TX: Houston area police department scans license plates for registrants.
This is a concerning story out of Texas. The Memorial Villages Police Department, like many other municipalities, has installed license plate scanners to flag vehicles that travel through their city. Instead of just using the scanners to search for active warrants, stolen vehicles or amber alerts, they use it to flag registrant’s vehicles.
According to this article, Agencies choose which criminal-offense categories trigger a hit.
In addition to stolen vehicles and missing persons, the Memorial Villages Police Department is alerted each time a registered sex offender drives past their cameras. “For the month of December, I had five sex offenders come through the Villages,” Police Chief Schultz said. Because the chief said there are no registered sex offenders living in the villages – he took a closer look. “I was getting hits, but only on Sundays,” he said. “It was someone coming here to go to church.”
It’s pretty sad that this status automatically puts us on a “suspect list” that requires investigation.
Even worse: all of my employer’s vehicles are registered in the off chance I may drive one, but 99% of the time I don’t leave the shop. So, if any company travel was noted in this fashion, it would be wrong.
Ben
Hum, so lets say a repeat offender constantly keeps getting arrested, shouldn’t they register the patrol cars as well ? 🙂
Holy ship 5 registrants in a village to go to church calls for alarm. Give that Chief some Tylenol and his pink slip. Is he the chief of being the village idiot because he would be great .
Brandon
Those registrants should no better than to try and Worship God. Shame on them for doing something holy and constructive. They should stay home and never leave the house????
It reminds me of the movie The quiet place where if you go outside you risk being attacked by monsters that are blind but can hear a sound from miles away. Just replace the monsters with certain cops who have nothing better to do but have us for lunch, metaphorically speaking.
They are mad because we don’t worship them by having shrines in our yards to show honor. They remind me of the Killer Klowns from Outer Space with their big heads aka egos and big shoes aka passing useless bills/laws enhancing their Klown level.
No offense to klowns, outer space, big egos, and big shoes.
Obviously there are too many police and they have nothing to do. When they don’t have any murders to investigate, no shop lifters, no burglaries, no car break inns , no car thefts, no drunken drivers, no drive by shootings, no catalytic converters thefts, no domestic violence then they have to go after the next on the list RSOs . Maybe they forgot to list one of their dozens of different identifiers.
DavidM
As a former cop, I can tell you this. Say I get called to a location. I request another officer. Well 10 cops show up and even after they are no longer needed, many of them hang around so they do not have to take another call.
This happens especially with older officers who are just trying to make it to retirement. When my house got broken into, I called 9-11 and they told me if the suspects are no longer there, it would be 4 1/2 hours for an officer to arrive so I could file a report online?
This is a concern also for anyone who travels through an area like Alabama for example. They want you to register any part of a day you are there. I called them when I visited my sick father. It’s so confusing they couldn’t even explain it to me over the phone. If they have tag readers it seems they could arrest you if they hit you tag more than twice in any part of A day.
Do you have any references or documented instances of this happening? This seemed so radically strict I had to check the state wiki, which doesn’t seem to back this up, at least in my first read through.
I suppose that this means that my wife and my 16 y.o. daughter will be investigated in this scenario as their vehicles are required to be registered with no distinction that they are not my primary vehicle.
How is the lawsuit for family of registrants going?
Jim
According to the registry gods, it is not punishment and You / We / I caused this by our past actions so it is our fault we bring pain to our families. I think I just threw up in their mouths. Apparently, these past actions will be held against us even after we are dead, at least in Florida.
For anyone who lives in or near Orange County, FL, Orlando Police use these also. I have been followed several times by OPD cops. I complained to their internal affairs people about it. They told me how it works: “Anytime” an officer’s camera picks up a tag that is on their lists such ad RSO, stolen vehicles, and even terrorist watch list, an alarm sounds on their computer to signal them. The officer then has the option to follow the vehicle to see where it goes and make notes. They don’t really seem to care WHO is driving. So any friend, employee, or family member who drives a car that will fall their system is subject to being followed and stopped if they commit any traffic violations that would give the officers probable cause to stop the car.
I have stated before that is happening in Florida too. I have been pulled over at least 5 times due to scanners. I went to my sons graduation from UCF and the UCF Police use license plate readers both on the patrol cars and also on some poles around the campus. I got pulled over and detained for 25 minutes even though I had permission to attend his ceremony.
