Scanners fight crime but raise privacy concerns: #tellusatoday

We asked our Twitter followers whether they think police agencies breach privacy by using license plate scanners. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

If it will help solve crimes and put criminals behind bars, do it. Those who have nothing to hide will be fine.

— @LaurenSGaynor

I completely disagree with the scanning. This type of behavior lends itself to a police state, not sovereignty.

— @IsaiahReed

It's a fantastic means of solving crimes, and if it keeps us safer, I'm all for it.

— @jstew42481

Police departments have been doing this for years. Parking authorities routinely scan to find unpaid citations.

— @kevnor79

It would be OK if police could be trusted to delete the information not related to ongoing investigations, but they can't.

— @Tothiwim

It is OK if the scan is used in an ongoing investigation. The information should not be stored for historical reference. That's wrong.

— @tbechtx

This is not a privacy issue.Your plates are in public view when you drive, and they're state issued.

— @kbarker47

For more of this discussion, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.