Connecticut Paves The Way To Track Vehicles Via Mandatory Spy Chips

A lobbyist for the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) industry has convinced Connecticut legislators to consider implanting spy chips on the state's license plates. Last Wednesday, the state Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously to pass a bill asking the Department of Motor Vehicles to create a report on the implementation of RFID for motor vehicle registration by January 1.

Implanting the chips on license plates would enable real-time monitoring of all vehicles by positioning tracking stations at key points throughout the state. The main interest behind the bill is to generate automated ticket for drivers whose vehicle registration, emissions or insurance certification may have lapsed for a day or two. RFID makes photo enforcement systems far more accurate. Instead of having optical character recognition software identify vehicles from a picture of a license plate -- often guessing when images are unclear -- the chips would broadcast vehicle identity to nearby stations under all weather conditions.

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MeanVulcan - 3/19/2012 3:05:36 PM

+3 Boost

CT a Socialist Retrograde State.

ThierryHenry14 - 3/19/2012 4:26:09 PM

0 Boost

I'm under the umbrella that if you have nothing to hide, then why does it matter that the DMV wants to track you?

LeifAW - 3/19/2012 8:23:22 PM

+1 Boost

<<I'm under the umbrella that if you have nothing to hide, then why does it matter that the DMV wants to track you? >>
It's this sort of attitude that many people took in regard to red light cameras. "Hey, I didn't have a problem with red light cameras. Don't run red lights." Then it comes out that many towns were shortening the duration of the yellow light so as to cause more people to run the red light and thereby generating more revenue. The towns also didn't tell you that the camera manufacturers also got a cut of the money. Lastly they didn't tell you that, while T-bone accidents declined at the intersections with red-light cameras, rear-end accidents increased almost the same amnount as people would slam on the brakes at the intersections with the camera.
I can see all sort of abuse with the tracking IDs. What's to stop the state from doing simple time/distance calculations on every car and mail out tickets for everyone who exceeds the 55 MPH speed limit. Farfetched? Maybe, but in these cash strapped times, I could see it happening in the name of “safety”.

supermoto - 3/19/2012 9:00:33 PM

+2 Boost

"I'm under the umbrella that if you have nothing to hide, then why does it matter that the DMV wants to track you?" Might as well have an RFID impanted under your skin then.

Let's face it, people break millions of minor laws a day, from jaywalking to not coming to a complete stop. This is just an excuse do downsize police forces and maximize revenues. It has nothing to do with safety.