Would You Pay $700, Plus a Monthly Fee, For a Digital License Plate? (arstechnica.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: It's been a few weeks now since a Bay Area startup put a digital license plate on my car. So far, nobody seems to have noticed. I haven't yet been pulled aside by police or civilians asking what it is. At first glance, this electronic device looks exactly like a traditional, stamped metal license plate. The new digital plate has the same scripted CALIFORNIA icon up top and uses the exact same size and font to show the numbers and letters. But in actuality, what I have is an "Rplate," a $700 plate-sized Kindle-like screen on the back of my car -- high-contrast grayscale e-ink and all. The device also contains an RFID and GPS chip that allow me to see where my car is at any given moment, to voluntarily track my trips, and to even optionally display DMV-approved customized messages in a small font below the plate number itself.

Were I an actual paying customer, I'd be paying $7 per month in a service fee, too, mostly to offset the data connection to Verizon. The one-time $700 price tag alone is a bit high for me. To be clear, I have a loaner model, and by the time this story comes out, I'll soon be sending the plate back to the company, Reviver. The model I've been using is one of the first 1,000 such plates that are legally out on California roads right now. Still, after my experience of a few weeks, there's no clear and compelling case to be made as to why most of us non-rich individuals need this fancy plate. Also, there are still unanswered questions about its security and what it means to voluntarily hand over so much personal location data to a single company.

Comments

Would I?

[charliemerritt03]

NO.
Hell No.
Like *Pay ME* to wear it. You know - like like.

Re:Would I?

[Askmum]

And have to replace it every year because of rock damage? And to hear that it was hacked after another so I need to replace it for an updated secure version? All at my cost of course?

How can you even think of offering this to customers. You must think we are really stupid.

Approved Messages: Let's get started ...

[fahrbot-bot]

... optionally display DMV-approved customized messages in a small font below the plate number itself.

"Sucker on board."

Maybe on an Aston Martin...

[bosef1]

I would get one of these, if it let switch between other license plates that weren't registered in my name.

Re: Maybe on an Aston Martin...

[Malc]

All good points, but ummm, why would you want that in the license plate? Put this inside the vehicle where itâ(TM)s secure, isnâ(TM)t exposed to the elements and wonâ(TM)t have accidental knocks. A digital screen is great if you need to change the contents, but s license plate never changes, so whatâ(TM)s the point?

Re:I don't understand

[ark1]

Let me see - privilege of getting your data collected, the chance of it failing so that you have no licence plate. What happens if you don't pay the monthly fee? Would they kill it in the middle of a ride?

Re: Well you did buy an Amazon Echo & iPhone.

[kilfarsnar]

What's changed since '75 ?

Immigration.

You think immigration is the only think to have changed since 1975? I'm not even sure that's true. Has immigration changed since 1975? I can't be bothered to find out. But the fact that you jump to that idea says a lot about you.

Don't let fear control you. Look for ways you can make positive changes in your life to bring you more happiness or satisfaction. There have been and always will be immigrants. They are not your problem. Even if we closed all the borders and didn't let anyone in, your life would be largely the same. That's because your problem is your own mentality and outlook. But that's good news! You can change your outlook and see things differently if you choose to. You can't really do much about immigrants, except bitch about them on the Internet. So focus on yourself and what you are thinking and feeling. Any change in your life starts with you.