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Chicago Pondering Huge Camera Network

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the big-brother-is-watching dept.

andyring writes "According to ABC7 in Chicago, mayor Daley rolled out plans to install thousands of video cameras in public places across the Windy City. In some ways, I suppose there are positives, as all the existing and future cameras are tied in to the 911 emergency center, allowing a 911 dispatcher to actually watch the area in question when someone dials 911. Dispatchers will be able to control some of the cameras, such as panning and zooming in."

17 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. move it! by ximpul1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ironically, i got that 'nothing for you to see here, move along' a few times before this story loaded

    1. Re:move it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      OMFG!! You're right!!!

      I'm moving to North Korea!!!
      I'm sick of this oppression shit.

  2. I for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I for one welcome our new totalitarian overlords.

    1. Re:I for one... by Caedar · · Score: 5, Funny

      I for one welcome our new REPETITIVE OVERUSED JOKE overlords! (Please, for the love of god, don't mod my comment up as funny. That's only encouraging them.)

  3. Re:to stop all re-threads here by XaviorPenguin · · Score: 2, Funny

    5. ???
    6. Profit!!

    --
    Friends help you move...
    REAL Friends help you move dead bodies... ^_^
  4. Re:Privacy in public by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    So what does that mean, I can't have privacy in a public place?
    You can until someone calls 911 to report you for masturbating in public.
  5. I can see it now... by rackhamh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Caller: Operator, help, I'm being chased! I'm at the corner of 7th and Broad!

    Operator: Okay, I see you. Oh wait, hold on, the camera's stuck.

    Caller: Forget the damn camera, I need help!

    Operator: Maybe if I press this button... these stupid things always lock up right when you need them...

    Caller: Help! He's gaining on me!

    Operator: Hey Bob, can you come over and have a look at this? Camera 76 is stuck again.

    Bob: Yup, we should have a tech out there some time tomorrow.

    Caller: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuugggggh!

  6. Hmmm by EvilGoodGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    It sounds like a great idea if used properly, but then again so does communism. Tin hat crew stear clear of Chicago

  7. Cool...! by Zaranne · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now my stalking can take on a whole new dimension.

    Notes to self:
    1. Hack into the Mayor Daley's databases.
    2. Download photos of person to be stalked.
    3. Fly to Chicago and track him/her down.

    *evil laugh*

    Nice...

    --
    So when is the Hawkeye movie coming out?
  8. Great news ! Always wanted to be on TV. by irn_bru · · Score: 3, Funny

    I am sure that it will be very comforting to know that when you've been shot/stabbed/assaulted that you'll end up in the police departments Christmas Video and very possibly even get to star in some highly 'educational' Fox 'documentary'.

    The perfect dying thought I'm sure you'd agree...

  9. Re:not in my back yard by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 4, Funny
    The problem with blanket-covering an area with cameras is that after a while, the criminals simply go elsewhere...
    Somehow, this doesn't sound all that bad to me. Tell you what: let's put cameras on my street, and let the criminals migrate to your street.
    --

    How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  10. Sign Me Up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Dispatchers will be able to control some of the cameras, such as panning and zooming in.

    How does one become the dispatcher in control of the beach cameras? I hear there's a lot of 'crime' on the beach that needs thorough investigating.

  11. Cameras and Chicago by Hollins · · Score: 2, Funny

    In May, Chicago tested a red light camera system for two weeks then started using it to issue citations.

    On August 28, I received a citation in the mail for a red light violation. The photo was taken May 12 and showed that I coasted through a right-on-red at a blazing 11mph instead of coming to a complete stop. For this, I am fined $90.

    From articles in the Chicago Tribune, it is clear that the photo was taken during the 'testing' period and that the city has since gone back to those test shots and issued citations, in my case three and a half months after the fact.

    I'm now more careful to come to an absolute complete stop when making a right on red (in Chicago during rush hour, this will often elicit a honk from the driver behind you), but I'll dread checking the mail for the next three months.

    1. Re:Cameras and Chicago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      And as a frequent driver, let me tell you of how many times I nearly got rear-ended because I had to slam on my brake when some jackass pedestrian decided to cross the street when the light was green and the DO NOT WALK sign was lit.

      I swear, I'm mounting a cattle pusher on my car before the next time I drive down to the city.

  12. Re:to stop all re-threads here by gcaseye6677 · · Score: 1, Funny

    If you can find a way to aim the cameras up womens' skirts, the profit step would definitely work out.

  13. Re:Privacy in public by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    our 1st amendment right to assemble

    Just curious - is there a 1st amendment right to compile?

  14. Re:Fuckin' Daley by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 3, Funny
    The destruction of that airfield was fully illegal. It was done with bulldozers in the middle of the night. It was done in the name of "Homeland Security".
    He was right! When Microsoft Flight Simulator first came out, some 20 odd-years ago, I used to take-off from Meighs Field and fly into the John Hancock tower just for kicks...