In
2005, by popular demand, and the law of the state, traffic camera in six
Northern Virginia jurisdictions were switched off. Police were no longer allowed to photograph
cars that ran red lights. The cameras
were a violation of civil liberties. But
the Fairfax County Police kept the camera in place and kept them rolling “to
collect data”
Fairfax
was the only Northern Virginia jurisdiction to require pictures. The Fairfax police demanded it and they got.
In 1996, the cop photographed applicants “so that they could more easily
identify physical attributes” a police spokesman said. Police are keeping the
pictures and may use them later to verify information.