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E-Tracking May Change the Way You Drive

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the eye-in-the-sky dept.

frdmfghtr writes "ZDNet.com is running a story about a runaway idea of a tracking automobiles via GPS. Not to be confused with the Canadian project geared towards anti-speeding ideas, this one does in fact have the goal of tracking your vehicle. 'The U.S. Department of Transportation has been handing millions of dollars to state governments for GPS-tracking pilot projects designed to track vehicles wherever they go. So far, Washington state and Oregon have received fat federal checks to figure out how to levy these 'mileage-based road user fees.' However, the article goes on to talk about how there is no provision in place to prevent the uncontrolled surveillance of motorists without a court order."

8 of 528 comments (clear)

  1. I'm not worried... by Propagandhi · · Score: 4, Funny

    This just means my car will get a tin foil hat, too...

  2. Sounds good by Brantano · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is a great idea, it would help with drunk drivers, crimes, and speeding. If you dont have anything to hide you really shouldnt be against it. This would definetly be great for the police who are trying to track a stolen car or track down someone who has just murdered someone. The possibilities are limitless.

    1. Re:Sounds good by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hell yes.
      I think there should be constant audio and video survellence both inside and outside your car (put a camera on each seat) as well as a monitor on your speedometer- if you happen to go 1mph over the speed limit .. or more than 10mph below it then automatically send you a small ticket. If you are talking on the cell phone while the car is in motion- send you a ticket. If you forget to buckle up before the car is put in gear send you a ticket. If you engage in carnal acts in the car- well that's basically a public place (I mean you are doing them on camera!) so you should probably be arrested- you know I'm sure there are still many states where oral sex is still considered sodomy and illegal (and if not now .. perhaps in a few years when the baby boomers start to get too old to enjoy sex).

      Why stop with the car? You should have total surveillance at work (I mean if you are doing your job, you have nothing to fear right?) as well as in the house in case you show terrorist tendencies they can backtrack all your contacts.

      In fact, every time you meet or talk to someone, it should send record that fact so they can backtrack all your contacts in case you later do something bad. You shouldn't have any problem with this unless you are doing something bad of course.

      Wow- we could eliminate all crime if we just put people into 10'x10' rooms under constant supervision and surveillance! It's a good idea since we know that people are going to eat and drink unhealthily and get sick on OUR DIME. Since we have to pay for their illness we should have complete control of them (and they of us!)

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  3. Re:Fees and Acceptance by scsirob · · Score: 2, Funny
    Will these fees be accompanied by the reduction of taxes, since they are getting transportation funding elsewhere?

    Yes, there will be a reduction in taxes. Unfortunately the politicians always have a way to translate a reduction into "less increase"..

    --
    To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
  4. I'll just hire Sony and... by surfdaddy · · Score: 3, Funny

    use their $sys$gpscloak.

  5. Re:User fees are the way to go by grumpyman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, who the hell flushed the toilet twice at city hall yesterday??? Oops... it's the mayor.

  6. Sweet! by Quixadhal · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm gonna love seeing my insurance rates go down when they see that my car spends 99.99% of its time sitting in my garage. Now, all I need to do is rig up an AC adapter to power that new GPS chip I yanked from the car and the savings will start rolling in!

  7. Re:User fees are the way to go by quantum+bit · · Score: 2, Funny

    e.g. if you go into othe city in rush hour, you pay more than if you go in at 3 am, or if you go on a trip on a rural backroad.

    Geez, talk about adding insult to injury. Not only do you have to put up with getting stuck in traffic, but you have to pay more for the pleasure of it?