Posted on 10/09/2007 8:08:42 PM PDT by Eyes Unclouded
It will not stop the thieves from trying .
All of the new GM vehicles have built in anti-theft systems already , so the thieves cannot start the vehicle unless they have the proper transponder keys .
If thieves are driving the vehicle , chances are that the owner left the keys in the ignition or stole them from the owner .
They usually give discounts for anti-theft features .
I know it would need work. At least it’s a car that you can actually work on!
Mrs Bear and I have managed on one car. If I assume First Sergeant duty (which is a possiblity) we will have to have two. It would strictly be for local runs.
For those who still bother to steal GM vehicles, this will be a signal to avoid them, except as chop-shop bait. When the entire vehicle quickly disappears into the parts bins, kind of difficult to track it down with GPS or this latest whiz-bang.
But, why bother to steal a GM car when you can grab a Honda, BMW, or Toyota? Inefficient use of time.
Great idea! Since everything on a modern car is programmed through the computer, it shouldn’t be too hard to tell the computer to speed-limt the vehicle to 15 MPH. I like the McGruff-like voice telling the thief to pull over too.
We have Onstar in our Saturn Ion, and have never used it, but we do like the security of knowing it’s there as we travel quite a bit in the car.
Can OnStar not be disabled?
mark for later
My understanding is that you can choose not to pay for it and no longer “have” the service; but if GM or whomever is influencing GM wants to turn it back on without telling you they can. You’d have to physically remove it from the vehicle to prevent this from happening, or at least sever the wires connecting the antenna to the on-board computer.
GM taking a page from Bill Gates: who needs to sell the computers, just sell the OS for all of them.
That is the way to riches and away from the UAW!
(Oh sorry. All of the computers except for the 4 or 5% running an Apple OS. Let's just hope GM doesn't “brick” their cars if owners decide to change their oil at a jiffy lube.)
No silly, no cop would need to come along. GM could just send a screen shot of your speedometer and picture of your face (cmos chip behind the speedometer, and you would get the summons in the mail.
Guilty as charged, the judge would say.
Oh, and if an officer wants they can (and have done) read the CCM in the car for your speed, steering, and braking if you are in an accident.
Again, guilty as charged.
Big brother is not coming, he is with you every time you turn on your car
Worse, if you have a security system in your house and are late with your real estate tax.... well you need to pay to get in.
From what I know and the article says user features can be turned off. However, the computer module in your car that OnStar is integrated with never goes off.
So actually, no.
We’re talking about criminals, moron - what if they just leave it in the middle of the highway and run off? Is GM going to pay the bills of the first poor schlub to ram into one?
Onstar can be disabled very quickly ,, this catches the stupid thiefs only.
That might be the reason they turn the car’s flashers on. OnStar tells the LEO, “Do you see the subject car’s flashers activated?” That tends to confirm if they have the correct vehicle.
Great publicity for GM and the On Star product, but most chop shops have the cars stripped within a couple of hours, well before the owner knows it’s stolen.
I just figured that since most cops belong to a union that they would demand to write the tickets.Besides,it’s a wonderful opportunity to violate your forth amendment rights.
Before long Onstar could go interact with GPS info,then the last location of the stolen car would be logged in their main computer.It would be great info for divorce lawyers too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.