|
Post by kiboater on Apr 5, 2013 10:56:53 GMT -4
This is from the Star Democrat: "Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) officials have received funding to construct a 140-foot radar and video tower on Black Walnut Point. The tower will hold and maintain a radar unit, a surveillance camera, and a microwave antenna." also: "The tower will be used to watch and track commercial shipping and other vessel traffic using, approaching or leaving the Port of Baltimore. Of particular interest to Natural Resources Police are the detection and tracking of small vessels moving on the Chesapeake Bay, their relationship to commercial shipping, and those moving in restricted harvest fishery areas. According to documents, the tower would provide benefits of improved public safety response to the area. It would provide Natural Resources Police and other first responders the ability to search large expanses of the Chesapeake Bay for lost or overdue vessels, or those making a distress call." It may be just me but this does not pass the smell test. Commercial vessels are required to carry an AIS transponder that identifies their position in real time. (see The idea of trying to search for a lost vessel with a radar on a big tower doesn't make sense because there is no way of identifying small vessels. Finding illegal fisherman is a little strange also since you can't tell the difference between a fishing boat and a pleasure boat on a radar.
|
|
|
Post by mikey on Apr 5, 2013 11:53:31 GMT -4
Do you think its military?
|
|
|
Post by cranky64 on Apr 5, 2013 11:59:38 GMT -4
Hybrid OweMalley wind farm!
|
|
|
Post by tomc on Apr 5, 2013 12:55:03 GMT -4
|
|
|
Post by bluecrabber on Apr 5, 2013 15:55:02 GMT -4
Maryland Emergency Management received funding.. probably from Homeland Security. Multi functional..
Commercial and recreational traffic monitoring.. Watching for unusual traffic near prohibited or sensitive areas.
DNR is taking advantage of the radar and cameras to monitor fishing activity and boats in protected areas.
From the article in the Sun that Tomc posted:
At a demonstration of MLEIN, a technician marked an intermittent blip on the radar screen and directed a camera near the Bay Bridge to zero in on the subject. Guiding the camera with his finger on a mouse pad, the technician zoomed in to show a waterman hauling oysters into his small boat. The name of the boat could be read.
The system also allows dispatchers to mark and track poachers working at night so that officers can place them under surveillance, intercept them or meet them at the dock. MLEIN stores the information for use as evidence in a court case.
Natural Resources Police also will rely on MLEIN next boating season to determine whether reports of a fire on the bay involve a vessel in distress or a beach bonfire and whether a Mayday call is real or a prank.
While running the first tests on MLEIN this fall, police technicians were able to watch a recreational fisherman haul an undersized striped bass onto the Matapeake fishing pier just south of the Bay Bridge and stuff it in a sack, Johnson said. An officer sent to the pier confronted the shocked angler, who surrendered the fish without argument.
I like it!
|
|
|
Post by constructr on Apr 5, 2013 16:53:53 GMT -4
There is also a camera on the bridge that is operational. They are also just passing time watching people, do whatever they are doing, on their boats. BIG BROTHER is watching. Gotta love communist Maryland!
|
|
|
Post by double on Apr 6, 2013 9:36:54 GMT -4
Orwellian at a minimum. Do they still read 1984 in HS?
|
|
|
Post by nightpurse99 on Apr 8, 2013 21:42:09 GMT -4
I fish and Crab the bay. I follow the law. I like the fact someone is watching. DNR needs help enforcing it's laws and Video of the act is wonderful. Also If I ever get in trouble I will again he happy someone was watching.
|
|
|
Post by freefallin on Apr 9, 2013 7:35:34 GMT -4
Spies in the sky, from domestically deployed drones to cameras mounted 14 stories high to watch your movements on the water - doesn't matter, it's an infringement on our rights in the name of the government that wants to track you no matter where you are. I don't break the law out there either (well......) but if I want to get a little freaky on my boat in the evening, I don't want to have to worry about some creep in a uniform zeroing on me from a remote station just for kicks.
This has gone way too far, from speed cameras where you get fined without representation, to red light cameras, to eavesdropping techniques, where does it end? So far, it's only limited to the imagination with the government.
Oh and by the way, in order to build this camera, they will do it with "unilateral and collaberative support between enforcement agencies, maritime shipping, and other personnel blah blah blah..." typical government press release justifying more government employees to work with more government employees to talk about how well the government programs work and benefit the government......
|
|
|
Post by constructr on Apr 9, 2013 11:43:56 GMT -4
Spies in the sky, from domestically deployed drones to cameras mounted 14 stories high to watch your movements on the water - doesn't matter, it's an infringement on our rights in the name of the government that wants to track you no matter where you are. I don't break the law out there either (well......) but if I want to get a little freaky on my boat in the evening, I don't want to have to worry about some creep in a uniform zeroing on me from a remote station just for kicks. This has gone way too far, from speed cameras where you get fined without representation, to red light cameras, to eavesdropping techniques, where does it end? So far, it's only limited to the imagination with the government. Oh and by the way, in order to build this camera, they will do it with "unilateral and collaberative support between enforcement agencies, maritime shipping, and other personnel blah blah blah..." typical government press release justifying more government employees to work with more government employees to talk about how well the government programs work and benefit the government...... Exactly!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2013 12:34:46 GMT -4
You can't find the bad guys, without watching everyone....which includes the ordinary citizen just going about his business. The US Constitution is supposed to be iron clad, have you been following the right to bear arms discussion? Well, there's obviously exceptions like the Patriot Act, that was signed into law on 10-26-11. Welcome to the new America. www.justice.gov/archive/ll/highlights.htm
|
|
|
Post by burnerbill on Apr 9, 2013 12:43:15 GMT -4
mj, and that is the rub. Where do you draw the line at "surveillance"? If you are stupid enough to do something out in the open, you deserve to get caught, right? Yes/No? How many times have you observed something and asked: "Where are the cops?" Just the other day I was traveling north on Rt 8 and someone passed the two cars behind me and myself going at least 65+. Where are the speed traps now? There is no win/win solution.
|
|
|
Post by bluecrabber on Apr 9, 2013 17:43:36 GMT -4
Well, the point is being well made about "Big Brother" and I certainly do agree, but I am glad they have a tool to help catch the poachers. Remember all the illegal nets? Just remember to wave from the boat and be sure to "moon" them periodically... those Gov't stiffs need a little excitement once in a while..
|
|
|
Post by nightpurse99 on Apr 9, 2013 19:08:40 GMT -4
I don't care who is watching me on MY boat. No "Rights" are being taken away by "LOOKING" . What is to stop a kid from using a telescope and peeking at every boat that passes bye?
If you don't want to get caught getting "Freaky" on the boat go below deck. Getting freaky on the boat and getting caught is part of the fun. We got caught by a "Go Fast" boat last year, they waked us and hooted! who cares, not me!
|
|
|
Post by kiboater on Apr 9, 2013 19:46:11 GMT -4
I am more concerned about the 2.4 million than who is watching me.
|
|