With respect to the use of surveillance cameras, both state and local governments have their priorities set for monetary gain rather than public safety.
Red-light and speed-camera surveillance using high resolution cameras leave no doubt about the identity of the offending vehicle. The offender receives a citation stating that if the fine is paid, no points will be added to his driving record, and no increase will be made to his insurance rates.
In other words, pay the fine and everyone forgets about it. What does this have to do with public safety? It is simply a revenue generator.
On the other hand, street or criminal surveillance systems produce black-and-white, jerky, grainy, low resolution videos in which it is impossible to identify anyone involved in the activity being recorded. It's obviously a much cheaper system than the one purchased for traffic surveillance.
This shows the hypocrisy of governments that spend large amounts of money for revenue-generating surveillance but only a pittance for public safety surveillance. Do they think the public can't see through this?
Samuel I. Dutton, Baltimore
