Traffic CCTV Systems: Is Big Brother Watching You?

Recent news events surrounding Edward Snowden and his leaking of documents from the NSA archives have focused more attention than ever on the many intrusions into the privacy of everyday citizens. One of the targets that has come under scrutiny in the wake of the NSA leaks are traffic CCTV systems, which most people equate with license plate cameras. In a recent filing, the ACLU noted that with the enormous amount of license plate images being stored by various law enforcement authorities, police could conceivably track the movements of a single car over the course of days, weeks or months. Which raises the question – should we fear government overreach through traffic CCTV systems? Are all those cameras mounted at traffic lights and along highways … watching you?
Not exactly. In fact, a traffic surveillance camera may serve any one – or more – of several different purposes. This information from CalTrans, the California Transportation Department, explains some of the ways that the state uses information from traffic CCTV systems.
Control Traffic Signal Timing
How often have you pulled up to a traffic signal and sat there – without a single other vehicle in sight – waiting for the light to turn green so you can continue on your way? New technology may make that experience a thing of the past. Many California intersections are equipped with a CCTV camera that sends images back to a central computer, where it is processed by the Video Image Processing System to determine the presence or absence of other vehicles. The technology is still in its infancy, but it has the potential to change the way that traffic signals are controlled throughout the country.
Monitor Freeway Conditions
California has several hundred CCTV camera installations along freeways that are used to monitor traffic conditions. These cameras have PTZ (pan tilt zoom) capability and can help save lives when traffic incidents happen. Information from these cameras is transmitted to the Transportation Management Center, where experts can quickly assess the situation and determine what kind of equipment and personnel needs to be dispatched to the scene.
In addition, the traffic monitoring cameras also provide information for traffic advisories released by CalTrans for motorists.
Law Enforcement
The state of California has only one law enforcement CCTV camera use: capturing license plates of vehicles that don’t pay the toll at toll bridges and toll roads. You have to admit, that’s a far less frightening scenario than CCTV systems across the country recording every movement on the roads.

Risks and Benefits of CCTV Systems for Apartment Complexes

More than any other residential buildings, apartment complexes benefit from the use of CCTV systems and security cameras. With a large, frequently changing population, building residents are frequently strangers to each other. Because they’re used to seeing people come and go, they may fail to recognize an intruder and simply assume that a thief or vandal is a new tenant. Even relatively small apartment complexes benefit from installing CCTV systems for security and surveillance.
Benefits of CCTV Systems in Apartment Buildings
Affordable
CCTV systems are surprisingly affordable these days. Depending on the size of your property and the complexity of the system you’re installing, landlords may be able to install a good quality CCTV surveillance system for just a few hundred dollars per unit.
Ease of Installation
Some types of CCTV systems are easier to install and configure than others. A bare bones system with a security camera for public areas and entrances can be a do-it-yourself project for a small building owner. Even more complex systems may allow for considerable DIY work by the building owner, which will greatly reduce the cost of the security system.
Secure Public Spaces
Even if the only security camera provided is one on the entrance, tenants will benefit from feeling and being more secure. A visual, obvious surveillance camera mounted at the entrance to the building will serve as a discouragement to would-be thieves and vandals, and make it more difficult for them to slip in behind your tenants when they enter and leave. If something should happen despite precautions, the video footage will help identify the culprits and can assist the police in their efforts to apprehend them.
A Few Risks of Apartment CCTV Systems
Privacy
The biggest risk factor when setting up a CCTV security system is protecting tenant privacy. Surveillance camera views should only include public areas, such as entrances, parking lots and laundry rooms. No security camera view should include a tenant’s door, or the interior of their apartments.
Vandalism
Ironically, CCTV systems, which are often installed to discourage vandalism, are likely to fall prey to vandals. It’s important to position cameras out of reach and, if feasible, protect them with grilles or secure housing to prevent vandals from damaging them.
Weather Damage
If cameras are placed outside, there’s always a risk of damage to the system from inclement weather. There are many CCTV systems that feature weather-resistant camera housings for outdoor use.
CCTV systems offer many more benefits than risks in apartment complexes and residential settings. Any building owner who has the best interests of his tenants and his property in mind should seriously consider installing security cameras and a CCTV system to protect them from harm.