"...THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FUELING STATE AND LOCAL USE OF LICENSE PLATE READERS Federal funding has fueled the spread of license plate readers among state and local law enforcement agencies. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2012 that, over the past five years, the Department of Homeland Security distributed over $50 million in grants to fund the acquisition of license plate readers.71 Company materials corroborate the major role that federal funding plays. According to a government “grant guide” on the website of license plate reader manufacturer ELSAG North America, the Department of Homeland Security has distributed “billions of dollars in grants” through the Homeland Security Grant Program and the Infrastructure Protection Program.72 ELSAG’s website also states that the Justice Department is the “lead Federal funding agency.”73 Federal money plays such a critical role in supporting the purchase of license plate readers that PIPS Technology, another major manufacturer, maintains Grant Assistance Coordinators on staff to work directly with police departments applying for government funds.74 Documents obtained by the ACLU are replete with examples of local and state agencies building license plate reader networks with federal grant money. Police departments that would otherwise be limited by local budgets have received tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government to establish or expand license plate reader programs..." aclu.org/files/assets/071613-aclu-alprreport-opt-v05.pdf
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 11:23:27 +0000
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