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Get Scanned As You Drive Through Ohio
kai5263499 writes "A local news station is reporting on a new license plate scanning system being tested in Ohio. This new system is supposed to be able to scan a passing vehicle's license plates and match it against a database of reported stolen or lost vehicles. Lawmakers are supposed to be briefed at the year's end for further funding and/or implementation in other areas."
The patrol will report to lawmakers by year's end and won't implement the system or expand it without approval by the Controlling Board or the Legislature, said patrol spokesman Capt. John Born. Some lawmakers and advocates for civil liberties are worried the scanners could invade the privacy of law-abiding residents. "It's a free society, and we're supposed to move as we like without the government tracking us everywhere," said Jeff Gamso, legal director of the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union. Born said the devices don't take pictures or make videotapes and don't create any databases of individuals.
Imagine how much crime could have been prevented in the 19th century if we'd required license plates on horses!
The devices use optical scanners similar to those used in supermarkets to read bar codes.
Somehow, I doubt it uses a laser to scan license tags on passing cars. My guess is that it uses a CCD camera with image processing - a simple task, really. This is what happens when journalists don't research an article and the editor doesn't force them to pay attention to detail.