect the freedom and rights of their fellow citizens, are rolling over in their graves by the fact that their country's citizens have themselves rolled over - gave up their rights to bear arms, rights to personal freedom, and if things keep up, will soon be reading the Koran and dropping to their knees a few times a day.

I've got a passport - last four stamps were from Costa Rica which I will be returning to at the end of Feb. I'll stick with Costa Rica - they like Gringos and unlike many in Europe, do not call us Ugly Americans after they take our $, tropical climate, big-arse Sailfish & Marlin, US currency advantages, and gorgeous Tica's that bring me my drinks.

don't forget to pack your raincoat & umbrella... my umbrella will be leaning against the side of my drink glass


p.s. - professional fact-finding trips as an LEO ???? ROFLMAO

[MatildaLoo]

Britain's outlaw of guns didn't stop the Cumbria massacre.

Taxi driver kills 12 in UK massacre - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)


On-topic: I don't see cameras like this as a crime deterrent at all. That said, I've seen how cameras like these have helped smaller towns catch vandals, car thiefs, etc. so there is an advantage. I just don't like the whole "Big Brother is watching" idea.

[fisheye]

What I find more disconcerting are cameras that nobody knows who is monitoring. We’ll we do have a pretty good idea - it is just that nobody comes forward and states their intentions.

There are two different locations in my hometown of Swiftwater that I have in mind. By our major pharmaceutical manufacturer there are cameras on two lights on Route 611 - probably because of 911 and the TSA? Also there are cameras where Mount Airy’s road hits Route 611 - probably connected with the casino?

I don’t have a problem with security - if I know why it is there and what it is looking for. I am not crazy about the private use of our public highways to collect some form of information on the public.

I have been totally against the use of camera lights. The studies have shown that our government usually shortens the length of the yellow lights as revenue drops. The idea of creating systems, just to create new tax schemes; goes against my grain.