I have also been pulled over by readers in a few other places as well across the state.
These places need to be outed. We all need to be aware of who is targeting us for harassment. This behavior needs to be on the record and brought to the light.
“…. which criminal-offense categories trigger a hit.”
Oh, so now just being registered is a criminal offense…. but FTR is also a criminal offense? 🤔
I guess I forgot – there’s no winning if you’re a registrant! 😡
But remember, being on the registry is not punishment.
How can anyone with a semi-functioning brain, and I would assume most judges have at least that, not see that the registry is nothing but punishment.
The police chief doesn’t have a problem with a registrant going to church. I cannot imagine the level of harassment if he did. I think of the attitudes of some of the counties in Florida, Volusia, Flagler, and Brevard come to mind, and the likelihood that I’d be stopped because I was going to worship, or the grocery store.
OMG!!! Call the FBI, SWAT, National guard! Registered persons going to church is such a major cause of concern.
and I supposed there’s no registered persons living in that chief’s jurisdiction because he either harassed them until they left, or he got the city council to ban them from living there.
I would encourage any registered person who lawfully drives through his town and gets pulled over to hit him with the biggest lawsuit for unlawful detention.
Disgusted
Wouldn’t it be funny if there was a registered person who was super rich. If that was me, everytime a property of any kind went on the market in that town, I would buy it until I was a majority property owner and then hold a vote to fire the Police chief LOL
Sounds to me like a tool intended for harrassment. 😒
We should encourage him to focus on real issues, not law-abiding citizens attending church!
Administrative – Chief of Police Raymond Schultz, RSchultz@mvpdtx.org (713) 365-3705
Raymond Shultz leftthe Abuquerque PD in as he oversaw a department that were investigated muliple times for excessive use of force involving tasers, and he still does promotional work for a taser company.
See:
https://www.koat.com/article/former-albuquerque-police-chief-hired-as-assistant-chief-in-texas/5062035#
I remember when Volusia county had those put in, a few years ago I guess. Chitwood was very careful about saying it wouldn’t affect anyone and the information is deleted. Come on… What is worse is now I go back to visit family once it twice a year and have out of state plates. This is very concerning for me.
I don’t think this is as much about registrants in church as it is registrants in their city, period. A quick google search shows some pretty impressive neighborhoods in the area, probably full of “good people” who want to keep out the “riff-Raff”.
I think that this is just another one of those “registrant free” villages who basically want to keep it that way, or a recycled version of the sundown town. Walls and gates are next, I’m sure.
I Resemble that remark.
In denying cert to NY State:
“Despite the empirical evidence, legislatures & agencies are often not receptive to the plight of people convicted of sex offenses & their struggles… the Constitution protects all people, & it prohibits the deprivation of liberty based solely on speculation & fear.”
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-7846_j5fl.pdf
The police In my California city also use these ALPRs. I submitted a records request and they sent me six months worth of records on my vehicle. Soooo boring. 🙄 Every single time/date-stamped pic of my plate (and car) was of it either in my driveway or parked on the street immediately adjacent to my property.
No pics of it in a mall parking lot, at a grocery store, at a gas station, etc.
Clearly, I need to get out more often! 🤗🤣
Per NAPO…..
“License plate readers may be used by law enforcement agencies only to investigate hits and in other circumstances in which law enforcement agents reasonably believe that the plate data are relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation”
SO, Then, Therefore, Persons Forced To Register Cannot Be Targeted-
Truth
Also as a former law enforcement officer, I know it is hard to challenge the readers and here is why. It is considered to just be a fast way than the old way of officers running plates. However there have been some challenges to even that when people in poor communities were pulled over just for being a certain race according to the challengers.
The data seemed to back that up, however the lawyers for police departments turn around and use the defense that yes there is in fact more crime in low income areas. When I worked in law enforcement, it was common practice when you saw occupants of a car you found of “interest” to run the plates to look for expired tags, warrants, stolen plates (Or plates that do not match the car) etc.
Now the plate readers are much faster and can automatically scan plates super fast and beeps when they get a hit. Now days, even though I worked in law enforcement, if I see a patrol car behind me, I turn into a business and pretend I am going there until they drive past. Just do not need the hassle.
