You may not have noticed the cameras on the side of the road, as they’re easy to ignore. Often mounted on a skinny black pole or telephone pole, the solar panel charger is more noticeable than the camera itself, but it sure notices you.
What you’re seeing is an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR). Their main job is to scan your license plate and log it in a searchable database, but they can also log your car’s color, make, model, bumper stickers and even unique dents.
Even harder to spot are microphones throughout the city, which are often intentionally concealed. Their intended use is to listen for gunshots and alert police. However, while these systems are not constantly recording, they’re always on and listening…