License plates being rapidly scanned in Walmart parking lotby incognito surveillance vehicle?

I just know Ted Cruz is behind this somehow. /s

one of my old homes....Chino Hills......before hardly anyone lived there....we were PIONEERS......Richmond Hills, I believe it was.

For what purpose?

Actually, g0vt doesn't need a purpose, just something to infringe on the rights of US Citizens.

COLOR OF LAW

( From the FBI website )

Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242
Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law

This statute makes it a crime for any person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom to willfully deprive or cause to be deprived from any person those rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution and laws of the U.S.

This law further prohibits a person acting under color of law, statute, ordinance, regulation or custom to willfully subject or cause to be subjected any person to different punishments, pains, or penalties, than those prescribed for punishment of citizens on account of such person being an alien or by reason of his/her color or race.

Acts under "color of any law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the bounds or limits of their lawful authority, but also acts done without and beyond the bounds of their lawful authority; provided that, in order for unlawful acts of any official to be done under "color of any law," the unlawful acts must be done while such official is purporting or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. This definition includes, in addition to law enforcement officials, individuals such as Mayors, Council persons, Judges, Nursing Home Proprietors, Security Guards, etc., persons who are bound by laws, statutes, ordinances, or customs.

Punishment varies from a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, and if bodily injury results or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire shall be fined or imprisoned up to ten years or both, and if death results, or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

--------------------------------------

It is a crime for one or more persons acting under color of law willfully to deprive or conspire to deprive another person of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. "Color of law" simply means that the person doing the act is using power given to him or her by a governmental agency (local, state or federal). Criminal acts under color of law include acts not only done by local, state, or federal officials within the bounds or limits of their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of their lawful authority. Off-duty conduct may also be covered under color of law, if the perpetrator asserted their official status in some manner. Color of law may include public officials who are not law enforcement officers, for example, judges and prosecutors, as well as, in some circumstances, non governmental employees who are asserting state authority, such as private security guards. While the federal authority to investigate color of law type violations extends to any official acting under "color of law", the vast majority of the allegations are against the law enforcement community. The average number of all federal civil rights cases initiated by the FBI from 1997 -2000 was 3513. Of those cases initiated, about 73% were allegations of color of law violations. Within the color of law allegations, about 82% were allegations of abuse of force with violence (59% of the total number of civil rights cases initiated).
The Supreme Court has had to interpret the United States Constitution to construct law regulating the actions of those in the law enforcement community. Enforcement of these provisions does not require that any racial, religious, or other discriminatory motive existed.
Investigative Areas
Most of the FBI's color of law investigations would fall into five broad areas:

excessive force;
sexual assaults;
false arrest/fabrication of evidence;
deprivation of property; and
failure to keep from harm.

In making arrests, maintaining order, and defending life, law enforcement officers are allowed to utilize whatever force is "reasonably" necessary. The breath and scope of the use of force is vast. The spectrum begins with the physical presence of the official through the utilization of deadly force. While some types of force used by law enforcement may be violent by their very nature, they may be considered "reasonable," based upon the circumstances. However, violations of federal law occur where it can be shown that the force used was willfully "unreasonable" or "excessive" against individuals.
Sexual assaults by officials acting under "color of law" could happen in a variety of venues. They could occur in court scenarios, jails, and/or traffic stops to name just a few of the settings where an official might use their position of authority to coerce another individual into sexual compliance. The compliance is generally gained because of a threat of an official action against the other if they do not comply.
The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right against unreasonable searches or seizures. A law enforcement official using his authority provided under the "color of law" is allowed to stop individuals and even if necessary to search them and retain their property under certain circumstances. It is in the abuse of that discretionary power that a violation of a person's civil rights might occur. An unlawful detention or an illegal confiscation of property would be examples of such an abuse of power.
An official would violate the color of law statute by fabricating evidence against or conducting a false arrest of an individual. That person's rights of due process and unreasonable seizure have been violated. In the case of deprivation of property, the official would violate the color of law statute by unlawfully obtaining or maintaining the property of another. In that case, the official has overstepped or misapplied his authority.
The Fourteenth Amendment secures the right to due process and the Eighth Amendment also prohibits the use of cruel and unusual punishment. In an arrest or detention context, these rights would prohibit the use of force amounting to punishment (summary judgment). The idea being that a person accused of a crime is to be allowed the opportunity to have a trial and not be subjected to punishment without having been afforded the opportunity of the legal process.
The public entrusts its law enforcement officials with protecting the community. If it is shown that an official willfully failed to keep an individual from harm that official could be in violation of the color of law statute.
Filing a Complaint
In order to file a complaint alleging a violation of the criminal laws discussed above, you may contact your local FBI office by telephone, in writing, or in person. The following information should be provided:

