Brits to get RFID-chipped license plates

engadget.com ^ | Aug 9, 2005, 9:15 AM ET | Barb Dybwad

[teaser]

The British government is preparing to test new high-tech license plates containing microchips capable of transmitting unique vehicle identification numbers and other data to readers more than 300 feet away.

Officials in the United States say they'll be closely watching the British trial as they contemplate initiating their own tests of the plates, which incorporate radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags to make vehicles electronically trackable.

[montag813]

Can't own a gun. Have to get a freakin license to watch TV ($250 per year!), and now Big Tony will track wherever you go? Those poor British souls.

[RobRoy]

I think you meant to reply to bgnn32. 8^>

[Hodar]

Please think before Flaming.

1. Screen cars near each shooting site. The sniper didn't change cars, so his car would have stood out as a candidate, it's a very simple software filter to look for commonality.

2. Your stolen car will drive by a stop light. You don't need to monitor every stop light, but some light, some where is all it takes. The computer simply looks for a RF ID number, and Bingo, we have location and direction.

3. The Readers could be at every 20th traffic light. You do not need every single car, under full coverage. Just getting a single sample is better than nothing.

And I'm not that bright? You can't see anything helpful from this? Think, put some thought into your flames.

[Prime Choice]

Disarmed is security.

Freedom is slavery.

Surveillance is strength.

Orwell was an optimist.

[Hodar]

If I were a Gazelle, I would choose the freedom and danger of the savanna over the comfort and safety of a zoo.

I failed to see where the RFID prevented you from going ANYWHERE. Your same arguement would apply to simply putting a unique number on a license plate, and then publically displaying it. The only difference (and the ONLY difference) is that instead of relying upon an optical device to monitor license plates, we are using RF technologies. So, somehow using RFID is a violation of your 'rights', but publically displaying your license plate isn't?

[Hodar]

Try reading your Constitution...
For your ridiculously naive statements, you may find an answer. To me, you are showing your ignorance!

Please enlighten me. Where does the US Constitution mention anything about license plates, RFID, or Automobiles? Where does it US Consitution mention rights to travel anywhere (either within State lines, or inter-state), in absolute privacy? Simply stated, it doesn't.

And I'm ignorant?

[microgood]

they are tagging thier property, Licence Plates are they proptery of the state not yours.

Who owns the state? We do. The state has no property outside of us. Those license plates are our property.

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

Can someone please read post 8 and set this guy straight about how the government doesnt grant priviliges to the peons under the constitution? I would but im just damn tired of trying to convince the short sighted niave sheeple that big governemt is a bad thing even if the majority of the governemt for now have (R)s next to their name becasue eventually a majority will have (D)s and (s)s next to thier name.So im not even going to bother wasting the skin cells on my fingers that it would take to type out a responce to the guy you guys on my list can have at him though if you want to

[bgnn32]

Every hear of a bus? you do not need a car to survive, a lot of people do not have them.

[microgood]

You do not have the right to drive, you never have had that right, nor are you likely to see the Constitution ammended to get it added to the Bill of Rights.

That is disputable, but what is not is the fact we do have the right to vote. If the government has the funds to do this they have way too much money on their hands and need to give it back to us.

I cannot even imagine how Clinton could use this against his political enemies or how rogue outfits like the BATF would use this. Scary stuff.

[microgood]

I don't see a problem with this, if you don't like it you can walk or take the bus.

You take the bus. I will drive my car and if they put one of these things on my license plate I will destroy it. And then the majority of us will make sure the politicians that implement it are thrown out of office.

Face it, freedom will always eventually triumph over tyranny.

[pageonetoo]

And I'm ignorant?

Apparently...

[WideGlide]

I don't see a problem with this, if you don't like it you can walk or take the bus.

The problem with that logic is that some bureaucrat has already started working on a suppository with microchip for pedestrians and bus riders. Bend over baby!

[Hodar]

I cannot even imagine how Clinton could use this against his political enemies or how rogue outfits like the BATF would use this. Scary stuff.

How? Do you think the gov't will call a press conference because your car was at 12th and Main? I don't know about you, but I can actually READ your plates from quite a distance. Yup, there they are, as big as day ... legible and readable from 300 feet away. So, how does letting a scanner read that your car filled up at 7-11 on 6th Avenue impact your rights? Anyone who wants to know can SEE you doing this.

From the cost analysis point of view, RF scanners are amazingly inexpensive. The gov't can not do ANYTHING to stop you from driving where you want. You have this freedom; so do the bad guys. Frankly, Trooper Friday doesn't care where you drive; but if you are driving a stolen car, or have a hostage, this will help Trooper Friday chase you down.

[Hodar]

The problem with that logic is that some bureaucrat has already started working on a suppository with microchip for pedestrians and bus riders. Bend over baby!

Poor analogy. The license plate is property of the state, it is not nor has ever been YOUR property.

[Hodar]

Who can argue with such poorly thought out points, such breath taking leaps of logic and pure emotional reactionism, as you have demonstrated.... well, just about anyone.

Have you found anything supporting your claim? You mentioned the Consitution ... here's a link ; I think you may want to read it yourself; so you don't look so silly when you make these outrageous claims. Just because you may not like something, doesn't mean it's prohibited by the Constitution.

[WideGlide]

Poor analogy. The license plate is property of the state, it is not nor has ever been YOUR property.

Where I come from State property is MY property. Last time I checked the taxpayer-funded government didn't OWN anything.

[Rodentking]

The responses you got later down the post amaze me to no end.

People cannot grasp you have a right to drive, yet they find a right to abortion and euthanasia - murder. Of course you have a right to drive. This is clearly not a privilege. Driving is merely a manner of travel; foot, horse, car. All the same.

The reason there was no horse riding license is that the people would not put up with it. Not because it was a right, rather than a privilege, but because people would not brook government interference.

Now the people do.

The people get what the people deserve. Unfortunately we are lumped with the people!

[Rodentking]

The responses you got later down the post amaze me to no end.

People cannot grasp you have a right to drive, yet they find a right to abortion and euthanasia - murder. Of course you have a right to drive. This is clearly not a privilege. Driving is merely a manner of travel; foot, horse, car. All the same.

The reason there was no horse riding license is that the people would not put up with it. Not because it was a right, rather than a privilege, but because people would not brook government interference.

Now the people do.

The people get what the people deserve. Unfortunately we are lumped with the people!

[Hodar]

State property isn't YOUR property, never has been. Try going into a State Park and shooting YOUR deer. Heck, try going into YOUR State Park without paying admittance.

Try taking YOUR State Trooper's car out for a spin; maybe 'borrow' the City's back-hoe for some yard work. If your rationale is correct, you may even start a new trend.

The fact is that the State is OUR property, and we elect representatives to manage OUR property. Part of the way these elected officals have chosen to track things, is by issueing licenses to people to do things (prepare and sell food, build houses, install sewers, drive, manufactur firearms, ect). These people do not have a 'right' to these licenses, nor do they own them.

Does this clear things up?