Use Traffic Cameras For Surveillance, Says Los Angeles Councilman

Hundreds of the snooping devices are already in place

Los Angeles is filled with surveillance cameras. Now, after the Boston Marathon bombings, a local lawmaker wants to see if some of these cameras can be converted to help the Los Angeles Police Department solve crimes.

There are 460 cameras that are already activated by the city's Department of Transportation to monitor traffic.

"We've already spent the money putting the infrastructure in place. It makes sense to utilize that as a force multiplier," said City Councilman Mitchell Englander.

Englander is also an LAPD reservist. He has introduced a motion in the council to explore possible software enhancements that might make the traffic cameras more useful to law enforcement. Currently DOT says its system is designed to find only traffic troubles, such as an accident or road construction.