by Tyler Arnold
Legislation that would allow police to use surveillance cameras on Tennessee interstate highways was sent to the House Judiciary Committee after lawmakers raised privacy concerns during Thursday’s House session.
House Bill 2110 would end the prohibition on most cameras on interstate highways. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, would let the police use the camera for only surveillance purposes, and not for enforcing speed limits or other traffic laws.
White told lawmakers these cameras are used in localities to track criminals and detect the movement of vehicles operated by suspects. He said this would be a helpful tool on interstate highways and lawmakers should do everything they can to prevent evil in this world.
Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, said these kinds of surveillance cameras have been effective at stopping crime in her district.
However, the idea of surveillance cameras being utilized throughout the state bothered some lawmakers, including Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, who said the legislation reminded him of the dystopian novel, “1984,” in which the government closely monitors its citizens to keep control of them.
Although Holt said he believed the sponsor had good intentions, he cautioned these cameras could be used in the future for purposes the legislation does not intend. For example, he said private companies could try to use these cameras for profit.
“I will not be a party to unnecessary surveillance to the people of Tennessee, the people of the United States,” Holt said. “… Please let’s not tread down this path.”
The legislation will be reviewed Monday by the House Judiciary Committee.
– – –
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and Tennessee for The Center Square. He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider, USA TODAY College, National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon.
Background Photo “Speed Cameras” by davepaku. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Hey, House members.
Stop trying to trample on my privacy. There are already way too many cameras in place.
Come on now. There are “surveillance” cameras on every building and every street corner in Nashville, did they help prevent the rioting, looting and acts of arson?
This will provide citizens a great opportunity to evaluate elected officials ANY Republican or Democrat politician who says that more “surveillance” is good is NOT abiding by the US or Tennessee Constitutions, and needs to be voted out of office!
It’s illegal you can’t confront the patrolman. Because there is no patrolman.Because there is no patrolman. It was on the news I don’t remember which state do you shoot a ticket to the police lights on the siren going. So if I break the speed limit to pass a slower car I can get a ticket thank you. How can civilians is your tickets to be a patrolman. . Show me with a sick mind can you should take it to everybody no matter if you’re breaking the speed limit or not, I think it be a joke. And you have to lose work and spend money to protect you.
Not only “NO” but “HELL NO”. Absolute invasion of privacy.
‘They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.’ (Ben Franklin)