In this week’s Houston Press, Richard Connelly reports on a slick new approach to fighting graffiti/trash dumping in Houston:
Walk behind the Leopard Lounge clothing store on Westheimer and you may be in for a surprise.
If you’re lucky enough to stroll in just the right spot — the spot, say, a graffiti artist or an illegal dumper may use to indulge his muse — you’ll hear a stern voice blaring from a loudspeaker, “This is the Houston Police Department. Your picture has just been taken. Leave now.”
During which, of course, you’ll look up at the loudspeaker, and at that moment you’ll see a flash.
You can’t be sure whether you’ve had your picture taken or not — HPD has set up an undisclosed number of dummy cameras in addition to the 20 that actually work. But chances are your mug’s been captured by Houston’s finest.
Does this camera initiative have an exciting acronym to go with it? Because it’s not a real crimefighting initiative unless it has an acronym!
BLOGVERSATION: HouStoned, Mike McGuff.
