SOUTHWICK, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Southwick officials are working to address concerns regarding new traffic camera technology, after some residents have raised privacy questions. Town leaders said the cameras aren’t live yet, and policies are still being finalized.

This technology isn’t flock cameras, but it is a different similar system, and as of right now none have been installed yet here in Southwick. The town voted in open session months ago to accept a public safety grant that includes traffic camera technology.

Southwick Police Chief, Rhett Bannish, said the department received nearly $30,000 dollars through a federal grant which will fund the cameras for five years. He said the system is made by Motorola and will only share information within that same network.

Officials also said the cameras would be used strictly for law enforcement purposes, helping track stolen vehicles or assist in investigations.

Officials said the cameras will likely be placed on main roads entering and leaving town here in Southwick but won’t be installed until a final policy is approved by the select board.

Just a short while ago we spoke with neighbors here in town who say they’re against having this technology and believe it could end up being used for the wrong reasons, “I’m not sacrificing my privacy for their “public safety” because we’ve seen across the country that these cameras are being used against people and being weaponized against citizens and that’s not right,” said Southwick Resident Meagan Kennedy.

A town select-board meeting will be held this Monday. The Southwick Police Chief and sergeant are expected to be at that meeting, where residents will have a chance to ask questions about the technology.

Coming up here on Western Mass News at 10 and 11, we’ll have more from people here in Southwick about their thoughts.

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