Are surveillance camera’s on public roads unconstitutional?
Fox News reports that a Virginia federal judge recently sided with Flock Safety after they were sued for having video cameras on public roads in Norfolk. Three or four times a day, the more than 150 cameras capture still images of vehicles.
The surveillance is intended to assist in resolving Amber Alerts, recovering stolen vehicles, and combating crime, but two residents sued, saying it was an invasion of privacy and unconstitutional.
“License plates are issued by the government for the express purpose of identifying vehicles in public places for safety reasons. Courts have consistently found that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a license plate on a vehicle on a public road, and photographing one is not a Fourth Amendment search.”
WTKR reveals the judge’s ruling said there was no reasonable expectation of privacy on public roads regarding a vehicle’s exterior. All recorded images are deleted after thirty days.