all identifying information for the victim(s);
as much identifying information as possible for the subject(s), including position, rank, and agency employed;
date and time of incident;
location and time of incident;
names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witness(es);
a complete chronology of events; and
any report numbers and charges with respect to the incident.

You may also contact the United States Attorney's Office in your district, or send a written complaint to:

Criminal Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 66018
Washington, D.C. 20035-6018

Investigations vary in length and although there are internal limitations, the investigation will proceed to its logical conclusion. The FBI is the investigative component of the Department of Justice. It is, therefore, not responsible for the prosecution of a case. That is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., and the United States Attorney's Office within the local jurisdiction. After the FBI has completed its investigation, it forwards its findings to the United States Attorney's Office and to the Department of Justice. They then make the determination as to whether to proceed toward prosecution or not.

Civil Applications

Title 42, U.S.C., Section 14141, makes it unlawful for state or local law enforcement agencies to allow officers to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives persons of rights protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. This law is commonly referred to as the Police Misconduct Statute. This law gives DOJ the authority to seek civil remedies in cases where it is determined that law enforcement agencies have policies or practices which foster a pattern of misconduct by employees. This action is directed against an agency, not against individual officers. The types of issues which may initiate a Pattern and Practice investigation include:

Lack of supervision/monitoring of officers' actions.
Officers not providing justification or reporting incidents involving the use of force.
Lack of, or improper training of officers.
A department having a citizen complaint process which treats complainants as adversaries.

Under Title 42, U.S.C., Section 1997, DOJ has the ability to initiate civil actions against mental hospitals, retardation facilities, jails, prisons, nursing homes, and juvenile detention facilities, when there are allegations of systemic derivations of the constitutional rights of institutionalized persons.

I’ve seen that in another state too. They go through parking lots or scan the road.

I wonder if it was a Google mapping vehicle.

I generally try to obscure my tag with lots of smoke. Sometimes I'm at the mercy of the wind direction, but overall it's working nicely. ;)

Our local police once came onto the private parking lot of our condo complex scanning plates.I stopped him and told him he needed a warrant to do that on private property.He gave me dirty look and continued.

As I get older find that my respect for cops (and/or the politicians that control them) diminishes rather than increases.

No, that’s not a Google mapping car. That’s a license plate scanner.

Why do they need to scan license plates? They already have a complete list of plates, names, and addresses at the DMV.

The San Diego Sheriff is using these kindly old statists to scan plates in parking lots.

To know where the cars are.

The Google mapping and photo technology is amazing. I was able to use it to virtually drive up and down the Soi in Bangkok where I lived in 1969. My house was gone, but there were a few places which hadn't changed much.

Google started doing this years ago in the US, and now are adding foreign cities to their data base.

Just amazing.

I’ve seen similar in the DFW area. Probably Jade Helm related.

I think it was a K mart official

I think it was a K mart official

In a K-car.

Why do they need to scan license plates?

The official story is that they're looking for reported stolen cars or cars with stolen plates (although I can't see that given how fast they go through the lots, as they'd have to look at the vehicle associated with that plate), cars belonging to people who are being sought for some reason (warrant, felon, etc...), but the reality is the data is being collected on all plates. So, they can get an idea of who is where.

Being a proponent of delayed satisfaction, I always back my truck in the parking space. My fav spots are where there is no driving space behind the truck. If worse comes to worse, the rear of the truck is blocked by the vehicle parked behind me. Unless, of course, there is no vehicle parked behind me.

I have seen SUVs with blacked out windows and license plate scanners mounted on the roof cruising through parking lots. IMHO, that’s invasion of privacy.

They build up data dossiers on people and then if you are not in your normal place if they stip you thry can asky why you arent doing x today, and are here instead?

Yes, its a good tool. I use it a lot in my work.