License plates scanned for uninsured motorists

[d-usa]

The continuing question with these systems is the legality of outsourcing police functions to private companies. This is currently being worked out in court I think.

[rezman]

Two thoughts on this;

1. I hate big brother watching and possibly tracking even though it's in our (insured folks) best interest....

I'm certainly not one of those tin foil hat guys, but we're already being tracked. Anyone with a cell phone, especially a smart phone. Anyone with an OnStar or similar service on their vehicle. Anyone who uses turnpike pre-passes, or even pays cash on a turnpike for that matter. Anyone with a credit card or bank card or who makes electronic purchases, etc. ... just as only a couple examples..... our movements and patterns can all be laid out. Much of this is already being used for marketing and tracking criminal activity, but it is all being stored in databases and it is only a matter of time before it is used for more sinister purposes.

[BBatesokc]

I'm certainly not one of those tin foil hat guys, but we're already being tracked. Anyone with a cell phone, especially a smart phone. Anyone with an OnStar or similar service on their vehicle. Anyone who uses turnpike pre-passes, or even pays cash on a turnpike for that matter. Anyone with a credit card or bank card or who makes electronic purchases, etc. ... just as only a couple examples..... our movements and patterns can all be laid out. Much of this is already being used for marketing and tracking criminal activity, but it is all being stored in databases and it is only a matter of time before it is used for more sinister purposes.

The thing is, with so many of the traditional ways for the government to track citizens, you at least had the requirement of obtaining a warrant/subpoena; cell phones, bank records, and often there is a requirement that the gov't inform the person whose information was obtained (after the fact).

These tag scanners and the fact law enforcement isn't even the primary user of these tools and their monetized public accessibility should be concerning to everyone (tinfoil and sans-tinfoil hat alike).

[GaryOKC6]

I am in favor of this. We have to try something different to get people to carry insurance. I have had 2 cars totaled in the last seven years by people without insurance. My insurance had to fit the bill for my car. This is why our rates are so high.

[Pete]

Yep, had one car totalled and another badly damaged by uninsured motorists.

There are tons of them out there and they are usually irresponsible drivers as well.

[TheTravellers]

A1: Just remember, this is being sold to us solely as a tool for insurance compliance, but in reality has a much further reach.

A2: If these are stationary cameras, then the person would have to continually alter their driving route to try and avoid getting routine tickets every time their monthly insurance lapsed. Would probably be cheaper to simply carry minimum coverage.

According to the article, the cameras are mobile.

[BBatesokc]

According to the article, the cameras are mobile.

The article I read says mobile and fixed.

[stile99]

I'm in a slightly cynical mood, and I want to get it out of my system before tomorrow, so you guys get to have this.

So allegedly, the reason behind this is not a blatant cashgrab, but to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

Yeah. The same story was given for the sudden license plate change.

So...what happens when this works (hahahahahahahahahahaha! (sorry, that was the cynical part getting out of my system)) and the number of uninsured drivers is drastically reduced? Does this company have a minimum per year written into their contract? What will the district attorneys do when the "millions of dollars in citation revenue a year" they are expecting from this never materializes? And of course, I still want to know what the plan is when this subsidiary of a foreign company is wrong. The article says when the company is wrong, all you have to do is show proof you were insured at the time. That's pretty easy to obtain, but how difficult will it be to submit, and how much will the filing fee for submission cost?

OK, most of it is out, but I have just a little bit left, so I'll close on one final word. Although the article claims the database is secure, and the information is deleted once it is determined the scanned plate does indeed have insurance, that final word is...

Equifax.

[FighttheGoodFight]

I'm in a slightly cynical mood, and I want to get it out of my system before tomorrow, so you guys get to have this.

So allegedly, the reason behind this is not a blatant cashgrab, but to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

Yeah. The same story was given for the sudden license plate change.

So...what happens when this works (hahahahahahahahahahaha! (sorry, that was the cynical part getting out of my system)) and the number of uninsured drivers is drastically reduced? Does this company have a minimum per year written into their contract? What will the district attorneys do when the "millions of dollars in citation revenue a year" they are expecting from this never materializes? And of course, I still want to know what the plan is when this subsidiary of a foreign company is wrong. The article says when the company is wrong, all you have to do is show proof you were insured at the time. That's pretty easy to obtain, but how difficult will it be to submit, and how much will the filing fee for submission cost?

OK, most of it is out, but I have just a little bit left, so I'll close on one final word. Although the article claims the database is secure, and the information is deleted once it is determined the scanned plate does indeed have insurance, that final word is...

Equifax.

I understand the cynicism. But I do have to say if you think any of your information is secure anywhere you are naive. The internet already has all your information as well as foreign governments as well as our own.

[mblues]

Well here is why I am skeptical - the state already has mechanisms in place to match tags with insurance data provided by the insurance companies. The state dictated this to the companies several years back (this is also how the camera company will use the data from cameras). So, if that data is available today, why is the state not just running reports and sending these same letters out to the violators and eliminate the middle man? Most if not all of the roadblocks (no pun intended) such as wrong or no address, person no longer owns vehicle etc. will be there no matter who is managing this program.

I just feel this is a stepping stone to the next level of ticketing from the state...no really worried about tracking as they know where we are at almost all times.

[stile99]

It's not really illegal to just not have insurance. If your car just sits in the driveway taking up space, there's a checkbox on your tag renewal that says "I promise, I don't drive this car". The illegal act is driving without insurance. So just scanning a database of tags and matching that with a database of insurance and then sending a ticket to the ones who don't match won't work. The cameras are to catch them in the act of driving.

[OKCRT]

So I assume that Insurance co's will now be forced to lower our premiums since these cameras are to force people to either get insurance or stay off the road. If this will cut our premiums by at least 25% then I am for it. If not,they are not doing me a bit of good.

[u50254082]

I'm in a slightly cynical mood, and I want to get it out of my system before tomorrow, so you guys get to have this.

So allegedly, the reason behind this is not a blatant cashgrab, but to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

Yeah. The same story was given for the sudden license plate change.

So...what happens when this works (hahahahahahahahahahaha! (sorry, that was the cynical part getting out of my system)) and the number of uninsured drivers is drastically reduced? Does this company have a minimum per year written into their contract? What will the district attorneys do when the "millions of dollars in citation revenue a year" they are expecting from this never materializes? And of course, I still want to know what the plan is when this subsidiary of a foreign company is wrong. The article says when the company is wrong, all you have to do is show proof you were insured at the time. That's pretty easy to obtain, but how difficult will it be to submit, and how much will the filing fee for submission cost?

OK, most of it is out, but I have just a little bit left, so I'll close on one final word. Although the article claims the database is secure, and the information is deleted once it is determined the scanned plate does indeed have insurance, that final word is...

Equifax.

I think we can freely say this is meant to bring in money. The state doesn't have any money and that is public info. Whether or not people who cheap out on insurance will actually open their mail and or pay random $184 fines is another story. Some people just suck at rules and procedures and payments...it's why there is an entire industry that does bill collections.

At most this plate reader system is designed to remind honest people to be honest if they had a lapse in thinking and forgot to renew the plate or the insurance.

I was at a tag agency this past year when a lady walked in to renew her registration and the clerk had to point out that she had been driving for a YEAR on expired plates. (she mixed up the month and year stickers supposedly) Anyway she got on a big rant about how she couldn't afford to pay the late fines and whatever and stormed out without renewing. She could still be out there driving on expired tags and nobody can do anything about it. Is she going to pay a $184 fine when she couldn't even pay the late fee at the tag agency? Ha.