By Deon Roberts, Online Editor
Ever since Jefferson and Orleans parishes installed cameras recently to crack down on red-light runners, I’ve heard many people complaining after being slapped with tickets thanks to the new devices.
Of course, someone in our capitalistic society has invented a product that promises to make vehicles “invisible” to the cameras.
At least one company sells a glossy spray that is applied to license plates. When the red-light camera’s flash hits the license plate, the high-powered gloss on the plate reflects the flash, making the plate unreadable.
Does this product work, though? According to the show “Myth Busters,” the sprays don’t work.
I’ve never used it, nor will I, because no one should be running red lights. I do not advocate that anyone buy this product, either.
But it’s a good topic for discussion, isn’t it? Would you buy this product? Should it be illegal to sell it?
4 responses so far ↓
ScottRandolph // Friday, February 22, 2008 at 1:28 pm |
I don’t generally comment on these type of subjects, but this is (there goes those italics again!) an interesting and controversial one to say the least.
As for the idea of using cameras to catch persons who break the law, regardless of the specifics, I see no real problem with it. I’m not a big fan of ‘Big Brother’ horning in on every aspect and area of people’s lives, but if you’re not doing anything wrong, I see no reason why you should or would care if someone is watching.
As for cameras in this specific application, they have been used for decades in other places, so why the big deal just because they’re here now?
I did, however, recently see a company overseas that manufactures a screen similar to those privacy screens that you put on your computer monitor to keep traffic cameras from seeing your plate info.
Keep in mind that state law prohibits putting anything (inluding those pretty license plate frames) on a license plate, so I would have to think that the product I just mentioned, as well as even a spray, would technically be illegal.
Just don’t run any red lights and you won’t have anything to worry about.
T. Baudier // Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 12:53 pm |
We need cameras like those in the city’s high crime areas. I am not for big brother but something has to change. If NYC can go from being the murder capital of the USA to not even being monitored for that list why can’t we?
Midcity Tony // Friday, February 29, 2008 at 1:13 pm |
The cameras are just the tip of the iceberg intended to confiscate whats in your wallet. On a PBS special I saw that in back in 1998 US auto makers begin to use ON board Computers in vehicles to store data about how you drive.
A adaptor can be connected to your car and the information retreived and used against you to prosecute you for any violations or by insurance companies to reject any claims made because of an accident.
In 2002 the US government made it “mandatory” for these computers and devices to be in all vehicles. And that GPS devices and RFID devices also be installed.
The computer can store the last 2000 actions of the vehicle.
The GPS can report to a satellite, and the RFID can also report to satellites or can report to local police stations via devices placed on street lights or imbedded sensors in the street.
Your vehicle has been engineered and modified to report your vehicles actions it can computerize as illegal or a violation of any infraction of your local, state or federal laws where ever they can place sensors and transponders to receive the data.
Some cars may also have embedded digital cameras imbedded into the dash that can obtain a visual image of the driver and report that also.
Some states are usuing these devices in a limited way already.
The objective is to break the public in on this slowly and make these devices acceptable so to avoid public outrage and rejection.
To make it more palatable they donate the revenues for hospitals and childrens
issues to produse a sympathy for their activities and make any that oppose this seem like they are not for children.
This is their method of propoganda and mental conditioning of the public.
Its all about cashflow to someone and somewhere.
Follow the money trail.
Follow the stock owners.
Follow the donations to anyone.
ScottRandolph // Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 2:22 pm |
Actually, anything with a GPS device (which, as you mention, many vehicles already have or can easily be adapted/enabled for), can be tracked as to location, ground speed and altitude without any additional sensors on the ground. This leads me to believe that at some point ni the future, if you are, say, speeding (regardless of where and when), like the cameras in the intersections, the information can be sent off and you could theoretically be sent a citation based on the GPS info. Scary. And yes, you are correct, those ‘black boxes’ are already in cars, and yes they have been used in insurance and court cases. Another interesting piece of info: The EPA is working on a system that will alert the owner of the vehicle (done by satellite) when the vehicle emissions system needs service. If the work is not performed within a certain timeframe, the vehicle is diabled (leasing and finance companies are already using this ‘disabling’ technique if you miss car payments, take the care out of approved boundaries, etc.,). Scary!