MU students take notice of license plate camera signs on campus
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
University of Missouri students are noticing new, bright-and-yellow signs popping up across campus and on high-traffic streets that are bringing attention to the school’s license-plate reading cameras.
The signs feature an image of a security camera and “High-Resolution License Plate Recognition In Use.”
An ABC 17 News reporter found several signs and what looks to be poles with traffic cameras on South Providence Road, College Avenue and University Avenue.
According to MUPD spokesperson Sarah Yoro-Massad, license plate readers have been in place on campus, with signs being added recently.
“The university maintains a number of cameras throughout the campus to enhance safety and security. The new signs are being installed to make the public aware of their use in locations where doing so can help deter crime,” Yoro-Massad said. “MUPD has access to license plate readers on campus. The cameras allow MUPD to identify motor vehicles that may be involved in criminal activity.”
Yoro-Massad aded the cameras are not Flock cameras, which is the brand used by the City of Columbia. Flock Safety cameras use automatic license plate readers to provide real-time alerts to law enforcement. Flock claims the cameras do not capture identifiable images of people or faces. All data is held for 30 days.
MUPD did not confirm if their cameras wipe data after a specific amount of time or when the cameras record. The department also did not disclose the number of cameras used due to security reasons.
Students shared mixed feelings towards the cameras, with some accepting potential privacy trade-offs for safety.
“I haven’t really noticed it, it’s not like it’s not that big a deal, there’s kind of cameras all over anyways,” MU student Miguel Pacheco said.
“Even if they were on 24/7, I’d personally be OK with that,” student Yule Yun said. “I guess individuals responsibility of driving and information being stored for a certain amount of time is less important than the safety and security of the campus that we have here for Mizzou.”
Other students voiced concern about personal comfort.
“I do think it’s really odd having cameras watching you and your car where you should just feel free to just do what you can do, what you will,” student Sammy Besore said.