TxDOT's Dumb Move

Spying on Motorists?
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou071010_jj_txdothiddencameras.158456566.html

It is one thing to send out surveys based on rough demographics, but it's totally another to send out surveys based on SPYING on your movements; and then have the gall to ask why you were where you were, and what your ultimate destination was.

In an ill-conceived move, TxDOT spied on motorists by taking pictures of their license plates, then mailed out surveys asking the recipients about their trip. Who cleared this idiotic project, which cost nearly $800K?

Apparently this has been going on for some time in other states; I wonder why nobody said anything. There is no information on what they'd do with the data (other than "plan" for the future in terms of highway construction and traffic patterns). How long is this data going to be stored, who will have access to it, and most importantly, what ELSE are they planning on doing with it (in the future)?

Is this information subject to discovery in case of a lawsuit against one of the travelers? What liability does TxDOT expose itself - and the travelers - to in implementing such projects?

It's obviously not sufficient that Houston has a ton of red-light cameras, cameras on streets, in malls - well, everywhere, but this particular move is more Orwellian than anything else I've heard. In my opinion this is a serious breach of privacy, even though the cars were traversing public streets. How many people do you identify based on their license plates? Either you know them or you don't.

Figuring out people's identities based on their license plates, then sending them surveys asking them about their travel that day: this constitutes nothing but a blatant disregard for privacy and security of an individual's lifestyle and movements within the country.

I strongly feel they should immediately stop any current project and scrap all future ones, destroy all data obtained via stealthy photography (The cameras were hidden inside orange drums!) and surveys, and finally APOLOGIZE to everyone that was affected.

I am not saying that the govt should stop surveying people for information on how best to plan future highways, but the methods can be easily much more civilized and respectful than the one being used right now.

Be safe!