CherokeeJ….
Thanks For Your Insights and Others That You Have Provided!
How Much More Draconian Will Our World Become?
The Term ‘Interest’ That You Use, is That Not A Generality?
-So, Therefore. ‘They’ Can Get Away With Anything?
Correct?…And What About ‘Their’ Indemnification Insurance and Qualified Immunity Status?…Hummm?!?!?
Again, Thanks For Your Perspective On Things…Keeps Us Thinking!
Truth
Interest as in Stereotyping “Hey those guys look like thugs let’s pull them over and see what they are up to”. Everyone is guilty until proven innocent according to some. They just throw the ” innocent until proven guilty” out the window.
And believe me, there are many good cops but there are some that would lie on their on Mother’s rather than admit they were wrong or made a mistake. Love when certain cops let you go with a warning but then add “And don’t let me see you around here again”.
CherokeeJ…
During Some of My Compliance Checks-All The Good Ones, No Longer Show Up on My Door Step-They Know Me and Know My Innocence-They Do Not Even Discuss Such-Just Sports and Etc When I See Them In Public….
But The Bad Ones—OH BOY!…They Call You A “Sex Offender, Do You KNOW WHO YOU ARE”…That is What They Said To Me on 02-22-2022 During Another Compliance and My Response to Them was, “With All Due Respect, You Are Using The Term in The Present Tense, I Am Not Sex Offending.”; Their Response was, “Shut and Sign This Paper Or I can Arrest You”…I walked Away…I was Not Arrested….They Seemed Frustrated!
Truth
I wonder how many officers volunteer for the compliance checks and how many are assigned to it? There wasn’t such a thing when I worked as a L.E.O but if there had been, I would have resigned if they tried to put me on that detail.
Some larger departments now have a homeless task force as well, and many of the homeless get some of that same disrespect that we encounter. To be honest, I mean yeah I wouldn’t want a homeless camp popping up right next to our house so I guess I am just as guilty as those who shun us?
It’s too bad that idiots are allowed to become LEO’s. It gives a bad name to those who are really trying to do their job and not be judge and jury in the process.
TruthandSience
I agree. Several years ago in Kansas City they tried putting up cameras everywhere and then mailing out tickets for traffic violations. It was challenged in court and the court deemed it unconstitutional. So they had to throw out all the tickets. The City abandoned the idea . Because it cost them a lot of money with no return benefits to the City.
Some intersections have red light cameras and photo enforced cameras especially in construction zones. At least they give you a warning, however if your 30 mph over the speed limit you better hope the camera suv isn’t there otherwise a ticket for you. $40 out of your pocket and doesn’t influence your insurance.
Brandon
Not the same here . Sure there are still cameras but it was challenged in the courts and since they still have no proof who was driving the vehicle they cannot ticket it.
Sadly this is also done in North Florida. Especially Cities that have alot of revenue from tourism. Since Hurricane Michael in 2018, there are thousands of cameras & or licenses plate scanners being added to neighborhoods and even county roads. Absolutely ridiculous 🙄
Anonymous
I forget the name of the movie, but a few years back there was a movie where there were cameras everywhere you went watching every single person. If you did something wrong, police would show up within minutes and take you into custody.
It is funny though, that they can watch us all but when we ask to see traffic cams or other proof that would help us to either prove our innocence or to identify a suspect who committed a crime against us, suddenly the cameras are offline or being serviced.
Another candidate to be added to the Phase 3 Media Project.
I think local registrants’ spouses and children should stage a convoy through that town past the license plate reader. Obey all laws, no honking, shouting or other disturbance, just driving. Streets and highways are open to the public. A few hundred notifications in a day might get the attention of even the most block-headed sheriff. That couldn’t even be considered as civil disobedience, but rather as “civil obedience.”
What would be the legal and public relations implications of LE stopping registrants’ families without probable cause, or the villiage passing an ordinance prohibiting registered vehicles from entering the town? Depriving a fundamental liberty due to registration status? Hmmmmm.
This is a openly and blatant abuse of technology. This is just an extension – and continuation – of the electronic stalking that the registry egregiously functions as.
And of course LEOs will defend this so-called “initiative” as being “PrOaCtIvE.” Yeah. Right. Sure..
The registration scheme is, indeed, government sponsored hate.