Baltimore to Remove 'Blue Light' Cameras

Arguing that the technology requires too much manpower to be effective, Baltimore police are phasing out the first generation of blue-light cameras -- among the city's most visible crime-fighting tools.

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said the portable cameras, which represent about 18 percent of all crime cameras in the city, will slowly be replaced with more sophisticated closed-circuit units.

The blue light cameras were always more symbolic instead of a crime-fighting tool, and about the only good they served was was to warn you to not get too close to the block with the blinking blue light. That being said, I would much rather have the ineffective blue light cameras over effective CCTV government cameras.

If they are going to watch me, I'd rather it be a heavy burden on the state, rather than just punching up a television screen in some central viewing area.

Full article here.