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Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
New Database Will Expose Uninsured Drivers to Cops
In this country, all 50 states require motorists to have car insurance. However, because tracking the status of a driver's insurance is up to local and state governments, many uninsured drivers are able to avoid detection unless they're stopped for other offenses. That's set to change, as a company called InsureNet is looking to simplify the detection of uninsured drivers by building a list of the nation's uninsured and allowing law enforcement officials to access the list in order to match license plates against it.
According to an article in Wired, InsureNet envisions police and traffic cameras being able to immediately check the status of a vehicle's insurance and, if necessary, issue a citation on the spot or through the mail.
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The city of Chicago has already expressed interest in the system, believing that it could raise up to $100 million annually through increased fines, not to mention reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the road (which is estimated at about 16-percent nationwide). The ACLU has expressed concern that the system poses a threat to privacy, but we're pretty sure they're contractually obligated to say that about everything. [From: Wired]
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Christian Science Monitor
Founded in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, this venerable paper will move all its daily content to the Web starting in 2009, though it will still publish a weekly print version.
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Comments
65
Subscribe to commentsDanMar 24th 2009 5:48PM
The government is always looking for ways to get as much money as possible from the U.S citizens. This is ridiculous...
JoeMar 24th 2009 7:56PM
Now it is insurance next it will be used by the Poilce to track those who they want very dangerous
SandmanMar 29th 2009 5:23PM
Insurance now - next it will be GPS in cars to report all speeders
FrankMar 24th 2009 8:02PM
Can Big Brother and Soylent Green be far behind?
escem59Mar 25th 2009 1:52PM
Frank,what makes you think the era of soylent has not encroched civilization yet?Do you really know where your food comes from?Sure,you buy it in supermarkets and eat in restraunts,but do you really know for sure?
BarryMar 24th 2009 8:12PM
Big problem! The owner of the car may not be insured, but what if the person actually driving the car, such as another family member, DOES have insurance? The car owner gets a fine simply because the system matches the license plate up to the owner. Can you say LAWSUIT!
DawnyMarieMar 24th 2009 8:31PM
When you get insurance you are insuring the vehicle, not yourself, so regardless who is driving, the owner should be cited for failure to get the vehicle insured!
mitch stillMar 25th 2009 12:01AM
I don't own a car but due to an accident, a year ago per the court system. I was told I had to get a SR22, which is insurance. Just in case I drive someones car that doesn't have ins, I am still covered. So I wonder how big Brother will handle. does this mean I don't have to carry SR22 anymore. ????
Lauri!Mar 24th 2009 8:10PM
Have you ever been involved in an accident with someone that didn't think it was necessary to carry insurance and caused the accident? I have. It's a flippin' nightmare! I'm all for getting these people off the road by any means!
PeteMar 26th 2009 8:48AM
I meant to Vote your comment Up Lauri. I completely agree with most of these comments, INSURANCE is required by law in California and should be. Why should we use the tools we have to enforce our laws, I pay ever month just as I should to protect myself and others. Get with the program people, there is no privacy when you are on PUBLIC streets.
reader-writerMar 24th 2009 8:11PM
I live near a small city that will use computerized monitors to spot license tags that were reported to be involved in crimes. I think this is long overdue. Criminals need to keep a low profile to hide out in society. Unless they make a mistake while driving, there's no probable cause to pull them over to see if they're wanted. Those of us who want to feel safer out there are grateful for modern technology. We aren't afraid of it.
LISAMar 31st 2009 4:55PM
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin
I am so tired of making it "easier" for law enforcement to do their jobs. It's almost as if we must all be guilty until a picture or technology proves otherwise. I'm not worried about uninsured motorists as much as I am about unfettered big government and law enforcement. I realize it can be exceedingly difficult if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, but that is what having uninsured motorist insurance is about. I don't like having to pay for that part of my insurance, but I'd rather do that than have cameras and such. We lose the human aspect of things. A person might be temporarily in the middle of changing insurance, a person might have lost a job, a person might be on the way to an emergency, etc. Many reasons are out there, but technology removes the human aspect. Pictures and technology don't lie, but there might be mitigating circumstances. Just because a driver is or isn't insured will not prevent accidents. Nor will we be safe from underinsured, inexperienced, or under the influence drivers. Shall we install breathalyzers in ever car? Shall we install shut-offs for anyone that makes an errant movement that could cause an accident? Why not just get super tech and completely control the movements of our cars like a kiddie carnival ride? Personal responsibility is lacking in our society! We back up using cameras and when we accidentally hit something, it is the camera's fault and not our inability to rely on our own senses while utilizing technology. Technology is not fail-proof. It's a tool, but we tend not to use it as such when we can make revenue from it! Especially law enforcement and government!
DaveMar 24th 2009 8:12PM
Obama administration is using every possible angle to get the people believing this is for their good. Just like speeding camera's they want another way to separate you from what you have already worked to achieved.
Clintorius!Mar 24th 2009 8:13PM
scary as shit....does anyone think that its only going to be used for tickets?! It pits the public vs. the government and is just another way to steal cash out of the pocket of hard working people.
LynnMar 24th 2009 9:25PM
If they're such "hard-working people" why can't they buy insurance?
don in carsonMar 25th 2009 12:49AM
How is this a way to steal money from hard-working people?
Is it a tax that everyone will have to pay? Or is it a way to catch criminals who are attempting to steal from traffic victims by injuring and killing them, then saying that "All I have is my wrecked car and this sleeping bag, so sue me"? It's about time to force this type of driver off the road.
jeffMar 24th 2009 8:22PM
We need it Hear In Calif ther is a lot of drivers with no Insurance and no Driver license + they are not Legal !
RONMar 24th 2009 8:52PM
California is not alone with this problem. I have had two wrecks in the last three months and everyone the driver was illeagle , sorry, did not have the proper papers, nor did they have any insurance or other form of ID.
BillMar 24th 2009 8:22PM
Terrence O'Brien is wrong, he should haved checked his facts before publishing this article.
In the State of New Hampshire, you are not required to carry automobile insurance unless you have had accidents in the past or been convicted of a DUI. And then it must be ordered by the courts or the DMV.
Of course, if you get caught driving out of state, your vehicle will be impounded and you will need to obtain proof of insurance before it will be released.
How do I know these things you ask?
They have happened to me and friends.
DavidMar 24th 2009 8:44PM
if it will get just 1/3 of all the illegal mexicans off the road im all for it, they are illegal and dont have a drivers license that is legal or insurance, if this sounds wrong wait till one runs a red light and hits you with no insurance r license , they get a ticket and zoom they leave the state