Toward the future
To the editor:
My hat is off to the forward thinking individuals in Collier County who recently announced their decision to add a significant number of traffic cameras to the roads and streets of Collier County to better control their traffic and criminal activity. Every day the news media demonstrates many examples of criminal activity solved with film from a security camera. First example comes to mind is the very swift apprehension of the two bombers at the Boston marathon. Without cameras, this would have been a lengthy process.
When one weighs cameras against other security measures, they emerge as the least costly and most effective choice. When combined with competent law enforcement personnel, surveillance cameras are more effective, less intrusive, less psychologically draining and much more pleasant than the alternatives.
We need to be thinking about ways to make cameras work for us, not lame excuses to abolish them as some in Lee County have openly suggested. A close friend of mine, a retired policeman, suggested we should issue traffic tickets for speeding, reckless driving, cutting red lights, etc. He was quick to point out that none of these cameras collect a pay check, vacation, pension, or a disability check. When they exceed their useful life, they are recycled and replaced with a new camera with the latest updates and improvements.
We in Lee County need to dispense with the “Orwellian” big brother concept and take full advantage of the most recent technology available, as we have done in every successful current industry. In the event we do not, we will find ourselves unable to afford any of today’s modern conveniences. How much would one have to pay for an entirely hand built automobile? It would be out of reach for practically all consumers. A recent article by AT&T stated that at least 50 percent of the entire work force would be telephone operators without an automated electronic telephone system. Modern technology makes everything more effective, faster, and less expensive.
The police chief of New York City recently stated that NYC has between 400,000-600,000 security cameras. A conglomeration of city owned, privately owned, and Homeland Security owned and operated. How many are located in Lee County?
R.E. Workman
Cape Coral