Living in a surveillance state; not government, corporate.

[quade 4]

This car was driving around the parking lot of the community college near my house yesterday. I immediately recognized the license plate readers, but the car was unmarked and the windows, including the front, were tinted darker-than-legal.

After checking around, it appears cars like this are now being used by independent companies doing freelance data collection. They sell the data to, among other things, finance companies looking for repos.

I've said for a LONG time the biggest threat isn't "Big Brother", but instead "Little Brother."

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[wayneflorida 0]

quade

This car was driving around the parking lot of the community college near my house yesterday. I immediately recognized the license plate readers, but the car was unmarked and the windows, including the front, were tinted darker-than-legal.

After checking around, it appears cars like this are now being used by independent companies doing freelance data collection. They sell the data to, among other things, finance companies looking for repos.

I've said for a LONG time the biggest threat isn't "Big Brother", but instead "Little Brother."

Capitalism at its best.

[rehmwa 2]

quade

They sell the data to, among other things, finance companies looking for repos.

wouldn't be surprised of one customer is your state government though

Big and little brother - together at last

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[lawrocket 3]

A private company can repo your car.
A government can do much much more.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

quade

This car was driving around the parking lot of the community college near my house yesterday. I immediately recognized the license plate readers, but the car was unmarked and the windows, including the front, were tinted darker-than-legal.

After checking around, it appears cars like this are now being used by independent companies doing freelance data collection. They sell the data to, among other things, finance companies looking for repos.

I've said for a LONG time the biggest threat isn't "Big Brother", but instead "Little Brother."

Unless they have permission from the landowner I would think that information is illegally acquired.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

SkyDekker

***This car was driving around the parking lot of the community college near my house yesterday. I immediately recognized the license plate readers, but the car was unmarked and the windows, including the front, were tinted darker-than-legal.

After checking around, it appears cars like this are now being used by independent companies doing freelance data collection. They sell the data to, among other things, finance companies looking for repos.

I've said for a LONG time the biggest threat isn't "Big Brother", but instead "Little Brother."

Unless they have permission from the landowner I would think that information is illegally acquired.

Is it?

That's a good question.

Most search law applies to searches by "the government" (Law enforcement usually).
This would fall under "invasion of privacy", I would think.

Parking lots, even on truly "private property" (stores, malls, ect) are considered "Private property held open for public use" and have certain laws that do apply to them and others that don't. For example, you can't be arrested for driving drunk on private property, but you can in a mall parking lot. However, you can't get a speeding ticket (but you can get a "reckless driving").

And to muddy the waters even more, it's a community college. Which may classify as "public property."

I really don't know. It's been a long time since I took "search & seizure" law.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[aphid 0]

SkyDekker

Unless they have permission from the landowner I would think that information is illegally acquired.

Parking lot might be construed as a public area and lacking any expectation of privacy?

[SkyDekker 1,465]

wolfriverjoe

******This car was driving around the parking lot of the community college near my house yesterday. I immediately recognized the license plate readers, but the car was unmarked and the windows, including the front, were tinted darker-than-legal.

After checking around, it appears cars like this are now being used by independent companies doing freelance data collection. They sell the data to, among other things, finance companies looking for repos.

I've said for a LONG time the biggest threat isn't "Big Brother", but instead "Little Brother."

Unless they have permission from the landowner I would think that information is illegally acquired.

Is it?

That's a good question.

Most search law applies to searches by "the government" (Law enforcement usually).
This would fall under "invasion of privacy", I would think.

Parking lots, even on truly "private property" (stores, malls, ect) are considered "Private property held open for public use" and have certain laws that do apply to them and others that don't. For example, you can't be arrested for driving drunk on private property, but you can in a mall parking lot. However, you can't get a speeding ticket (but you can get a "reckless driving").

And to muddy the waters even more, it's a community college. Which may classify as "public property."

I really don't know. It's been a long time since I took "search & seizure" law.

Usually businesses need "permission" to do business on somebody else's property. I would assume that this collection of data for profit on somebody else's property would need permission from that property owner.

[lawrocket 3]

aphid

*** Unless they have permission from the landowner I would think that information is illegally acquired.

Parking lot might be construed as a public area and lacking any expectation of privacy?

This is a private company. It's not a Constitutional issue.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

SkyDekker

***
...And to muddy the waters even more, it's a community college. Which may classify as "public property."

I really don't know. It's been a long time since I took "search & seizure" law.

Usually businesses need "permission" to do business on somebody else's property. I would assume that this collection of data for profit on somebody else's property would need permission from that property owner.

True. But most of those "permission" requirements are to stop outsiders from annoying the customers. This is pretty unobtrusive.

And there's pretty much nothing to stop me from doing this "by hand."

As in: If I'm trying to find someone, I don't know of any law that prevents me from going into a parking lot that is "open to the public" and taking a lap around it, looking for a specific car.

These guys are just using technology to do it faster. And with a bigger "net".

And does a community college count as private property?

Again, I don't know.

And I'm not trying to defend this practice. I don't find it as bothersome as Quade does, but I don't really like it.

I just doubt that they are breaking any laws. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that they got some sort of "legal opinion" before they started doing it.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[airdvr 210]

Wow...that car has more cameras on it than a 100 jump wonder.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[turtlespeed 226]

airdvr

Wow...that car has more cameras on it than a 100 jump wonder.

DSE would be jealous.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun