Beach-sex cameras blasted as 'creepy,' 'Big Brother'
Pastor Dale Morgan
Beach-sex cameras blasted as 'creepy,' 'Big Brother'*
But government still considering talk-back monitors along shore
Posted: November 28, 2007
STUART, Fla. – Despite a wave of opposition from some elected officials
and harsh criticism from local media, the idea of installing "talk-back"
cameras to deter sex on the beach is moving forward.
Camera already in use at Jensen Beach Park in Martin County, Fla. The
county is considering voice warnings to deter people from having sex on
the beaches
Commissioners in Martin County, Fla., laid bare their concerns about the
monitoring system this week, and decided to discuss the proposal with
Sheriff Robert Crowder in January to see if he thinks it would help
battle illicit conduct throughout public park property.
"I've given the cameras a lot of thought. It's just a little too much
Big Brother for me," said Commissioner Susan Valliere. "I'm just
uncomfortable with it."
Amorous beachgoers would be blasted with a bright light and a voice from
above warning against sexual relations in public. The voice would come
from $5,500 motion-sensing cameras, made by California-based Q-Star
Technology.
Flash-CAM monitor records activity, broadcasts warning messages
The call for surveillance also comes after several high-profile arrests
statewide and nationally involving elected officials soliciting sex in
bathrooms.
Additionally, a sheriff's office sting in July caught six men at two
county beaches on charges of either exposing themselves to undercover
officers or soliciting them for sex.
"I'm not denying that we have a problem that needs to be addressed,"
Commissioner Lee Weberman said. "But I don't think we should put cameras
on beaches."
Martin County Commissioner Michael DiTerlizzi
A strong proponent of the surveillance is Commissioner Michael DiTerlizzi.
"I think public safety is probably first and foremost for our citizens,"
he said. "I just want to look at every option."
When the proposal was initially put forward, a poll of its readers
revealed strong opposition. When asked what they thought of the idea, by
far the largest response was "Just another case of Big Brother taking
over. What's next, toilet cams?"
An editorial by the Palm Beach Post had only disdain for the cameras,
mentioning not only a negative impact on tourism, but also practical
problems if the monitors were indeed posted:
"What's to stop vandals from taking a hammer or a BB gun to the cameras?
Even if the county bought dozens of cameras, surveillance would be
spotty. Privacy issues would keep cameras out of public bathrooms, where
the solicitation for sex takes place."
Frank Cerabino, a columnist for the Post, joked, "You know what's
creepier than people having sex on the beach? People photographing
people having sex on the beach."
Another columnist, Geoff Oldfather of the Stuart News, quipped:
But where we really need these Big Brother talking cameras is obvious:
The express lane at Publix [Supermarkets].
When you-know-who starts putting the 117 items from their cart on to the
belt the camera will yell out:
"Hey idiot, can't you count?" and Click, the image is captured. Not
their face. Their finger.