AnonymousBy an edhat reader
I recall the discussion a few years back when the city installed traffic sensors to assist with traffic flow. At the time folks thought the sensors were cameras.
Recently I’ve noticed it appears what looks more like actual traffic/security cameras like what Caltrans uses have been added to some intersections in addition to the sensors. In the photo of the light at De La Vina and State, the devices in red are what I thought of as traffic sensors. The device in yellow is what appears to be more recently added.
It looks more like a camera to me but I’m no expert. If they are security cameras, does anyone know which city department monitors them? Their existence wouldn’t really bother me since security cameras are everywhere these days. I was just curious.
What privacy? You have no reasonable expectation of privacy when you’re out in public.
The camera like objects are 1) Traffic sensors that are collecting data for traffic and traffic light patterns , no video recording at all. 2) Every Emergency vehcile has an emergency light bar. When we see it, it’s time for us to get out of their way, but on each of those light bars is a tiny white strobe light kinda light. The strobe like flasher is perfectly timed so that a monitor at an intersection identifies it as an emergency vehicle and changes the light in the favor of that vehicle. Next time you see the lights, look for the white strobe like flashing light…
On some of the recent SBPD requests for information, there are photos of cars that look to have been taken from this high angle. I’d guess they are passive monitoring cameras under the control of the SBPD and accessed when they are seeking suspects in a crime. They certainly don’t assist in traffic control because most of the lights in this town are poorly timed and impede traffic flow. Funny how pervasive surveillance just “happens” with zero vote or input from the citizens…
Facial Recognition and License Plate readers are both coming to Santa Barbara in the very near future. Transportation Department and Police Departments are thrilled. They will be able to give tickets to anyone moving their cars out of the parking lots, track residents vs customers with the new housing planned downtown that will get parking spaces in the lots and it will be easier for parking officer’s to give tickets.l and officers to find people. The technology is wild. But I worry about the City being able to track people all over town and the amount of images they will store. Big Brother is HERE.
If these cameras are installed to improve flow of traffic, based on actual traffic needs and not someone’s previous estimate, then excellent. There’s nothing worse than waiting at a light that’s red for all waiting except the lane that’s be timed to go but nobody’s there.
Next comes facial recognition