License plate scanners

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01)
06/27/2014 at 18:29 • Filed to: None

What do you guys think of them? I think the technology is pretty damn cool.

I went to 711 today to get my daily Slurpee fix when a police officer pulled into the parking spot next to mine. He hopped out of his Tahoe and I immediately asked him about the plate scanners on his cruiser.

I asked him if they really worked as well as I had read, he said yes, and hopped back into his car. He rolled his window down, looked at me and said, "Are you [real name redacted] Big Bubba Ray?" I was shocked and replied "yes."

Pretty impressive, if you ask me. I don't know why I'm intrigued by them, but they're cool!

DISCUSSION (16)

jkm7680 > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 18:30

I think they're pretty damn awesome, and good for catching baddies.

dogisbadob > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 18:33

It's not cool; it's scary as fuck.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 18:34

I don't like them. They know who I am when I am going fast.

whoarder is tellurium > dogisbadob
06/27/2014 at 18:38

This. It is more government control and monitoring in our lives. Do not want.

Big Bubba Ray > dogisbadob
06/27/2014 at 18:43

Genuinely curious, why do you feel that way about them?

BrianNutter > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 18:54

Have you read 1984?

Big Bubba Ray > BrianNutter
06/27/2014 at 18:56

I have not. I'm, ashamedly, not a big reader.

BrianNutter > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 19:13

put it on your list. Every year our government and corporations get more invasive about tracking and labeling us. Not so bad in a stable democratic country some would say, but lets just say the governments in iraq syria or Ukraine or any number of african countries had nsa cia tech or even the simplest hack into their peoples cellphone locations onstar or xbox connect to find out present locations, the number of people in a dwelling or car, listened in to your views on religion etc. makes it a lot easier to put down rebellion or exterminate the opposing race etc. one mans rebellion is another's revolution. now take it a step further and note these technologies have already found their way into the hands of common criminals.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 19:26

No, fuck that, active tracking of movement? That's not okay.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 19:54

How is this any different from them running your plates manually?

Big Bubba Ray > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/27/2014 at 19:58

It scans them automagically.

Let's say, hypothetically speaking, you're driving around and you happen to have a warrant out for your arrest. A cop, equipped with scanners, pulls up next to you, but doesn't want to manually run your plates. The scanner picks up your plate, gives the officer some type of warning and he then pulls you over and arrests your ass.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 20:19

Get pulled over for 'no reason' they get the same data. This way baddies are caught well ahead of committing crimes.... Flame on!

My Registration, Insurance and Criminal Background are 100%... Move on, Sir. If yours isn't, pull to the side, let me pass.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
06/27/2014 at 20:21

They don't keep the OK data. Non pertinent info gets purged.

desertdog5051 > Big Bubba Ray
06/27/2014 at 21:13

When will people understand that accepting a small thing leads to more and more "small things" that seem acceptable until one day you go "What the hell happened".

History people, READ IT. LEARN FROM IT. Rant over.

XJDano > Big Bubba Ray
06/28/2014 at 00:30

i did a ride along with my brother once and his notification chime that indicated it snapped a plate and scanned it was going off the hook.

We did get a guy who had a warrant, but thought it was taken care of. Called county and they said bring him in. Then we (he I watched) did a search through his car. Didn't find anything else. Its no joke.

But they don't even look at it unless it red alerts.

Philbert/Phartnagle > Big Bubba Ray
06/28/2014 at 01:28

Nope, nope, nope. Another, albeit small, intrusion into our privacy IMO. Small, seemingly harmless things like this add up in the end, and usually not for the better.

Question for anyone who might know. Supposedly clear skateboard griptape over a plate prevents speed & stoplight cameras from getting a picture of your plates. I wonder if it does work, and if so, would it work for plate scanners as well?