NEWS: Students React To New Campus License Plate Readers


 (Image: "SECURITY CAMERA [DUMMY] by Hisgadget Inc via Flickr)

I went to UT-Tyler on April 13 to ask students how they feel about the license plate readers that are now at every campus entrance. Here is what they said!

Me: ["The UT-Tyler Police Department informed student government recently that it installed license plate readers at every campus entrance. So every time someone comes on-campus with vehicle, the reader will automatically read the license plate. 

"The police said they won’t access the information readers collect unless there is an investigation of criminal activity or something like that,* but the readers still do collect when vehicles come on and off campus at every campus entrance.]

"How do you feel about license plate readers at every campus entrance?"
___

Konan Guo, Graduate Student, Senior, Masters in Clinical Psychology 

“Right now, I don’t have any issues with it. I could see why some people might have an issue, like if they are paranoid about why would they want your car information. But in reality, I think it is best…. Actually, I feel like if you told more people about the license plate readers, it’s possible there could be less [likelihood] to commit crimes….” 

Me: How would the length of time campus police store the information readers collect change your opinion?  

“Honestly, I would be more comfortable if it was more temporary, like if it resets every 24 hours or something like that. But honestly, I don’t see why they would have to collect the information over a long term period, like for a survey if they were just drawing statistics from it. But it still doesn’t change my opinion overall until an issue presents itself.
___

Kellen Niekamp, Freshman, Industrial Technology Major 

“Simple. It alienates people who don’t attend UT-Tyler.” 

Me: How would you describe your support for the license plate readers then?

“I think I’m indifferent to it. I could see it being popular in case of an issue where they have need for… a public issue…. At the same time, I could see this as being wrong because they could use it in the wrong mannerism to go after people who do not have parking passes and simply take it…out of them.”

___

"I feel like it is a good thing to have, as a good thing if something happened. It is nice to have records of everything. I mean the privacy is less, but the security is more. I mean, if it was me, I would choose to do it just for the safety and it is good for the university to say that we are a secure university.”  

-Alejandro de Menho, Junior, Mathematics Major, International Student, Espana (Spain)

___

Tanner Waynick, Junior, Finance Major

"Personally, I don’t really have a problem with it, because I know that the laws with license plates, you don’t really get much information other than the make and model of your car….I could be wrong on that. But if that’s true, then I really wouldn’t have any problem with it. If they’re using it for security purposes, then I understand. If it has anything else to do with it, like an address, or maybe name, phone number, that kind of thing, then it would be something different."

___

Terrell Wilson, Senior, Applied Arts & Sciences BAAS with Business Occupations Concentration

“I feel like it’s a good precautionary step for better safety on campus, but at the same time it’s kind of a push over, you know, kinda going further than needed, in my opinion. But I feel like it’s a good step to ensure safety over all for students on this UT-Tyler campus, which is a beautiful campus.”

Me: A student said he would like the police to obtain consent first before they collect his information. Is there a line, if it crosses, where you would feel uncomfortable?  

“I 100 percent agree with that statement. Like if it collected evidence, as far as the address or whatnot. You know, people’s parents come and visit them every now and then. If that’s collecting all of that information then I feel like it’s bombarding the system with irrelevant things in that sense.”
___

These interviewees also asked some good questions which I couldn’t answer. I will try to find out from UTTPD: 

  • What information does reading a license plate allow UTTPD collect? (Does it collect the plate owner’s address?)
  • For how long will UTTPD store the reader information?
  • Will UTTPD use the plate readers for parking tag enforcement?
  • Why doesn’t UTTPD need to obtain consent first before it reads license plates?
  • Has UTTPD informed the student body about the license plate reader installations? 

Thank you to all the interviewees! 

You can read about UTTPD's previous campus safety update here. 

*Whoops! The police actually told me that they won't share the information with other agencies, not that they won't access it except for a criminal investigation. Sorry for the mistake, UTTPD!

Twitter: @Jhescock12

Feature Image: SECURITY CAMERA (DUMMY) by Hisgadget Inc via Flickr

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