“Drones have been used to spy on protests, perfectly legal protests, and then afterwards people are coming home and finding law enforcement showing up at their doors,” resident Shirley Lawson said.
Lawson and other residents shared concerns about potential violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth and 14th amendments, which protect freedom of speech, privacy and due process.
Place 1 council member Maria Tu said new technology can help in cases that would otherwise rely on the memory of police officers or eyewitnesses.
“I am a criminal defense lawyer. … Colleagues in the defense world are able to either negotiate dismissal, a reduction to the offense that’s allegedly charged by the police officer or come to a resolution to a plea because it’s so obvious that it has happened,” she said. “Those are important because it helps the city save money in trying every case in court.”