One Arkansas city has a new way to fight crime and traffic problems, as small cameras now line Main Street in North Little Rock's Argenta District.
The city recently installed the cameras as a proactive measure to curb traffic problems and crime.
(Captain Leonard Montgomery, NLR Police Department) "Anything that occurs in the camera range, we can see it, we can see what happened, we can see who did it."
The cameras record from every angle, 24 hours a day, and can be accessed by North Little Rock police computers. They also have zoom capabilities allowing one camera to see as far as Riverfront Park in Little Rock.
The ACLU did express concerns over potential violations of privacy, but everyone Channel 7 spoke with said an increased feeling of safety is worth it.
(Wayne Hogan, Galaxy Furniture & Interiors) "We can't be here all the time. It seems like we're here 24 hours, but we do go home and rest--and it's good to know the area is being watched."
(Terry Traywick, Circle Café) "I'm not sure exactly what all the cameras are there to focus on, but I think it is a good way to patrol the area."
(Staci Niemyer) "It makes me a little nervous, but I think in the long run, it will pay off. It doesn't bother me that much."
So far, the cameras have cost $195,000, which came out of the North Little Rock general fund.
Police say more cameras will be installed in the future.
And if it prevents you from becoming the victim of a crime, or if you are the victim of a crime and it helps the police catch the criminal, you'll be glad he is.
I'm not sure how the ACLU thinks that cameras in public places are an invasion of privacy. There is no expectation of privacy when you are in a public place. Anybody with a camera can take your picture if they want to.
Channel 7 News to leave comments on news stories.