LAPD Helicopters Patrol the Skies, but Do They Make Us Safer?

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The LAPD and the County Sheriff use specialized cameras to scan the license plates of drivers unaware that they're under surveillance. What do they find out? How long do they keep the information? That's what privacy watchdogs want to know, but the cops aren't telling. We hear about a lawsuit to force the issue. Then, aerial patrolling by the LAPD. We hear about noisy helicopters and quiet drones. Also, creative money-raising for city parks.

Image-for-WWLA.jpgOn our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, 18 states and Washington, DC have legalized medical marijuana. Voters in Colorado and Washington have approved recreational use — and 52 percent of Americans agree that's a good idea. Yet under federal law, marijuana is still as illegal as heroin. What's the Obama Administration to do? A crackdown might lead to a backlash. But can it enforce the law differently in different parts of the country?

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Credits

Guest:

Host:

Warren Olney