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.