California Wants To Put E-Ads On License Plates

techmuse writes "The San Jose Mercury News reports that the California state legislature wants to put electronic advertising on license plates. The plate would display standard plate information when the car is moving, but would also display ads when the car is stopped for more than 4 seconds (say, at a red light). Not distracting or annoying at all! 'The bill has received no formal opposition. It passed unanimously through the Senate last month and is scheduled to be heard Monday by the Assembly Transportation Committee.'"

Comments

Really?

[an00bis]

You stay classy California.

Re:Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

I can see everybody loving having a flashing ad for "male enhancement" products on their plates at the stop lights

Re:Really?

[thoughtspace]

What? Honk if you're horny?

Re:Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

You stay classy California.

Yep. Remember -- we're the state whose idiot voters a few years back allowed collection of DNA simply on arrest, not to wait for conviction or even indictment.

IIRC, there was a suit many years back that went as far as the SC. Someone had a license plate like "Idaho -- Famous Potatoes" or "Utah -- Skiing Wonderland". He taped over the ad, contesting that he had no obligation to engage in unwilling, unpaid advertiser for the state. He also contended that his action in no way detracted from the plate's primary function of uniquely identifying his vehicle or demonstrating current registration status. I believe the SC upheld his position. (Bet it didn't stop the bastard cops form harassing him "on good faith because the decision wasn't sufficiently promulgated.)

I'll also bet this will be OKed by the courts, as they've been thoroughly co-opted by business interests over the years.

Next issue -- how slow do you have to be going for the shit to appear? It may even contribute to traffic safety if drivers slow down well in advance and creep forward slowly, instead of coming quickly up to the car ahead and stopping at the last minute. If so, it would sure change my driving habits.OTOH, I'd also spend a decent time working out a simple accelerometer-controlled circuit to disconnect the son of a bitch while stopped. The components have to be incredibly cheap these days.

It may also add to the fun if other states enact laws saying that any plate driving through the state maintain a constant display of the license number only. Of course the plate will likely, in the end, be required to display the number for the benefit of the prick cops' drive-by plate scanners. Fucking bastards.

Re:Really?

[MalHavoc]

It'll be great when a car gets pulled over for speeding and the cop calls in the license plate.
"Roger, I need a check on a plate. California plate Papa-Three-November-One-Sierra. Wait no, scratch that. He rolled forward a bit. New plate number Charlie-One-Alpha-One-Sierra."

Re:Really?

[Bill_the_Engineer]

wear those garish advertisement suits (like the Nascar idiots).

Idiots? They make more money than we do and all they have to do is drive fast and turn left. Who's the bigger idiot?

Re:Really?

[maxwell demon]

"OK, the plate seems to be: Victor-India-Alpha-Golf-Romeo-Alpha."

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[jhoegl]

So... when the cop pulls you over your real number will be displayed... GENIUS!

Lower fees?

[Dr_Banzai]

Perhaps accepting the advertising could result in lower license or insurance fees.

Crashes?

[the1337g33k]

What if it gets the Blue Screen of Death?

Re:Crashes?

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

What if it gets the Blue Screen of Death?

Blue screens are almost always a driver problem.

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[Statecraftsman]

Possible ad you may see on your license plate in the future:

Jailbreak your license plate. $19.95. Text 'Plate' to 55555 and follow this car for 60 seconds.

How about Tetris?

[martin-boundary]

I don't think electronic ads would be that interesting on license plates, but how about a game of Tetris? The car behind could honk once to rotate left, and honk twice to rotate right. This could really reduce boredom in traffic jams!

Re:How about Tetris?

[Anonymous Coward]

How would you move the piece left/right? With your turn signals? :p

Re:How about Tetris?

[BluBrick]

Tetris is a great idea ! However, I propose the following controls:
Turn signals: Move piece left and right
Flash high beam: Rotate piece
Honk horn: Drop piece

Yes, that would help drivers relax in a stressful traffic jam! Traffic tetris - Brilliant!

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[larry bagina]

I support team goatse.

sweet

[Anonymous Coward]

I always wanted top Rickroll people at stop lights

Re:pulled over?

[deniable]

"No, I didn't get to choose the bacon ad."

Keyboard?

[lopaka1998]

What a wonderful idea - especially the way California drivers drive... All they need to do is add a keyboard for the driver. You can text the person in front of you or behind you... imagine the possibilities...

"Hey, you, assh*** where the f**k did you learn to drive?!!!"

No more need to use the horn.

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[Eternal Vigilance]

"Don't jizz on me"?

Sounds like the Gadsden Flag of the sexual revolution.

"Wank Free Or Die"

Re:Driving is a privilege,

[Stooshie]

Unless "Honk" is the product. :-)

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[thrawn_aj]

If the US should ever build the equivalent of the Autobahn, and decide not to post any speed limit at all, I will be among the first to drive it. :^)

I'd wait a year for the loons to Darwin themselves and then just go out and .... and .... make love to it. Like I said in a previous post, take away limits that people have lived under all their lives and the first expression of that newfound freedom is likely to be ... unwise.

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[thrawn_aj]

So I can just imagine what the first hacker is going to draw on a plate.

8008135 ?

Re:Pb vs U

[tsotha]

Now that's a good idea. That way if you ever run across an armored pheasant you'll still knock that sucker down. And since DU is pyrophoric by the time you get there he'll be cooked, too.

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[hedwards]

I thought that was "Wank Free or Die Hard."

Re:Green technology

[heritage727]

Yes, and what do the powered license plates display when they break?

The blue license plate of death?

How will the owner of the vehicle get compensated?

[loudheart]

California gets 30% and owner gets 70% of the ad revenue?

broken

[jDeepbeep]

what do the powered license plates display when they break?

PC_LOAD_AD

Re:Programmable Number Plates

[Bill_the_Engineer]

Actually that makes sense. Who's better to make these license plates? A little over qualified... perhaps.