Oak Brook IL April 24 2018 If you park at Oakbrook Center, your car may be part of a candid camera scenario, as security cars drive up and down aisles in lots and garages, using license plate reading technology to check the plate numbers on vehicles.

The license plate recognition system, which has been used since late 2016, helps Oakbrook Center monitor and enforce that shopping center employees are parking in designated areas and leaving the best parking for guests, explained Marissa Ellenby, senior manager of communications for General Growth Properties, the owner/operator of Oakbrook Center.

“Our research has shown us that parking is a top pain point of our shoppers,” Ellenby stated.

But a senior investigative researcher for an organization that defends civil liberties in the digital world says the use of license plate recognition systems raise privacy questions.

“It’s important that businesses respect their customers,” said Dave Maass of the 28-year-old Electronic Frontier Foundation. “People do care when they find out about this; privacy is a major issue.”

Maass said potential privacy concerns over the type of system being used at Oakbrook Center include whether the system is being checked for cyber security, possible use of a third-party server for collected data, whether any stored photos taken may include more than a license plate, how long data is retained, whether notice of system use is posted and who is authorized to access data, including police.

He said that photos taken of license plates could include bumper stickers.

“Sometimes, a bumper sticker indicates someone’s political views, for example,” he said. “Anyone who sees the vehicle could see a bumper sticker, but if you don’t know for sure who might have access to a photo taken of it with a license plate scanner, that could be an issue.”

The issues Maass raised, including the use of third-party servers, how long data is saved, whether data is used for marketing purposes and if the system is audited, were asked of Ellenby via email, but were not answered.

“While we appreciate your questions, we feel they may impact some of our security efforts/protocol so we are unable to provide specifics,” Ellenby wrote in response

“Please know our system follows all laws and legal requirements of the technology,” she continued. “Once again, the system does not provide access to any other data, nor do we have access to any information other than what is provided or visible on the vehicle.”

Oakbrook Center tenants are required to provide license plate and vehicle information for their employees to mall management so that it can monitor the designated parking areas, Ellenby wrote.

Oakbrook Center has taken several steps to help shoppers find parking, including adding postings of available spots in different lots. (Brett Johnson / Pioneer Press)

“We simply input the vehicle information provided,” she said.

Mall employees are required to park in employee-designated areas, even if they visit the mall to shop on days they are not working, according to a Jan. 3 memo to Oakbrook Center tenants from management.

John Walters of Romeoville, who said he shops at Oakbrook Center a few times a year, said he isn’t certain whether use of a license plate recognition system bothers him.

“Personally, I have nothing to hide, but with all this news lately about our privacy and how it’s sometimes being violated, it makes you think,” he said. “I would like to think the mall isn’t doing anything else with the information they collect, and I believe that they aren’t, but it’s an interesting topic these days.”

Along with Oakbrook Center, General Growth Properties has five other properties in Illinois, including three in Chicago, one in Champaign, and Northbrook Court.

Ellenby didn’t respond when asked if a license plate recognition system is used at Northbrook Court.

College of DuPage, an area entity with substantial parking, doesn’t use a system, said its deputy police chief, Jim Nehls. Old Orchard center in Skokie, another large outdoor mall, didn’t respond to a message inquiring about use of a license plate recognition system.

Oak Brook Police deputy chief Jason Cates said the license plate recognition system at Oakbrook Center is being used with no direction, support or coordination from the police, and the information gathered is not shared with the department.

While Oak Brook police don’t use their own license plate recognition system, the Darien Police Department began using license plate recognition cameras about three years ago, but stopped the use about a year ago, said Operations Cmdr. Gerry Piccoli.

“I believe they have a use in law enforcement, but we had problems with them and decided it really wasn’t an effective expense for us,” Piccoli said.

The cameras, mounted on the front and back of police vehicles, scan hundreds of license plates around a patrol car, alerting officers to potential stolen vehicles, cars used in area crimes and vehicles tied to an individual who has a warrant out for arrest.

However, while scanning license plates, Darien police found the technology also scanning other things with numbers, including mailboxes, street signs and billboards.

La Grange police began using cameras in late 2014, but stopped the use a year ago, said deputy chief Andy Peters, who said the effectiveness of the cameras wasn’t what had been expected.

chicago tribune 

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