Seattle Surveillance Reports Show How City Watches Public

SEATTLE, WA - The city of Seattle this week released reports about six different ways city agencies monitor the public with surveillance technology. The reports describe how, for example, Seattle police use automatic license plate readers to solve crimes, and what the fire department does with images captured at the scenes of gruesome accidents.

The impact reports are required under a surveillance ordinance passed by City Council in September 2017. Now that the impact reports have been published, city officials will hold a series of public meetings to let Seattle residents give feedback.

The city uses 29 pieces of surveillance technology. This six reports out this week cover license plate readers, traffic cameras, and digital cameras used by the firefighters and paramedics. All the reports are available to read here.

Inside the Seattle police report on license plate readers, the department reveals that it has solved several violent crimes, including a murder, with the technology - and has been able to keep track of traffic ticket scofflaws.

"SPD used [license plate readers] to identify a suspect’s vehicle parked in the vicinity of a murder. Security video from surrounding businesses showed the suspect vehicle being driven in the area, which was critical in the arrest and charging of the two responsible suspects," SPD's report reads.

The department has 19 vehicles equipped with the technology: 10 marked police cars and eight parking enforcement vehicles. There's also one unmarked police car with the license plate reader "not visible to the naked eye."

If you're interested in commenting on the reports, here are the upcoming public meetings:

Seattle Police Department
Automated License Plate Readers & Parking Enforcement
October 22, 2018 5-6:30 p.m.
Columbia City Branch Library
4721 Rainier Ave S

Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Fire Department
License Plate Readers, Traffic Cameras, Emergency Scene Cameras, and HazMat Cameras
October 25, 2018
5-6:30 p.m.
Southwest Branch Library
9010 35th Ave SW

Seattle Police Department
Automated License Plate Readers & Parking Enforcement
October 29, 2018
5-6:30 p.m.
Bertha Knight Landes Room
1st Floor City Hall, 600 4th Ave

Seattle Police Department
Automated License Plate Readers & Parking Enforcement
October 30, 2018
5-6:30 p.m.
Green Lake Branch Library
7364 East Green Lake Dr. N

Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Fire Department
License Plate Readers, Traffic Cameras, Emergency Scene Cameras, and HazMat Cameras
November 5, 2018
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Green Lake Branch Library
7364 East Green Lake Dr. N

Image courtesy SDOT