Elizabeth says contractor installed temporary traffic cameras on town poles without permission
The devices were removed after town staff contacted National Data & Survey Service, which the town says installed them to count traffic.
Elizabeth officials say National Data & Survey Service installed temporary traffic-counting cameras on town-owned poles without the town’s permission. The devices were removed after town staff contacted the contractor, officials said.
The cameras were in place for only a short time in early September. The Sept. 8 Board of Trustees meeting transcript says the police chief told trustees they were installed Sept. 3 and removed early Sept. 4.
An Elizabeth police report identifies National Data & Survey Service, or NDS, as the contractor. It says the devices were intended to collect traffic-volume data and were not designed to record license plates, photograph people or document traffic violations.
The police chief said NDS was apparently hired by a developer or intermediary to work on a county study. The town has not publicly identified the study or said who could access the resulting data.
Interim Town Administrator Chris Lowe said the town should send NDS written documentation objecting to the installation and discussed a possible cease-and-desist letter after consulting the town attorney. The meeting record does not show that a formal objection was sent or that NDS responded.