California poised to implement first electronic license plates

[onehandle]

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.

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 bill’s language says that for now, the program would be limited to a “pilot program” set to be completed no later than January 1, 2017. “The pilot program shall be limited to no more than 0.5 percent of registered vehicles for the purpose of road testing and evaluation,” the bill states.

Other states, including South Carolina and New Jersey, also have similar bills in progress. A South Carolina company, Compliance Innovations, did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment. That company has been leading the charge in the Palmetto State to implement electronic license plates.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/09/california-poised-to-implement-nations-first-electronic-license-plate-program

Here we go...

[NightWatcher]

1. That sounds cheaper than a piece of metal and a sticker

Tags last 5-10 years and other than that they send a sticker every year.

Which rep has interest in a high tech firm that would be doing this?

A 2$ piece of metal and a sticker vs scanners, transmitters, computer chips......

[Auggie]

2. Could it monitor vehicle location?

[onehandle]

3. Absolutely. nt

[Auggie]

5. Mmmm ... then in one regard, it might make it easier to keep chronic drunk drivers off the road,

or aid in their apprehension.

But I still hate it. It opens a door to even wider privacy invasions.

[NYC_SKP]

4. It's a fine idea but we can't afford more of this shit, smog tests and repairs are quite enough.

Let's pour some fucking money into public transportation and high speed rail.

Poor working people have to have cars to get to work, buy gas, maintain the car, keep it smogged, and now one more thing to maintain/install, etc., that won't bother rich people but will be a burden on the little guy.

Sometimes there's just too much technology.

[Duer 157099]

6. ...and I doubt it will EVER get hacked

dumb dumb dumb

[pinboy3niner]

7. Well...

[hunter]

8. It's the 21st century, damn it! Why do I still need a car???

The automobile age can't end too soon for me.

I want neighborhood markets I can walk to, and delivery for everything else. If the big box stores want me as a customer they should send out cars (preferably electric) to pick me up and take me home again, sending a text to my cellphone when they get to my front door. Public transportation should be taking me anywhere I want to go, door to door service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, routes all optimized by computer each way. No automobile road or highway should ever be more than two lanes in either direction. I should be able to ride my bicycle safely anywhere.

I want to meet 90 year old grandmas and grandpas riding electric tricycles on wide open bike lanes, and alternatively enabled people walking with me to the corner pub on their electric legs.

Why can't I have a future like that? I'm sick of this automobile shit, riding around with my identity plastered to my butt flashing "expired" when my car won't pass the smog test because of some glitch in it's $800 computer that does not affect the normal operation of the car in any way.

Automobiles are a means of fascist control. We've been duped. They were never about "freedom" at all.