Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 Source: Evansville Courier & Press (IN) Copyright: 2001 The Evansville Courier Contact: P. O. Box 268 Evansville, IN 47702-0268 Fax: 812-464-7435 Website: http://courier.evansville.net/ Author: Editorial GOOD INTENTIONS As we have suggested, the safest and lowest-crime society is one in which police have free reign to stop and check anyone, without cause, and one in which the government is all-knowing and all-seeing. Few of us would ever know harm, physically. Such a society would be one rooted in good intentions - reducing illegal drug trade, making sure we wear seat belts, randomly checking for drunken drivers, catching speeders and red-light runners. Who could be against such measures that protect us from others and from ourselves? Indeed, the intent is admirable. The method is scary. Consider: The Indiana Senate now has a bill that would allow cities to install traffic cameras that photograph license plates when motorists go through intersections against a red light. The pictures would be used to mail tickets to vehicle owners. The Associated Press said supporters praised the measure as a high-tech means of enforcing often-ignored traffic rules. One supporter was quoted as saying the cameras would not be used to play "Big Brother." That reminded us of a report last year about the Indiana Department of Transportation planning to install video surveillance cameras along highways in Lake County, to observe and approve traffic flow. A highway official then cautioned that this was not "Big Brother." Of course is isn't, and neither is the current legislation. It is just a well-intended plan that should give us all pause. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek