Big Brother hiding inside cars’ airbags (black boxes Goverment is Watching you)

Dayton Daily News ^ | 08.22.2002 | Cathy Mong

[Mixer]

I know this is off topic for this thread but do not pay for EZ Pass either. That is the biggest example of Big Broher I can think of.

[Mixer]

Broher = Brother

[Kaslin]

What is EZ Pass?

[DoughtyOne]

I can think of some objections I'd have with eazy pass. Tell us what yours are. You may have keyed in on something I haven't.

[ReaganIsRight]

EZ Pass is an RF tag system administered out of Seacaucus, NJ that allows you to drive through toll booths without stopping and they give you a discount to boot.

Now fast forward to Sep or so 2002, they have begun ticketing drivers for speeding through toll booths, added a monthly charge, and may require a deposit.

Mine went back last month, and I still have to go inquire about the $13.45 left in my account. I told them to cut a check or refund my credit card, whichever was easier for them. So far what's easiest has been to keep the bucks.

[GaltMeister]

They should also put in a small voice recorder so they can hear wether or not the driver said "hold muh beer"

[LurkerNoMore!]

The car's black box also told police that the men were not wearing seatbelts

How long will it be before that SDM tells police you had the radio up too loud?

I really hate this stuff.

[ExSoldier]

"They should also put in a small voice recorder.... " I was reading about this device in Popular Science magazine and one of the future improvements mentioned is a cockpit voice recorder which would become a part of the anti-terror government database.

[FormerLurker]

How long will it be before that SDM tells police you had the radio up too loud?

Not only that, but if they can see how fast you were going AFTER a crash, what's to stop them from seeing how fast you're going at any time they'd like to check?

For instance, they could rig the unit into a radio system similar to the ones GM calls the "OnStar" system. If you go over the speed limit, the damn thing could dial out and alert the "boys in blue" that you're going a bit fast. In fact, with the onboard GPS they could even see exactly where you were and send you a ticket in the mail with the date, time, location, and speed that you were traveling in excess of the posted limit.

Isn't technology great? :(

[MJY1288]

I just bought a 2002 Monte Carlo SS that came with "On Star". A service that connects me to a live advisor through a cell phone built into my radio. This service works with GPS that can unlock your car if you lock the keys in it. If my cars computer detects a problem with the ignition system or the any of the sensors that monitors the fuel delivery system and exhaust system I can push a button and ask the "On-Star" advisor what the problem is and that person can direct me to the nearest Chevrolet dealer. It will also call me on the cars built in phone in the case of an Air Bag deployment and ask if I need emergency medical services, it will then relay the location of my car to the nearest ambulance service along with notifying the nearest hospitol

This "On-Star" system can find my car if it's stolen and not only tell the police where it is, but also disable the car. This system can also download what they call "Units" to my built in cell phone. "Units" are minutes you pre-pay for with a credit card and they can be applied to your cars phone while you are driving. I would imagine a prosecutor or the federal government could get a court order to force "On-Star" to hand over any info they have on my car along with where it has been and who I called on the built in cell phone. I'm not sure if I like this kind of help :-)

[MJY1288]

BTW, I will make sure my payments are on time :-)

[Howie]

...and make sure to stay out of the back seat, wink-wink!

[Syncro]

I have this on-star thingie in my car, and last winter when we were going up skiing and snowboarding, I contacted them for information.. When we were through talking, they said good bye Mr. Syncro have a nice drive up Hwy 49 22 miles from Kirkwood.

LOL they know where my car is at all times, I can disable it if I want to though.

[Tennessee_Bob]

For instance, they could rig the unit into a radio system similar to the ones GM calls the "OnStar" system.

DING DING DING! You win!

There was a lawsuit a few years back to keep OnStar data private - seems that they wanted to access pre-crash data to determine rate of travel and direction that is logged prior to the accident. The data was kept private.

[Syncro]

The built in cell phone is cool, you can program it to call just by saying the persons name...

[MJY1288]

Thanks for that info, I didnt know that this was already challenged in court. Thank God it was heard in a court other than the Ninth Circuit :-)

[RikaStrom]

The On-Star system was recently used by a rental car company to add fees to a person who had rented a car. You see, the system told the rental agency that the person driving the car had been speeding, so the agency taked on a speeding fine to the tune of $200 or so dollars... no cops required.

I have no use for On-Star.

[LurkerNoMore!]

Hon, alot of people make it their business to know where you are at all times
:-)

[MJY1288]

I love the phone, just hit the white button and say "Call" it responds "Nametag Please" and I give it the name and it's hands free talking and in stereo. Not to mention it's cheaper than a regular cell phone, but it can't be carried with you. I personally like the system, And I like it even more now that I know it's been ruled that the info must be kept private :-).... Go "On Star"