The district attorney, the chairman of the board of supervisors, the sheriff's department and local code enforcers are understandably thrilled with the new gizmo. From the comfort of their offices, officials can zero in on your backyard to make sure that you haven't added an illegal addition, or see whether your property meets current codes, or determine whether you're growing hemp alongside the cherry tomatoes.
Cops can track criminal activity better, of course.
Firefighters battling a big fire could survey the property in a database to help them plan their attack. Cities can upgrade their zoning plans with greater ease, and tax assessors could limit their field trips. But these advantages hardly seem worth the negatives. There are two big problems. First, the system will be abused by criminals and salespeople.