There are many different detection, inspection, and surveillance technologies that are moving to work to ensure the security of the United States in an attempt to mitigate potential threats to security. While many of these detection, inspection, and surveillance methods may be ethically questionable, there are several new pieces of technology that serve as effective and efficient tools to identify and thwart potential threats, including FastPlate, a license plate recognition tool, and HEXRIS, or high energy x-ray inspection systems; through a look at how the tools work, how they may assist in the prevention or mitigation of threats, their monetary costs, their benefits, and the potential consequences that could arise as a result of their lack of use it will be possible to see why these technologies should be used.
HEXRIS is “a non-intrusive inspection technology for use to aid in inspecting high density cargo containers” (Northern Border Activities, 2013). This tool works to scan cargo containers in order to determine if there are any potential threats present within the containers themselves. HEXRIS comes in several different types, either a flat panel based system or a CCD camera based system (SPS Inspection Systems, 2013). If this type of technology is implemented as mandatory at all borders and ports that receive cargo containers or have cargo containers pass through their boundaries, law enforcement would be able to decrease the amount of illegal weapons that make their way in or out of the country, by simply scanning each container as it enters or exits. This will work to not only decrease firearms traffic, but because it is for use on an inanimate object, it does so in a way that ensures that no natural rights or liberties are taken away from any individual while still working to keep them safe. There are no ethical concerns associated with the use of this technology. There are several different models available ranging in price from $3,900-$5,900 each (Amptek, 2013), which is a relatively low cost for what the technology is offering. By working to implement the mandatory use of this tool, not only will the United States work to ensure that no weapons may be able to cross into or out of its borders through cargo containers without the necessary permits and paperwork, but it will also work to mitigate any potential calamities or catastrophes that could occur as a result of the use of those weapons. If the technology is not implemented, it would be possible that a random cargo container could get overlooked, and weapons that could be used for potential terrorist activities within the United States could cross into its borders in that manner, resulting in catastrophes worse than the events that occurred 9/11. The technology is not complex, simply existing in the form of a higher powered x-ray machine made portable for convenience. While it is true that human error could still cause a cargo container to be overlooked, the possibility of that occurring would be far less than it is now, without the use of this tool.
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Another detection and surveillance technology that could be utilized to the benefit of the population is FastPlate. The fixed version of this technology is a “permanently mounted” license plate recognition system designed to be used in inbound and outbound lanes of traffic (Advanced Detection Technology, 2013). This system works to capture images of license plates, creating digital copies which may be validated against predefined databases, allowing for the quicker identification of persons on BOLO lists or stolen vehicle databases (ADT, 2013). The cost for this particular piece of technology varies depending on the size of the area they are being placed in, the total number of cameras, the difficulty of their installation, and the contract created, so an approximate cost is unavailable at this time; however, they can be installed in an area as small as an apartment complex, for entry based on plate recognition, or as large as a city for BOLO and stolen vehicle tracking (ADT, 2013). License plates are publically seen by anyone walking or driving down the street, so a scan of these pieces of information is not an invasion of privacy, and thus not an ethical matter that needs to be addressed. The technology may be used to work to decrease criminal activity in an area, increase retrieval time for stolen vehicles, make the job of officers easier in regards to BOLO suspects, and work to decrease the amount of damage that could be done in the time that it takes to complete a visual search for these vehicles. Human error would have a limited role in the use of this particular technology, as long as it has been verified in advance that there are no bugs in the programming for the detection and conversion software, and as long as the data entry into the preexisting database that is used for comparison purposes do not exist. There is no issue with human error outside of the programming on the software and the data entries for the license plates that are being searched for, as these devices are solar powered, and are able to function without outside influence. If an individual were to incorrectly enter a license plate into the system, causing the incorrect individual to get pulled over, it is possible that there could be issues for all parties involved, not to mention delays in the search; however a system of checks and balances can be implemented in order to decrease this as well.
While there are many detection, inspection, and surveillance methods that are currently being utilized that are unethical at best, the use of FastPlate and HEXRIS are not two of those technologies. These technologies are comparatively low cost, will work in a manner that does not infringe upon either the rights of the citizens or their civil liberties, and work to provide immense benefits to not only the population as a whole, but to law enforcement officers as well. These two tools allow for increased security without decreased liberties, and these are the types of detection, inspection, and surveillance tools that the United States should be looking to implement in order to ensure decreased human error, increased security, and decreased threat to the people of the United States.
- ADT. (2013). Fastplate™ fixed alpr automatic license plate recognition. Retrieved from http://advanced-detection-technology.com/documents/FastPlate_FixedALPR.pdf
- Advanced Detection Technologies. (2013). Fastplate™ fixed lpr system. Retrieved from http://advanced-detection-technology.com/FixedAutomatedLicensePlateRecognition.php
- Amptek. (2013, July). Price list. Retrieved from http://www.amptek.com/pricelist.html
- Northern Border Activities. (2013, April). Detection, inspection, surveillance, and communications technology expansion alternative (preferred alternative / environmental preferable alternative). Retrieved from http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/about/ec/nepa_pr/docs_for_projects/nobo_peis/nobo_peis_rod/corrections_2_11.ctt/corrections_2_11.pdf
- SPS Inspection Systems. (2013). High energy x-ray detectors. Retrieved from http://www.shawinspectionsystems.com/products/detectors/he detectors.htm
