MIS 606 - The East Dakota State Police (EDSP)

Read the following scenario and respond to the following questions:

In an attempt to deter speeders, the East Dakota State Police (EDSP) installs video cameras on all of its freeway overpasses. The cameras are connected to computers that can reliably detect cars traveling more than five miles per hour above the speed limit. These computers have sophisticated image recognition software that enables them to read license plate numbers and capture high resolution pictures of vehicle drivers. If the picture of the driver matches the driver's license photo of one of the registered owners of the car, the system issues a speeding ticket to the driver, complete with photo evidence. Six months after the system is put into operation, the number of people speeding on East Dakota freeways is reduced by 90 percent.

The FBI asks the EDSP for real-time access to the information collected by the video cameras. The EDSP complies with this request. Three months later, the FBI uses this information to arrest five members of a terrorist organization.

Questions

1. Did the East Dakota State Police make anything wrong?

2. On what basis you answered the previous question?

3. Who benefited/harmed from the actions of the EDSP?

4. What other courses of action could the EDSP have taken to achieve its objectives?