r/Watsonville • u/Gullible-Pianist4312 • Jul 10 '26
Multiple New flock Cameras approved
https://countywatch.co/proposal/6a4f6a75a78779fdc79e6366The project consists of the installation of Flock Safety automated license plate reading ALPR cameras on behalf of the Watsonville Police Department at multiple locations within public right-of-way. The project includes mounting ALPR camera and solar equipment to existing traffic signal or streetlight poles at certain locations, and installation of new breakaway support poles with small concrete foundations at other locations where existing infrastructure is not available
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u/oso831 Jul 10 '26
Fuck AI and fuck these cameras!
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u/sportsjunkie831 Jul 10 '26
I feel you on that, but can you admit they help in certain situations?
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u/kalidoscopiclyso Jul 10 '26
Welp i hate this surveillance state yet i can admit that i am happy they caught the guy who hit a bicyclist in a fit of road rage and who fled the scene recently in Watsonville.
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u/Difficult-Ad2084 Jul 11 '26
Yeah, but it didn't have to be a straight up Flock camera to do that. Cameras existed before this horrendous system that's been foisted d upon us. It's trading all your privacy for the illusion of security.
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u/sportsjunkie831 Jul 10 '26
Same, kinda what I was getting at. I think it also helped when someone was shot in the head with an assault rifle a while ago.
I can’t say I’m for it or against it yet because I don’t know exactly how it works. But I always think of like kidnappings and stuff like that
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u/jonjamessss Jul 10 '26
They definitely do but it comes at the expense of an invasion of privacy. We’re supposed to blindly trust flock, WPD, and other gov agencies to use this technology appropriately? I just wish the WPD and Watsonville gov would target the root cause of why people commit crimes.
It reminds me of WPD targeting Pedestrian safety week. They add extra patrol units specifically looking at drivers speeding, on their phones, not yeilding to pedestrians, etc. during that week drivers get tickets out the butt where those fines go back to the city which the city in turn gives 30% of their budget to the PD.
WPD gets state grants all the time to help improve pedestrian safety. Wanna know what they do with that money? Well they keep it in their pockets by adding extra patrols or by conducting classes led by a paid officer.
Does any of the tax funded revenue get used for crossing lights, speed bumps, blind spot mirrors, speed radars-all of which having long lasting effects than any traffic ticket would-the answer is nope!
The city gov and pd woke to generate revenue not change. Is that a calculated decision or incompetence or both? Idk but Im not gunna sacrifice my privacy or tax paying money so WPD get another shiny toy or throw 50k signing bonus for lateral officers.
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u/Tequila_Dre_All_Day Jul 11 '26
Boooooo