Wednesday: Atherton considers license plate readers to combat crime spree

Since when does MP have license plate readers?
There are two cameras on a tall pole at the intersection of Cotton and Hillview. Is that a license plate reader?

How many access points do vehicles have to Atherton? Seems like it would be pretty expensive to cover all of them, or even a quarter of them.

"... to combat crime spree"

- eight residential burglaries in Atherton so far this year
- 22 since last November

What's the historical data? 10 years ago? 20? Certainly, if one pays much attention to social media, it seems higher, but SM tends to blow things way out of proportion.

Data?

The reports are in from the year that PV used them if anyone cares to look for them.
If the goal is to spend lots of money on something that will do nothing it's intended to do, this is a good project.

This is off topic, but the intersection mentioned in a comment above - Hillview and Cotton - would be better served with mirrors. I cross is almost daily and it's impossible to see a vehicle coming unless you're almost in the middle of street and most drivers just blow through it. Not sure why the cameras are there unless to capture a collision but mirrors could prevent one.

I am sympathetic to reducing crime but I must disagree with putting this tool in the hands of this police department. The potential to abuse is too high, and the history of this department abusing such things is too established.

Anyone with a cell phone, in a car or on foot, is tracked every hour of every day by Google, Facebook and others with far more precision than the proposed license plate reader can provide. No one has the right to keep their license plate private in the public realm. Rather than hire scribes to record license plates on cars traversing through Atherton using an automated system to record plates makes great sense.

The police department routinely reviews video captured by private homeowners now to assist in investigating crimes. Why is a publicly owned system any more or less threatening to my civil rights? It isn't.

@Just the Facts...

What are "The Facts"? 8 burglaries in 3 months this year... what is the historical average?

Also, nice strawman: "hire scribes"

Only 'facts' presented are comments about cost versus actual effectiveness, and the failed PV experiment. There are also many questions about the privacy, use and storage of collected data. Ask anyone who knows a cop who accessed data beyond the scope of work (ie. stalking old gf's, etc..)

"Just the Facts" says: "Anyone with a cell phone, in a car or on foot, is tracked every hour of every day by Google, Facebook and others with far more precision than the proposed license plate reader can provide."

Yes, BUT, I can choose not to use Facebook, Google or the cell phone if I am concerned about my privacy in this regard. I cannot choose not to be monitored by the Atherton Police Department under this proposal.

I agree with "Hell No". This department has what is considered one of the most flagrant histories of police database abuse in California. One incident in which a cop tried to look up information about his ex girlfriend, and another in which the department ran background checks on a man the daughter of a council member was dating. All of this published in the Almanac newspaper at the time, and no corrective/disciplinary action taken.

Given the data very close to home (Portola Valley) shows this won't help, is expensive, and can (and, given the very sad history, probably will) be abused, it's an easy "NO" thanks.

I’ve been an Atherton resident since 1956 and I am all in favor of license plate readers. Sadly it’s not the ‘50’s anymore. Halcion days are gone .
Why is anybody’s “right to privacy “disturbed when it reads a license plate? Every time you go over a bridge it reads your license plate… So what??? I am all for a safe and secure neighborhood against these thugs. Just walked on any public street and you were under scrutiny by peoples security cameras.
If you truly want to be off the grid just walk, bicycle, or join the Amish community

@ranchgal

Sorry you were unable to read the comments posted before yours. Most of the questions are about the privacy, use and storage of collected data. And the failed PV experiment.

You're worried about "THUGS" walking the streets of Atherton? Really? We live in the same part of town....