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Saint Joseph council approves grant to install license-plate readers amid privacy objections
Summary
The council voted to accept an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant totaling $36,755 to buy and install license-plate readers for the Saint Joseph Police Department and Buchanan County Sheriff's Office after a public commenter warned the technology enables warrantless surveillance; the police chief said images are limited to rear vehicle photos and retained 30 days.
The Saint Joseph City Council voted to accept an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount stated during the ordinance reading as $36,755 to purchase and install license-plate readers for the Saint Joseph Police Department and the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office.
Kevin Sigman, a member of the public who spoke against the proposal, said the program represents "warrantless community surveillance," alleging the Department of Justice and vendors would use local systems to expand a nationwide domestic surveillance network and that data would be transmitted off-site and…
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