[Revelation 911]

welcome to amerika - This is a little too instrusive for me - any good forensics geek could reconstruct this.

On-star bugs me too - but then again , I hear voices

[bigfootbob]

The auto rags have been screaming about this for years. They've reported story after story about the abuses gleaned from this device by rental/lease companies and the insurance industry. Can mandatory human implants be far behind?

[nightdriver]

"But it also holds a wealth of information that can be used in accident reconstructions, engine speed, gas pedal pressure, brakes, and vehicle speed."

I refuse to drive a car with a "tattle-tale" like that.

Just wait until all cars are REQUIRED to not only have these, but to have a receiver-transmitter on the back so that a cop can druve up behind you and point his gun at it and find out where you've been and how many laws you have broken. Everything from seat belts to complete stops at stop signs. If your transmitter doesn't work, it'll be an immediate arrest for felony.

You heard it from me first.

[WKB]

This is where the original "hold my beer and watch this came from.
In redneck 4 whell drive fatal accidents it was their last words 99% of the time.

[Constitution Day]

OBD III

[dark_lord]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, if a warrant is issued based on evidence of a crime (e.g. high speed accident, people killed) and the data is extracted after the fact...what is the big deal? The key would be sufficient evidence of a crime, and a warrant being issued for the search. Vaccuuming electronic data as part of a search is legitimate.

On the other hand, making it a standard practice to extract the data would, I think, be in violation of the 4th amendment. After all, if it is your car, then it is your data and they don't have a right to copy it. I think without a warrant the data could be thrown out in court because it illegally obtained -- at the minimum, they are violating your intellectual property because you own the data (generated by you, using your own property, ergo you own it.)

[ElkGroveDan]

I think some electronics geek could create a huge market for an interface device that simply shows and/or wipes the data in the box.

As a guy who has actually ahd black helicopters circle over his house :-) I would buy one.

I'm sure you could devise something that re-routes the line through one of those handy quick-release plugs that are likely connected. Plug the interface into your laptop and PRESTO any data you want, or simply press an ERASE button any time you want.

[Jack of all Trades]

The two cases cited are not exactly poster children for a digital privacy campaign. The airbag issue is one that I roll around in my mind quite often. I don't very much like having an explosive device located in my steering wheel that is capable of breaking my arms or neck.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Since this information is used to convict criminals, I have no problem with it... It's in the realm of measuring skid marks and taking photos of a crime scene. If you commit a crime in a car, the information stored on the computers are free game... and should be.

[AmericaUnited]

I have an OBD unit that uses software on a PC for the data collection,mangement, and control. It's easy to reset "ALL" data.

[AmericaUnited]

People should be more concerned with their cell phones that record where they have been ( within a mile or two ) permanently!

[Mamzelle]

This will make lawsuits against car mfgers harder to win.

[oceanview]

the european car companies, notably BMW, will never go for this unless mandated. and once they are mandated, that your cue to buy the best car you can afford and keep it until you die. the trial lawyers want this kind of stuff, and they will get it for sure.

[liberalnot]

i just bought a new 2003 pickup, so i imagine that i have this.

[longtermmemmory]

bump

[follow the money]

PoliceState