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Public meeting on license-plate cameras today
STEUBENVILLE -- City Council has set aside 45 minutes before the start of tonight's council meeting so residents can have their say on the use of automated license-plate reading cameras in Steubenville.
The public meeting will get underway at 6:45 p.m.
Police insist the cameras are a crime-fighting tool used to identify vehicles involved in AMBER Alerts, stolen vehicle cases and serious violent crimes. They say the system records license plates and vehicle information, not who is inside a vehicle.
The city's Flock cameras, paid for with grant funds, cover entrances and exits to the city. Chief Wes Crawford has said protocols are in place for accessing information through the system and all requests are documented. Any officer who uses the system for anything other than police business is subject to firing, he said.
Critics, however, complain that while the LPRs may offer insight into who committed a crime, "it's not going to stop a crime from happening." They also insist townspeople "have a right to some semblance of privacy" and where they go during the course of the day is their business.
Council is slated to vote Sept. 15 on whether to authorize continued use of the cameras.
Railroad Crossings to Close for Maintenance
STEUBENVILLE -- The Ross Street and Slack Street railroad crossings will be closed to all traffic today through Friday, Sept. 8-11, for maintenance work by Norfolk Southern Railroad.
The Ross Street crossing between N. Sixth and N. Seventh streets and the Slack Street crossing between N. Sixth Street and Linden Avenue will be closed during the work.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes.