The Council of Ministers today approved the Decree-Law that regulates the use of video surveillance equipment by road concessionaires by the security forces and the processing of these data. The objective of the measure, foreseen in article 23 of Law 39-A / 2005 of 29 July, is «to reinforce the effectiveness in the intervention of the security forces and the administrative and judicial authorities», explains a statement. The measure now needs approval from the President of the Republic and publication in Diário da República, but should be on the ground by the end of the year.
The document cites some examples in which the use of these resources could be especially important, such as the detection of false license plates, stolen vehicles or even in the provision of assistance.
The images collected by the cameras of the concessionaires start to «constitute a direct way of knowing about the occurrence of an illegal act» and have evidential value before the justice. The diploma even says that these visual testimonies should be attached to each occurrence whenever possible, in order to ensure greater speed in resolving cases.
This week, the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Mário Lino, had mentioned the Government’s intention to reinforce its commitment to the use of new Information Technologies, «as an instrument capable of contributing to an improvement in circulation and security conditions. road «. In the minister’s view, ITs can play a fundamental role in this matter in conjunction with three pillars considered fundamental «early detection, timely information, effective prevention».
António Costa, Minister of Internal Administration, also marked the six months of the new Highway Code – celebrated this week – with the news that the use of surveillance will be complemented with an investment in computer equipment that will allow police to act faster in their activities. surveillance missions.
According to the minister, PSP and GNR will receive tablet PCs – to be installed in vehicles – and Pocket PCs for quicker access to the driver’s registration and for the direct insertion of fines in the Directorate-General for Traffic system. This equipment will help the authorities to reduce the number of fines that expire every year and to reduce the use of paper.
It is recalled that since its presentation in the amending Budget, the National Data Protection Commission has shown itself against the Government’s proposal to use the video surveillance system to support the authorities’ action. In an opinion issued in July, this body considered the possibility of processing data from the road video surveillance system «illegal and unconstitutional».
While recognizing the «need to use electronic means of surveillance and location for the prevention and repression of road traffic offenses», the Commission considered that «a Law that aims to change the State Budget is an inappropriate instrument to enshrine this restriction of rights, freedoms and fundamental personal guarantees, since this restriction exceeds tax and financial matters «. The opinion delivered to the Assembly of the Republic prompted some changes to the final text.
Related News:
2005-07-06 – Processing of road video surveillance data motivates CNPD’s criticism of the amending Budget
2004-10-28 – CNPD points out new challenges to the defense of data privacy
