Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Teresa Heilevang on January 16, 2010, 12:10:34 AM
Title: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on January 16, 2010, 12:10:34 AM
Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: Texas_Bryan on January 16, 2010, 12:27:58 AM
We've got an old saying in Texas, "F%#& Houston."
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: tombogan03884 on January 16, 2010, 12:48:56 AM
The day some kid put a camera in his model plane this became inevitable. The first thing they will use to justify it is "the war on drugs" for surveillance of "drug suspects". And even relatively intelligent people still believe that crap.
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: seeker_two on January 16, 2010, 06:47:51 AM
I think this is a reminder that we all need to brush up on our skeet/trap/clays skills.... ;)
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: Pathfinder on January 16, 2010, 07:07:17 AM
I think this is a reminder that we all need to brush up on our skeet/trap/clays skills.... ;)
Right. Assuming of course your shotgun can reach 5000 feet! ::)
We had drones flying the Red River during the floods last spring, from Canada to NE. It helped confirm that the Canucks had closed lock gates on the river to prevent flooding here, while at the same time making the flooding here much worse. They can have peaceful purposes.
But, like every other technological innovation, once in the hands of the gummint, it will be used against us in order to control us.
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: crusader rabbit on January 16, 2010, 07:16:42 AM
So, now Big Brother can see under my clothes at the airport, :o has access to all my medical records, :P knows everything I buy with a credit card, ??? can listen in to cell phone conversations without a warrant, :-[ and now can look into my house and car from an unmanned drone flying overhead. :-* Meanwhile, here in Florida, I need three forms of government-issued ID to get my drivers license renewed. :'( Privacy Issues? We got no privacy to have issues with.
Nothing to see here, folks, move along... Move along.
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: jnevis on January 16, 2010, 08:01:09 AM
Hate to break it to you guys but the only major difference between a Scan Eagle and a normal police helicopter is range/duration. Matter of fact the helicopter has MUCH more capable sensors. Scan Eagle may stay up longer but the MD500 they showed as a HPD unit probably has as a better IR/EO package. There are a string of legal restrictions on invasive searches using the IR sensors. They can't use the IR to verify the use of heat lamps in a grow house without probable cause and a warrant. As far as normal surveillance, wether its a UAV or a helo it's the same. Just scanning the ground at random and catching something is not permissible in court. No probable cause. The way the law has been crafted, there is little expectation of privacy when outside in a public area but they still can't use the video to prosecute without other evidence and testimony. Hours of burning holes in the sky looking at nothing in particular until tasked by a ground unit to look at something or chase someone.
Fresno County has three different helicopter units, CHP, Fresno County and Fresno PD, to maintain a 16-20 overwatch which isn't that far off from the duration of a single Scan Eagle. I'm all for UAV use by LE. It's cheaper and easier to operate than a helicopter, add to that if the unit fails its a 40lb object coming down without a person instead of a 10000lb object with two on board and lots of fuel.
Oh BTW, the military is legally restricted from conducting surviellance on Americans under any circumstances.
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: alfsauve on January 16, 2010, 08:02:47 AM
I thought that unmanned flight over populated areas was forbidden by the FAA.
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: jnevis on January 16, 2010, 08:12:33 AM
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: fullautovalmet76 on January 16, 2010, 01:08:55 PM
I don't know if any of you have seen the movie "A Scanner Darkly" but it's worth a view considering the topic here. In this movie, you'll notice how much the society has accepted to being monitored by law enforcement.
It seem that everyday that goes by, people like Alex Jones are being proved right.....
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: Overload on January 18, 2010, 01:27:52 PM
Back in 1984 for the LA Olympics the LAPD along with the federal government had a plan to field armed helicopters in case of terrorists. This isn't anything new.
(or was that a movie?) ;D
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: Texas_Bryan on January 18, 2010, 01:36:12 PM
I don't know if any of you have seen the movie "A Scanner Darkly" but it's worth a view considering the topic here. In this movie, you'll notice how much the society has accepted to being monitored by law enforcement.
It seem that everyday that goes by, people like Alex Jones are being proved right.....
I was sooo close to picking that up at the book store yesterday, literally held it in my hands. Now I gotta go back. >:(
;D
Our world is now looking like London 1984, what with the Thought Police walking around airports and other gatherings and the government planting cameras all over our streets. Now we've got all these fancy flying cameras to keep us safe...
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: billt on January 18, 2010, 03:28:54 PM
I believe that the Houston Police Dept. is run by the same idiot who made it a "sanctuary city" for illegal invaders. Now it appears he has to waste the taxpayers money trying to keep an eye on them. Bill T.
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: Pathfinder on January 18, 2010, 03:44:06 PM
I believe that the Houston Police Dept. is run by the same idiot who made it a "sanctuary city" for illegal invaders. Now it appears he has to waste the taxpayers money trying to keep an eye on themthe rest of us, since they don't give a damn about the illegals! Bill T.
Fixed it for ya! ;D
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: tt11758 on January 18, 2010, 05:23:21 PM
The day some kid put a camera in his model plane this became inevitable. The first thing they will use to justify it is "the war on drugs" for surveillance of "drug suspects". And even relatively intelligent people still believe that crap.
Screw the war on drugs!! Legalize it and tax the shit out of it!!
Title: Re: Houston Police use DRONES to spy on AMERICANS -
Post by: tombogan03884 on January 19, 2010, 12:28:16 AM
Why should all that money go to some Mexican or Columbian Drug lord when it can be better used lowering OUR taxes. ?