this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2026
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Police scanned Flock cameras in a single town in Illinois more than 1,200 times to investigate cases of loitering.

top 34 comments
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[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 6 points 7 hours ago
  • Pre-tech: "Keep it moving, punk."
  • Post-tech: "Keep it moving, punk."
[–] floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 37 points 19 hours ago (5 children)

I remember when I was 14 or something and first looked up what "loitering" meant and I was like... In the US cops can harass you for just being somewhere? Not even private property, just existing on a sidewalk? Still doesn't make sense

Literally the plot of rambo

[–] spacegoat@lemmy.world 5 points 8 hours ago

Land of the free means land of the rich are free to fuck you up

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 30 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Mate, the laws are written so that if someone wealthy or powerful doesn't like what you're doing, it's illegal. And if what you're doing isn't illegal, they find something you're doing that is.

[–] LettyWhiterock@lemmy.world 8 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I mean loitering is clearly aimed at homeless people as a justification to arrest them for basically being homeless.

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 4 points 8 hours ago

Poors hanging out in rich folk places is a superset of the homeless situation.

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 7 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Coral Gables has laws against carrying "burglar tools" - well, a credit card or even a state issued ID card can be used to open a locked door, so there's a handy "burglar tool" charge just as soon as the cop asks to see your ID.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 5 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Only if your not white though. Or white, but wearing a hoodie because hoodies are scary.

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 10 points 16 hours ago

You know, it's really about poor... black is shorthand for poor, so it looks like racism, but underneath it all, they'll abuse poor people just like they abuse black people.

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 5 points 18 hours ago

When the cops in our town were ineffective at keeping the teenagers from loitering in the parking lot of the 24 hour drug store, the retiree busy-bodies got the city council to make the drugstore close at 9pm.

[–] deliriousdreams@fedia.io 3 points 18 hours ago

This, even after they were told they could no longer stop and frisk you for just standing around.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 45 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Loitering is the dumbest illegal thing right up there with jay walking and criminalizing not having a home.

[–] gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world 12 points 21 hours ago

Either choose to participate in capitalism or they stick you in a box and commodify your imprisonment

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 5 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Are you loitering if you’re walking the dog? What about if you’re smoking outside? What about if you’re sitting on a bench in a park?

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 15 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

It depends. Is someone richer than you upset about it? Then it's loitering.

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago

Checkmate. I guess I’m done for today.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 50 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Oh oh oh but I thought I was told these cameras are only simple license plate readers and do not track pedestrians or faces???

[–] FluorideMind@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

IDK who told you that. They have ai face scanning and can identify vehicles from stickers and damage.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 5 hours ago

IDK who told you that.

My own local police department when justifying them covering every city entrance and exit with them. ._.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 28 points 1 day ago

There pointed at playgrounds... we all know what the Epstein class is using them for.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 55 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Go outside, but only in a state-sanctioned way

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 35 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Fair. Getting harder to distinguish the two anymore

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 7 points 1 day ago

They do align the majority of the time for sure.

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not actively spending money? Straight to jail.

[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

That's literally the definition of theft™️

[–] queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone 13 points 21 hours ago

Reminder since it's coming up, October is International Mass Surveillance Appreciation Month! Don't forget to stock up on all the holiday essentials:

  • Sporting equipment (for baseball / cricket / street hockey games with the fam)
  • Spraypaint / spray foam / adhesive tape / stickers (for decorating all around your home)
  • Cable snips (for the traditional "cutting of the cord" opening ceremony)
  • Drywall stilts (for the slenderman dance)
  • High-coverage clothing and headwear (for the masquerade ball)

Halloween is often a busy time for law enforcement so please be conscientious about when you observe IMSAM. But, as they say, better late than never!

Hope you all have a safe and productive IMSAM. Remember, you don't have to celebrate all the time, but if everyone celebrates a little bit, the season can last all year 🖤🖤🖤

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago

Thank the gods that police can now use big tech to harass people instead of relying on their teensy little brains. I bet their metrics have improved significantly.

[–] TRock@feddit.dk 15 points 1 day ago

Land of the free

[–] ummthatguy@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago
[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] popekingjoe@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

Not yet, but that's only a matter of time.

[–] knacht1@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago