New Tennessee legislation would let police use interstate cameras to investigate some crimes
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Tennessee state Rep. John Ray Clemmons is developing legislation that would allow law enforcement to use cameras posted on interstates to investigate certain crimes.
Why it matters: The use of surveillance cameras by police has been a hotly debated issue in Nashville in recent years.
Driving the news: Clemmons' proposal would allow law enforcement agencies to use interstate cameras to investigate terrorism and state criminal offenses.
- The Tennessee Department of Transportation already has traffic cameras posted on interstates. Clemmons' bill would streamline law enforcement agencies' access to them.
- His legislation also would allow local governments to pay to install cameras in order to investigate drag racing.
- Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat, tells Axios he filed the legislation after hearing from constituents concerned about drag racing and crimes such as gun violence and human trafficking.
Zoom in: As the Metro Council continues to debate the possibility of Nashville police using a network of private security cameras, Clemmons says his bill is unrelated. "This didn't come from (Mayor Freddie O'Connell's) office," he says.
Yes, but: Clemmons says he plans to revoke the legislation he's already filed and possibly bring it back later in the session as a generic "caption bill" (a bill designed to be amended) that could be updated based on community feedback.
- Progressives in Nashville have expressed concerns about police increasing their surveillance tools, saying it could lead to over-policing, infringe on privacy and potentially be used in federal immigration enforcement.
What he's saying: "I want to see how things play out in D.C.," Clemmons says, adding the proposal came about prior to President Trump's election victory. "I'm fortunate to represent a very diverse district with a lot of immigrant families. I don't want people to have any more reason to live in fear than they already are."
- "We're constantly looking for ways to prevent crime or prosecute criminals," he says. "This may not be the best answer to do that. So we'll just continue to evaluate other options."