Texas Puts 'Virtual Border Watch' Online

[CPDlife4ME]

I think this is a pretty nifty idea...

lord knows I wouldn't mind sitting around for a few minutes and keepin an eye out for our BP guys and gals.





Updated: November 3rd, 2006 12:36 PM EDT

The Associated Press

Texas has started broadcasting live images of the U.S. border on the Internet in a security program that asks the public to report signs of illegal immigration or drug crimes.

A test Web site went live Thursday at texasborderwatch.com with views from eight cameras and ways for viewers to e-mail reports of suspicious activity. Previously, the images had only been available to law enforcement and landowners where the cameras are located.

"There is only one way to test it, and that's open it up for business," said Texas Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw.

Some civil rights groups have criticized the "virtual border watch," saying it will instill fear in border communities and could lead to fraudulent crime reports and racial profiling.

The cameras will operate at hot spots for illegal activity, such as Amistad Reservoir in Del Rio and Falcon Lake in Zapata, and other active border areas such as highway rest stops and inspection stations, officials said. Information e-mailed by viewers goes to the state's operations center and local law enforcement in that area.

McCraw said the project will eventually grow to include at least 70 cameras throughout South Texas, some with zoom lens and thermal capacity. The state is using $5 million in federal security grants that have been earmarked for the web camera program.

http://www.texasborderwatch.com

[Foo Man]

Some civil rights groups have criticized the "virtual border watch," saying it will instill fear in border communities and could lead to fraudulent crime reports and racial profiling.

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If you check out the cameras, the majority are located near roads or brush. If by "racial profiling" they mean reporting a person who looks Mexican running across the roadway, I say profile away. Common sense tells you that people running across a highway or other areas in the middle of the desert are probably up to no good. If they aren't, let the authorities decide.

[sbrad]

Sweet! I've got Camera 6.

[sbrad]

16 that. I think I like Camera 7 better.

[Hockey9019]

I NOW have something productive to do at work :D

[MetPC]

Won't let me play :(

[MDEMT280]

Sweet, I'm signed up!

Can I put this on my resume? Perform video surveillence of U.S./Mexico border? :D

[greenlead]

Such a cool idea; such poor execution. :(

It requires the user to download and execute an ActiveX control in their browser. This leaves quite a few users out, as Firefox and other sane browsers do not permit this security gap.

The FAQ also instructs the user to open up holes in his/her firewall; this should never be necessary for a client-side application.

In other words, I don't get to play with this until the people in charge come to their senses, which might be awhile.

[MDEMT280]

Hmm... they really need some sort of night vision equipment on their cameras. It's hard to see across unlighted fields at night, but I would bet that's peak time for illegals to try to sneak across.

[madsnax]

"Microsoft Internet Explorer is required to utilize this web site. Firefox is not supported."

Now that is a shame...

[Shegens357Mag]

Cool! I joined and am getting really good resolution pictures from the cameras. Too bad I can't watch from work. We aren't trusted with Internet or email. I don't really have time at work anyway. It's neat for when I'm home though. I'm on the computer a lot doing homework.

[WhiteLite]

It works for me, but some of the cameras are black with no video... i wonder if that's a browser problem, or if they've been taken down?

[Shegens357Mag]

I found a couple that did that. There might be a limit as to how many viewers can be on a camera at one time or something. They eventually came on for me.

[H.R. Cufnstuf]

It works for me, but some of the cameras are black with no video... i wonder if that's a browser problem, or if they've been taken down?

Yeah, I have that same problem.

[Shegens357Mag]

I've been on camera 2 shooting over the Rio Grande and it's been working good. I was watching a few minutes ago and a fish jumped out of the water and turned a flip pretty as you please. LOL I've seen a lot of birds too. Right now I see two items in the water on the Mexico side that were not there yesterday but I can't tell what they are. They seem to be slowly moving across the river. When I brought it up early this morning, it was still dark and I could see bright lights running up and down the bank on the Texas side.

I have a satellite connection and the details are extremely good with the fast connection. I wish I could tell what is in the water though. It might get better as it gets lighter.

Oh my! Now there are three items in the water!