States looking to invest in security technology

Apr 1, 2001 12:00 PM, Larry Anderson www.securitysolutions.com

Security equipment is taking center stage in the public arena these days, evidenced strongly by a flurry of activity at various state legislatures. During this season when many state houses are in session, high-tech subjects ranging from biometrics to metal detectors to fire alarms to door locks are on the agendas as state-level elected officials decide how to spend millions of dollars on security technology. The Security Industry Association is tracking this activity, and its recent legislative report emphasizes the growing importance of our industry's products in the public eye.

Biometrics, especially fingerprint identification systems, are top-of-mind in several states' spending plans. Alabama is looking at a $5 million appropriation for such a system; Arkansas is discussing a $3.9 million expenditure on fingerprint identification; Michigan is considering a $2.5 million proposal. A suggested appropriation in Iowa would allot $261,342 to maintain its fingerprint identification system. Clearly governments are buying into the concept of statewide identification systems based on fingerprints in a big way.

CCTV systems — especially those used in traffic management and school security applications — are also common in state spending plans, according to SIA. A bill in Rhode Island would spend $150,000 to provide the state police with 10 mounted video/audio surveillance cameras annually in each of the next five years. In Mississippi, a proposed amendment to a 1972 law would require school districts to place video surveillance cameras in every classroom and on every school bus. The bill also would authorize the use of metal detectors to deter school violence and would allow districts to use up to $50,000 for school violence prevention grants. Hawaii is looking at spending $660,000 on a CCTV/traffic surveillance system. Illinois is considering the expenditure of millions of dollars to upgrade the locks in several prisons.

Proposals that tax dollars be spent on fire alarms are under consideration in Alaska (including $1.2 million in Fairbanks); in Arkansas ($106,798 to install a fire alarm system in the State Capitol); and in Ohio (where $380,735 will be spent for “statewide fire alarm systems”).

In addition to providing good news for the industry's suppliers, this update from our state governments is yet another indicator of the increasing prominence of security technology in our modern world.

We can all see the effectiveness of these technologies every day in our work. State politicians evaluating whether to spend tax money on security technologies need look no further than the many effective security systems at work in the businesses and institutions within their own home districts. By example, our industry makes a convincing case that money spent on security — even tax dollars — is money well spent.

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