What started out as the "Electronic Monitoring Indigency Fund" (EMIF) or "DUI Monitoring Fund" has been transformed into a Kafkaesque, Tennessee state police highway surveillance program.
Originally the EMIF provided financial reimbursement to installers to cover the costs by indigent participants required by a judge to have an electronic monitoring device installed in a vehicle.
"The EMIF provides reimbursement to individuals or entities engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, leasing, servicing or monitoring alcohol or drug monitoring devices (“Provider”). All Providers submitting interlock claims for reimbursement must be listed on the Department of Safety’s approved Provider list."
"The implementation of the local government matching grant program will require local governments that wish to utilize electronic monitoring devices other than ignition interlock devices to opt-in and cover 50% of claim expenses. This new process for payments will apply to any new claims submitted as a result of a court order issued on or after July 1, 2019."
If incentivizing installing monitoring devices in people’s cars is not enough to turn your stomach, I give you the latest version of Tennessee’s House Bill 2110 or EMIF.
The latest version of EMIF has been transformed into an exclusive state police highway surveillance program.
"No surveillance cameras shall be permitted on federal interstate highways except for Smart Way cameras, other intelligent transportation system cameras, or, when employees of the department or construction workers are present, surveillance cameras used to enforce or monitor traffic violations within work zones designated by the department of transportation; provided, that the cameras are operated only by a state entity."
A February 2020 amendment to the bill claims state police can only use Smart Way cameras to enforce or monitor traffic violations within work zones.
"No unmanned traffic enforcement cameras shall be permitted on federal interstate highways except for Smart Way cameras, other intelligent transportation system cameras or, when employees of the Department of Safety or construction workers are present, unmanned traffic enforcement cameras used to enforce or monitor traffic violations within work zones designated by the Department of Transportation, provided, that the cameras shall be operated only by a state entity."
As the Tennessee Star revealed, the EMIF bill was sent to the House Judiciary Committee to be reviewed yesterday which does not mean it will not be passed in its current form.
Rep. Andy Holt has major concerns that state police highway surveillance cameras would be used to spy on everyone.
"However, the idea of surveillance cameras being utilized throughout the state bothered some lawmakers, including Rep. Andy Holt, who said the legislation reminded him of the dystopian novel, 1984, in which the government closely monitors its citizens to keep control of them."
“I will not be a party to unnecessary surveillance to the people of Tennessee, the people of the United States,” Holt said. “… Please let’s not tread down this path
Turning the state police into highway surveillance agents sends the wrong message to Americans.