SPD, prosecutors seek use of red light cameras to solve crimes
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SEATTLE -- Seattle police and King County prosecutors are pushing for a change in state law that would allow them to review footage captured by red light cameras for a different purpose.
Officials want to look for clues into unsolved murder cases in the footage captured by the network of 30 red light cameras installed around the city.
One such camera sits near the spot Nicole Westbrook was gunned down in a random, drive-by shooting. Witnesses and a surveillance camera spotted the gunman's car, but no one got the license plate. But just five blocks away from the crime scene sits a red light camera that captures perfect images of license plates.
"So if there's any chance that there's a camera that has footage of a suspect car, that's going to be invaluable," said Seattle Police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb.
Police and prosecutors are frustrated by state law that prohibits any use of red light cameras beyond catching red light runners.
"These are unsolved and you have potentially vital information that they can't access. And I just don't think that most people think that that makes sense," said Mark Larson, King County's chief criminal deputy prosecutor.
But the American Civil Liberties Union says the law limiting these red light cameras protects the public's privacy. The group claims police and prosecutors are just trying an "end run" around what lawmakers approved.
"It really is more of a fishing expedition," said Seattle ACLU Deputy Director Jennifer Shaw, adding police already have the tools they need to solve crimes without compromising privacy.
"This is just looking for additional options, I suppose, with no real evidence that it's going to make us any safer," Shaw said.
Police and prosecutors will ask state legislators to modify the law during next winter's session.
Officials want to look for clues into unsolved murder cases in the footage captured by the network of 30 red light cameras installed around the city.
One such camera sits near the spot Nicole Westbrook was gunned down in a random, drive-by shooting. Witnesses and a surveillance camera spotted the gunman's car, but no one got the license plate. But just five blocks away from the crime scene sits a red light camera that captures perfect images of license plates.
"So if there's any chance that there's a camera that has footage of a suspect car, that's going to be invaluable," said Seattle Police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb.
Police and prosecutors are frustrated by state law that prohibits any use of red light cameras beyond catching red light runners.
"These are unsolved and you have potentially vital information that they can't access. And I just don't think that most people think that that makes sense," said Mark Larson, King County's chief criminal deputy prosecutor.
But the American Civil Liberties Union says the law limiting these red light cameras protects the public's privacy. The group claims police and prosecutors are just trying an "end run" around what lawmakers approved.
"It really is more of a fishing expedition," said Seattle ACLU Deputy Director Jennifer Shaw, adding police already have the tools they need to solve crimes without compromising privacy.
"This is just looking for additional options, I suppose, with no real evidence that it's going to make us any safer," Shaw said.
Police and prosecutors will ask state legislators to modify the law during next winter's session.
