Digital License Plates Are Now Allowed in Michigan (theverge.com)

Digital license plates are now allowed in Michigan thanks to a new state law. It will join California and Arizona as one of the few states in the US that allow digital license plates, allowing drivers to register their cars electronically and eschew old-school metal plates. From a report: To be clear, digital license plates consist of displays covered in glass that are mounted onto a frame. They come with their own computer chips and wireless communication systems. Some of the benefits of using digital licenses versus old metal ones are the ability to display Amber alerts or stolen vehicle messages when needed, but they could also make it easier to digitally renew license plates over the years. That comes at a price, though. Currently, they cost $499 for a basic version, and $799 for a premium version that features a GPS navigation add-on.

Comments

Digital License plates are another tracking method

[Puls4r]

I have yet to see a single coherent argument for digital license plates. They cost a ton, have wireless (means they can be hacked), batteries will die....just so many many reasons. They are totally WORTHLESS for displaying amber alerts. Whichever idiot came up with that should be shitcanned now. You can't read license plates half the time right now because of dirt or covers or - reasons. Now you're what - going to obscur my license plate number and flash different colors? And you think the guy behind me is going to give a shit? Or read it?

I could go on and on. But pretty much everyone agrees this is a horrible idea that has it's roots in yet another way to track people.

renew?

[houghi]

In Belgium you get your license plate once. You take them with you when you get a new car. When you do not need them, you bring em back i.e. drop them off at the post office.

It is just there, so they can check the database. Plenty are 20+ years old. No need to recharge the batteries.

Tracking

[sjbe]

Primary use is for tracking.

Presumably but I don't seem much reason to buy one for that since it doesn't benefit me in the slightest. My phone doing it is bad enough already.

Some countries are considering it to assess road taxes.

Which would be idiotic. Tax fuel (gasoline, diesel, and/or electricity) at appropriate levels and you accomplish the sensible goal of taxing in close accordance with utilization. The bigger the vehicle and the more someone drives the more fuel they will use. Trying to track mileage via a plate is idiotic.

The other reason is to enrich government and its cronies.

Probably closer to the truth.

Re:Digital License plates are another tracking met

[chuckugly]

So all we have to do is get all the kiddie fiddlers to buy $500 plates. Well on second thought, brilliant!

You can see it coming

[SuperKendall]

So all we have to do is get all the kiddie fiddlers to buy $500 plates.

So the next obvious step is to mandate all sex offenders registering in the state, must in fact buy these plates... who would vote against that?

Then from there you do felons, then from there anyone who gets arrested for any reason, then from there everyone.

You can see it coming...