It's no secret that everyone using carpool lanes are not carpooling, as it's not uncommon to see vehicles using that lane with only the driver aboard. Now there is a new possible "enforcer-of-the-law" out there, and it's called an infrared scanner.
Yep, that's right, with this technology cars will be scanned as they drive by, and those cars with only one person aboard will be flagged. Oh, it detects human skin, so unless you have a corpse as a decoy, you can forget about having a stuffed scarecrow riding shotgun...
ateixeira says:
07:57 AM, 10/ 4/07
Pretty soon they'll add cameras that look for drivers on cell phones.
I'd support those 100%!
kurtamaxxxguy says:
09:29 AM, 10/ 4/07
If carpool lanes have rules that are intended for multiple occupant vehicles, and people won't follow the rules, then either get rid of the lanes, or enforce the rules.
What is invasion of privacy here? A vehicle and its driver are open to the public. The camera is designed to detect presence of humans in vehicles. It does not "x-ray" you or read your mind. Also, the cameras could be designed to obscure fine details.
mirth says:
09:30 AM, 10/ 4/07
Pretty soon they'll have cameras to make sure you're going 55MPH in town, or 45MPH in the construction zone (even if no workers are ever present).
Or to make sure you have your seat belt on.
Or that you signaled before changing lanes.
Or that you maintained 10 cars lengths between you and the car in front of you, even in stop-and-go traffic.
Still support them?
estreka says:
09:42 AM, 10/ 4/07
This will only work if the other occupant is in the front passenger seat. What if you've got your baby strapped in the back?
firstwagon says:
03:25 PM, 10/ 4/07
I have no use for people who think they are so important that rules don't apply to them.
I support these cameras 100%.
(And it would be great if they could detect seatbelt use too although I prefer the method of having your health insurance void if you are in an accident without your belt)
puristsoul says:
12:22 AM, 10/ 5/07
Before you know it we will have chips implanted and we'll handcuff ourselves and wait for law enforcement to arrive using the built in GPS.
firstwagon says:
07:53 AM, 10/ 5/07
Wow, some people get bent out of shape when they can't cheat anymore.
mirth says:
09:39 AM, 10/ 5/07
We're bent out of shape that the US is trending towards a "1984" scenario where your every move is monitored. The UK is halfway there and I don't want us emulating that - this is the land of the free.
puristsoul says:
10:44 PM, 10/ 6/07
I wasn't going to add anything else, but the idea that people are so willing to be scruitinized, spyed upon, etc. is so crazy to me that I have to ask why do so many people welcome this added intrusion into our lives? Sure, we'd all love a cop to nab the idiot who endangers everyone. But, these people are such outliers that they don't justify the enormous expense of implimenting such a spy network, let alone the ominous threat it creates to the rest of us who are just trying to get along and be good. There is no need for my neighbor to be trying to watch my every move, as there is no need for our government to be so insidious about watching our every move. Why? Are we that fearful about eachother's character? Or, do they just want to take more of our money in fines?
estreka says:
11:05 PM, 10/ 6/07
I think the mentality of supporters of big brother think that the fines generated by these systems will offset the cost and then some. So much so, in fact, that it'll somehow subsidize their taxes. It's completely unfounded and the cost is always far more than any fines can cover.
Think of the IRS. The tax code in this country is warped in such a way as to give tax breaks to the poor while heavily taxing the rich (15% bracket versus 35%). Also, there are so many loopholes intended to give Honest Joe even more of a break. Unfortunately, the only ones to know or can use these breaks are the very very rich. In the end, the complexity of it all only costs more money (you don't want to know the kind of payroll the heavily-employeed IRS pulls).