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Is Your GPS Naive?

mi writes "Many GPS devices today will try to scan the FM bands for traffic advisories in the area to display on their screens. The signals, however, are neither authenticated nor encrypted, and one can — with commonly available electronics — construct a device to broadcast bogus advisories. Possible codes range from "bullfight ahead" to "terrorist attack"..."

2 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Social hack - use "bullfight" for "speed trap". by icebrain · · Score: 0, Troll

    So unreasonably slow speed limits should be tolerated just because, well, some bureaucrat decided on some number? Because a town didn't want to have to fund its own operations, but wanted to catch revenue from out-of-state drivers instead?

    We should put up with municipalities publicly announcing that they've lowered every speed limit in town because they were in a funding crunch? Multiple speed limit changes over short distances in order to catch people? Look, if the purpose of a speed limit was really to encourage safety, towns wouldn't be receiving income from the tickets. Cops wouldn't have to hide to catch people. There wouldn't be stupid restrictions like "speed limits must be X within Y miles of any town"; the limits would actually be set by the maximum safe speed for that road--not just some arbitrary number designed to raise revenue.

    I've seen straight, flat, open 4-lane roads with speed limits of 40, in the middle of nowhere. No houses, no businesses, nothing. No logical reason, AT ALL, for that low of a speed limit... except for revenue generation. There are towns in Georgia where nearly half of their revenue comes from traffic fines.

    If people should obey the law, the law first has to be fair and reasonable. It may be a bit of an extreme example, but should someone go along with "Jim Crow" laws (racial segregation laws, for those outside the US) just because, well, it's the law?

    I'll obey the speed limit when the speed limit is reasonable, and the police don't enforce them just to raise revenue. Until then, fuck 'em.

    --
    The meek may inherit the earth, but the strong shall take the stars.
  2. Re:Social hack - use "bullfight" for "speed trap". by drsquare · · Score: 0, Troll

    You're joking right? Most speed limits are set nationally anyway, and the government is controller by car-hating lefties.