Posted on 08/09/2010 8:21:22 PM PDT by jjw
Lawmakers are considering controversial new legislation this week that would allow vehicles to be equipped with dashboard cameras to record the moments leading up to accidents.
The proposed law, AB1942, would promote safer driving habits and reduce accidents by permitting video recorders to be installed on the windshield.
The bill currently allows devices to record video, audio, how fast and which direction the vehicle is traveling, a history of where your car has been, steering and brake performance and seat belt usage.
The devices would record in a continuous loop and would only save information if there is unusual vehicle motion or a crash. They could also be capable of transmitting the information to a central control center the moment of the accident.
Proponents say there are enough safety measures to avoid an invasion of privacy, but others call the proposal a huge overreach of government power.
"Having devices like that, I think infringes on our privacy," said Patricia Lewis. "We have less of that as it is."
The American Civil Liberties Union said they are not opposed to the bill, but have a number of issues they would like to see addressed, including making sure the video monitor is the property of the car owner and ensuring the technology has an on-and-off switch.
I just bought one of these cameras explicitly for this purpose. There’s too many jerks on the road, and if they cause an accident, they’ll just lie their way out of it.
http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/car-security-surveillance-system.html?internalsearch-redirect
Imagine all of the dogging that will be recorded. For those of you who don’t know-—”dogging” is British slang for hooking up in a car!
Don’t worry. They won’t save the data. Just like the TSA doesn’t save the full body scans. Oh, wait...
My Grand Cherokee also already has a camera mounted in the rear view mirror and facing forward. It’s connected to a computer that uses it to recognize headlights and tail lights to adjust the brightness of my headlights and turn the high beams on and off.
http://www.gentex.com/wn_smartbeam.html
You can turn the system off if you want.
I think when you elect your state “overlords” you should implant a transmitter in their head so you can monitor them from your computer. LOL
That is the saddest part. We are so monitored and we acquiesce
I believe the passage of such legislation would improve the safety of the electorate with regard to future votes of their representatives.
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