|
Comment on this article |
View comments |
Email this Article
|
|
Traffic Cameras In Champaign |
Current rating: 0 |
by splintr
(No verified email address) |
19 Jan 2003
|
|
|
|
Just noticed that there are four cameras installed on the horizontal arms of the new street lights, directly over the streets, at the intersection of Green and Prospect. Anyone know what they're for? |
|
Re: Traffic Cameras In Champaign |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
19 Jan 2003
Modified: 10:33:12 PM |
The intersection of Green and Prospect was recently rebuilt due to the number of accidents there, including one which killed a UI professor a couple of years ago. They may be strictly for traffic monitoring, but this seems a bit over the top for that sort of thing.
There have been cameras for years at the intersection of Neil and Bradley, so this is not the first use of such surveillance in Champaign. These cameras look like they could be rotated to view areas outside the actual intersection, but I don't know that they actually are able to do so.
What is strange is that this has never been reported on (to my knowledge) in the local press. This could certainly be worth investigating further by asking Champaign city officials for more info. Depending on the answers received (like who monitors them and from where) we may find out what the "official" explanation may be.
And that may not answer everything, because court decisions recently have gone very much in favor of surveillance in public palces by the authorities. It would at least be good to know whether Big Brother has the capabilty to be watching the populace. |
|
Re: Traffic Cameras In Champaign |
by splintr
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Jan 2003
|
Thanks for your comments, ML. This was one one of my thoughts also:
>>>
What is strange is that this has never been reported on (to my knowledge) in the local press.
<<<
Who do we ask, exactly, to hopefully get an answer? |
|
Re: Traffic Cameras In Champaign |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Jan 2003
|
|
You should ask at the Champaign City building or call the main switchboard for the City of Champaign, 351-4400, or the city manager's office, 351-4422. Another possibility is the Public Works traffic signal number, 351-4453. |
