SANTA CRUZ, Calif.- $5.5 million dollars of your tax money spent on traffic cameras across the state. Everyday Caltrans uses the cameras to watch the roadways. But the Center for Investigative Action went to work to find out if those cameras could be used for more than just tracking traffic.
The question centers around Deanna Brooks, the Santa Cruz antiques dealer who's been missing for six weeks. She vanished on her way to San Diego in a gold PT Cruiser. While police said the case is at a stand-still, we've been following a Facebook page dedicated to finding her and one comment stuck out recently. Friends and family were curious if cameras like one on Highway 1 near 41st Ave would show any sign of Deanna. According to Caltrans, they're only used to monitor traffic.
"We cant grieve, we can't be happy at her coming home. We're just stuck in a sort of purgatory," said friend Leslie Crook.
Crook said she understands law enforcement has to follow certain rules when searching for a missing person. But she said it's frustrating having so few tools to work with.
"I certainly don't want to say that the guidelines, that are currently in place to help missing children, that those budget dollars need to be cut. But I'd just hope that there'd be more money in the state coffer to help us find adult missing people," Crook said.
Leslie said police consider Deanna a voluntary adult missing person, because there's no sign of foul play. But she still wants answers and investigators to search for her. Santa Cruz Police said it doesn't use the highway cameras because that's not what they're meant for. The only ones investigators use, are specific to solving crimes.
Caltrans said it's cameras are strictly used to monitor traffic, don't record video and weren't designed to be used by law enforcement. But they've kept it alive ever since the went missing about six weeks ago. That's why Deanna's friends are asking everyone to keep their eyes open on the road. In Deanna's corner at the shop where she worked, her co-workers said its gut-wrenching to not see her there.
"We need your eyes and we need you to be vigilant and watch for us," Crook said.
Caltrans also said these cameras don't have a zoom function making it impossible to search for a license plate number.
