Eight years ago my van was rear ended by a tow truck at a major intersection in Troy, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. I exchanged insurance infomation with the driver that hit me and went on my way.
I wasn't going to bother with a claim. The damage was minimal (and my van was not worth the rate increase).
Four weeks later, I get a call from my insurance company. The owner of the truck that rear ended me is filing a $3,000 claim saying that I rear ended him. I tell my insurance agent what actually took place and to deny the claim.
Upset at the dishonesty, I call the owner of the towing company and explain that it was his truck that rear-ended mine. He says his driver told him otherwise. He then mentions having a "friend" at the Troy Police Department that can look at the video for the intersection and find out what actually happened. I tell him that he will see his driver was at fault.
I call the Troy Police Department and ask about the video cameras at the intersection. The officer on the phone asks me, "What cameras? We don't have cameras. They are only to measure traffic flow."
I won't be seeing the video.
I let it drop. The claim against me was rejected.
My point? Eight years later and I'm now aware of cameras at intersections everywhere I go. Now I know better. They are not just being used to guage traffic flow. They are being used in all kinds of ways that we all need to be very concerned about.
Check out the ACLU's website on video surveillance to find out how to take action against their proliferation.
