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Automatic License Plate Readers: ‘Invasion of Privacy’ or ‘For our protection’?

The recent addition of License Plate Scanners to Law Enforcement cars in roughly 38 States is raising concern amongst residents. 

Station located on San Fernando Rd
Photo taken outside station
Photography by: Julie White

In San Diego, Calif, the cameras have been in use for four months and the Sheriff’s Department Spokeswoman, Jan Caldwell, confirms that the cameras have helped recover a “stolen car within the first ten minutes” of deployment.

But groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU) argue that the cameras “represent a potential threat to the privacy of Innocent (people)”.

 

In California, there are distinct laws regarding invasion of privacy—

  1. If a person “knowingly enters onto a land of another person without permission.”
  2. And If they “attempts to capture, in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person, any type of visual image, sound recording,  or other physical impression” of person

The scanners are meant to help law enforcement fight crime and terrorism, but in a report from 

Photo taken of back plate of car
Photography by: Julie White

Bloomberg Businessweek,

“ACLU says, their biggest concern is figuring out ‘how long the location and movements of people are being kept on file’ after the pictures are taken by cameras mounted on police cars.In a question posted on Facebook that asked if “License plate scanners should be used to curb crime or if they are an invasion of privacy”,  Manuel Vasquez of San Fernando, Calif. answered, “Invasion of Privacy”.

Thus far in Los Angeles County, according to a the July 2012 report in the Police Chief Magazine, there are only “12 cars fully installed with the systems, 8 in the Compton area and 4 in the La Habra Heights area.”

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Service Animals: The Results

As concluded from a poll done via Facebook on July 21, 2012, few people know or understand what a service animal is.

When asked what is the most common place to see a service animal, the only response was at hospitals.

In conducting research results using Storify where we looked at social networks and how service animals are used in the disabled community, we found that people tweeted, “I’m pretty sure a live rat is not considered a service animal…” when seen on public transportation. In the same way, Whatdisability.com, posted another survey asking, “Should Miniature Horses be Equally Excepted as Service animals.

The truth is service animals have come a long way from what they started off as. On July 15, 2012, a video narrative showed the journey from the first known service dogs who helped Civil War Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, to the opening of Guide Dogs of America, who has been training and placing dogs with the blind for over sixty years and the recent addition of service cats and monkeys who are being trained to help the paralyzed as well individuals with Autism and Depression.

(Table created by rebecca.savransky)

A question was asked on facebook, “What kind of animal have you seen as a service animal?” These are the results. The number one animal was the dog followed by a cat.

So a followup question can be raised as a result… Are people so oblivious to the disabled community that they don’t recognize different animals in their own community until one comes on the bus and sits down next to them?

Over the next couple of months, it will be this site’s goal to bring a different look into the world of service animals and allow people to see the variety of service animals in their area, through exclusive one on one interviews with individuals who train and use service animals as an aid to their disability. It will also look at how individuals and businesses view allowing different service animals in public places.

So stay tuned and follow the exclusive coverage into this vastly emerging topic.

 

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Service Animals- How noticeable are they to the public?

Over the past months, service animals have been a topic of discussion especially in determining what type of service animals should be aiding the disabled community.

As we’ve previously reported, service animals have long history in the United States beginning with the soldiers in the Civil War. Now there are a wide variety of animals that people claim are aiding the disabled community in many different ways.

Take this survey now and answer the question how many service animals have you seen in your area…

Stay tuned in the months to come, as we further explore all aspects of service animals and determine if a therapy cat can be as affective to a person in need as a Guide Dog…

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Service Animals- How Far Have We Come?

A look at how far we’ve gotten with service animals of all sizes that are able to help individuals live independent lives, but how far is too far.
Does size make the difference or do best things come in small packages?

Watch this compilation of videos to see just how many types of service animals are available to the disabled community.

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Service Dog or Animal?

Service Animals in the United States have for a long time been an interesting topic of debate. Various organizations provide training of select animals prior to the animals being placed with a disabled person, but recently some states are putting limits on what animals qualify as service animals. In the following months, an investigation into what a service animal really is and what qualifies, as a true service animal will take place as we look into all aspects of how animals can aid the disabled community.
The following are various organizations as well as types of service animal, which the investigation will delve into as we explore service animals in the San Fernando Valley as well as how certain businesses in the area feel about the wide variety.

 

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Who Is KJC? A look into the life of a professional Disc Jockey

Steven Muro, better known as KJC, spends his nights “rocking the dance floor” for many different types of occasions including weddings, parties and even events like a Little League banquet.  His most popular type of music to be played is Electronica and at age 32, he’s bringing music to large groups of people in the San Fernando Valley and all he needs is his turntable and mixer.

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San Clemente Welcomes Deployed Marines Home on Flag Day 2012

On Thursday, June 14, 2012 in honor of Flag Day this year and as part of a long standing tradition, the City of San Clemente, in collaboration with the 2/4 Association and the Heritage of San Clemente, hosted the, first of its kind, parade and memorial for the latest troop of the Second Batalion Fourth Marines that have returned home.  The troops came back earlier in March after a seven month deployment in Afghanistan.  Some of the Marines coming back have served more than one tour.

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Planet Venus says, “Hi” To Earth

On June 5, 2012, Venus is spotted going across the sun in a six-hour transit that has Southern Californian Residents captivated.
View a once in a lifetime experience that took place the first week in June as Residents had the unique opportunity to learn about and experience science in action at the Griffith Observatory.

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The Ultimate Movie Going Experience

In times, where the economy doesn’t seem to be getting better, there is always an alternate reality to take your mind of your troubles and it’s relatively inexpensive. As summer kicks off officially, blockbusters like Avengers and Men In Black III are bringing relief to California Residents. It’s the ultimate movie going experience that keeps everyone laughing and crying all at the same time.

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Honoring Lives On Memorial Day

Heroes come in all forms.  As we previously reported, a true hero doesn’t have to go to war to have battle scars.  And all heroes, likewise, should be celebrated.

On Memorial Day, celebrations and ceremonies are held around the country as patriots celebrate America’s accomplishments. 

In Los Angeles, a ceremony entitled “Honor A Life”, officially began the Memorial Day Festivities, which concluded with Ice Cream Bars and Water as residents were allowed to view the monuments at the Forest Lawn Cemetery.