Plan to Use Cameras to Catch Uninsured Drivers Raises Privacy Concerns

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Questions are being raised over a new plan by the governor's office to place cameras around the state to check whether a vehicle is insured.

Critics argue the plan to use cameras to catch and fine drivers without insurance is an invasion of privacy, but state officials said they think it's a way to generate millions of much needed dollars.

A spokesperson for Gov. Brad Henry said the controversy is unnecessary because the system is just like the one used on turnpikes to catch drivers who don't pay their tolls.

Representative Mike Reynolds scanned the Internet to see what the bloggers are saying about the so called "spy cameras." Many are fired up over the plan to install about 200 cameras statewide.

"I've seen more concern over this than almost everything I've seen in years. More of the bloggers hit it," Reynolds said.

Reynolds is among those who think there's more to it than what meets the eye when it comes to the system. The cameras would take pictures of license plates and check for insurance verification. If there's not any, a ticket would then be issued.

"These tickets go to people not to cars, and insurance verification is with a person not with a vehicle," Reynolds.

Reynolds said he is also suspicious of those behind the plan. He said he thinks politics are at play for someone to make a lot of money.

"I've been fighting this for about three years," Reynolds said.

Yet, unless there's a legal challenge of some kind, the plan is a go because it is included in the state's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

But Captain Chris West said there's still much more to do, and there's no date as to when the system will be in place.

"We're still in the stage where all the bids would have to be reviewed. There would have to be a vendor selected, and then, as far I know there hasn't been a determination where cameras would be placed.

Yet for Representative Reynolds, he said too much has already been done.

"It's just an invasion of privacy in its simplest form," Reynolds said.

As part of the budget proposal, Gov. Henry is counting on raising $50 million dollars with the new camera system and said he expects a lot of the revenue will come from out-of-state uninsured drivers.