California Legislature Approves Trial Program For Electronic Plates

Do you worry that the widespread use of plate-scanning cameras might be used in ways that violate your privacy ? Now you can ratchet your worry level up a bit: Ars Technica reports that "This week, the California State Senate approved a bill that would create the nation’s first electronic license plate. Having already passed the state’s assembly, the bill now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) for his signature." From the article: "The idea is that rather than have a static piece of printed metal adorned with stickers to display proper registration, the plate would be a screen that could wirelessly (likely over a mobile data network) receive updates from a central server to display that same information. In an example shown by a South Carolina vendor, messages such as 'STOLEN,' 'EXPIRED,' or something similar could also be displayed on a license plate. ... The state senator who introduced the bill, Sen. Ben Hueso, a Democrat who represents San Diego, did not respond to Ars' multiple requests for an interview or comment. It still remains unclear as to exactly why this bill was proposed and what its objectives are. The precise technical details of the program are similarly unclear, as is how long plate information would be retained and who would have access to it."

Comments

Re:A screen

[durrr]

Don't forget the part where everyones plates show gay pornography gifs after some 14 year old hacks their system.

Brilliant

[Bill Dimm]

So, when there is a hit-and-run accident the witnesses will be telling the police to hunt for the car with license plate number "EXPIRED"?

Re:A screen

[K. S. Kyosuke]

You don't think thieves would get around that by stealing other cars' license plates and swapping the plate/screen of the stolen car with other non-stolen vehicles?

Isn't that like stealing the PC display on which some information you want is being displayed, instead of just downloading the information into your own machine?

Re:Sigh

[MacDork]

Have you ever tried to read an LCD screen in sunlight? This is the best privacy idea evar! Thanks moron legislators from California.

CNSFSNP tag needed

[wolvesofthenight]

CNSFSNP: Complex Non-Solution For Simple Non-Problem

Admittedly, idiot is often, but not always, an appropriate alternative term.

Oh it's very clear

[WillyWanker]

Someone in the legislature has ties and is getting kickbacks from the company that makes the technology, so they have a huge financial incentive to push thru this blatantly-invasive technology that will ultimately cost the taxpayers millions of dollars and provide virtually zero benefit.

See: red light cameras.

Very clear objectives: follow the money

[ReallyEvilCanine]

It still remains unclear as to exactly why this bill was proposed and what its objectives are.

The objective is to make money for the company which paid into Ben Hueso's campaign fund and which, shocker!!, just happens to make exactly this sort of item or has "key patents" on it. Whenever something smells fishy, follow the money. Just ask yourself, "Who stands to benefit financially from this?" and you'll have your answer.

Re:A screen

[Concerned Onlooker]

Good point. I didn't think about the bright side of all this.

California already has a cheaper system for identifying cars, which is the physical license plate. The California Highway Patrol (and police departments as far as I can tell) already don't car if you are driving around with expired plates (which is already very easy to distinguish) or even if you have plates at all. I see so many cars on a daily basis with nothing but a license plate frame and the dealer logo in it.

I have no doubt that this is really just the entry point for authorities to place a GPS unit in every car.