Texas Launches Virtual Border Watch Program

[wpwx694]

Texas Launches Virtual Border Watch Program
State starts public test of border web cams
Last Edited: Friday, 03 Nov 2006, 9:40 PM CST
Created: Friday, 03 Nov 2006, 7:55 AM CST

Texas Border Watch Test Site Goes Online
Watch Ned Hibberd's Report


Related Items
Videos
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/p...n=9&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

Links
Texas Border Watch
www.texasborderwatch.com

SAN ANTONIO -- The public is getting its first chance to
view images from cameras installed along the Texas-Mexico border
over the Internet.
Live images from eight border surveillance cameras are streaming at the Web site www.texasborderwatch.com.
The test run is a step forward for Governor Rick Perry's
"virtual border watch" program, a plan to place cameras along the
border to cut down on drug activity and illegal crossings.
The state is behind on the $5 million dollar program,
which it hoped to have in place in July.
Members of the public who see criminal activity over the Web
cameras can e-mail authorities.
The project will eventually include at least 70 cameras
throughout South Texas, some of which will have zoom lens and
thermal capacity.
Copyright 2006 Fox Houston (KRIV). All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 

[loumaag]

Not breaking news or an incident, moved to the TX forum.

 

[225Texas]

What a joke! I can't believe we spent dinero on this ****.

 

[wpwx694]

Technical Difficulties Plague Online Camera Site

Click2Houston.com
Related To Story



Video: Border Battle Turns High Tech
http://www.click2houston.com/print/10243039/detail.html#

Technical Difficulties Plague Online Camera Site
Millions Still Log On

POSTED: 5:25 pm CST November 4, 2006
UPDATED: 5:37 pm CST November 4, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas launched its ambitious effort to use Internet users to watch the border for illegal immigrants. But the network of surveillance cameras Friday was plagued by technical problems, the images were grainy and the cameras were placed so high that it was hard to distinguish a person from, say, a bush.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who announced plans over the summer to spend $5 million on the virtual posse, asked for "forgiveness on the front end of this," but dismissed the problems as routine computer glitches.

"I'm sure that as you start a big program like this that you will have some glitches," Perry, who is up for re-election, said in Brownsville, along the Mexican border. "My wife's computer is not working this morning."

The cameras will operate at criminal hotspots. Members of the public who see something suspicious over the Web cameras can e-mail authorities.

However, the Web site, dubbed Border Watch, does not work on some Internet browsers. The images were grainy and it was difficult to tell whether, say, a group of people on the screen was a family crossing a crowded parking lot or a band of smugglers with their human cargo.

The view from one camera on the Rio Grande was largely obscured by a bush. In another, all that was visible was the license plates on passing cars.

When he announced the program in June, Perry said the images would be available online in a month. While the first cameras were installed within a month, and law enforcement officers have been watching them since then, the public Web site was not up and running until late Thursday.

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said that it proved more difficult than expected to get the public site running and that the launch so close to the election was a coincidence.

Law enforcement officials have access to footage from about 15 cameras, Walt said, but only eight appear on the Web site.

Walt said authorities have been trying to work out technical issues, such as the proper distance and how to achieve good picture quality. Since much of the border is undeveloped land, the designers of the system also had to figure out how to use batteries or solar power and how to transmit by wireless signal.

Six companies have donated their time and camera equipment, Walt said. The state paid a seventh company $100,000 to create and run the Web site.

Within a few days, the state plans to ask companies to submit proposals to install dozens of additional cameras.

Since the cameras were installed, local law enforcement officers have spotted some suspicious doings, including water crossings and nighttime activity at rally points, Walt said.

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

Previous Stories

11/3/06 State Starts Public Test Of Border Web Cameras
http://www.click2houston.com/news/10234154/detail.html

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

[VintageJon]

In fact, most are "not in service" or so such drivel. Will check from DSP connection at shop at time allows but, in general, you don't get didddly squat on dial-up here at home.

-Jon

 

[225Texas]

It isn't any better on "faster" internet. I've checked the website and all I get are pictures. I can't tell if there is an illegal alien or a tree branch.

 

[executioner]

Not breaking news or an incident, moved to the TX forum.

Why do you assume that these are Texas cameras? Maybe they are on the east coat watching for saltwater *******s.

 

[225Texas]

No one is assuming. Go to the website, hence the name "Texas Border Watch". Are you real?

 

[executioner]

See the little smiley face in the top left corner? It was a joke, jeeez. Get out of the house a little, there is a whole world out there waiting for you.

 

[225Texas]

You're an idiot! No smiley face!

 

[executioner]

Why dont you contribute to this site and give them a little money instead of free loading and talking noise. That's what the people that these cameras are set up to catch do.. freeload at the expense of those who foot the bill. Peace out!

 

[225Texas]

You're funny.

 

[pacrat551]

Gentlemen, watch your comments....Joking or not, they will not be tolerated on this site

Closed