KRMG Local News

DPS thinking about putting up 200 cameras around state, scan bar code on license plates

Don Bishop

@ December 1, 2009 5:20 AM Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports it's just talk right now, but the Department of Public Safety is thinking about putting up 200 cameras on roads all over the state that would randomly scan the bar code on license plates, which can tell them if you have insurance or not. And if you don't, they would mail you a ticket. State Representative Mike Reynolds is all for cracking down on non-insured drivers but he says this isn't the way to do it. He says, "This violates any principle of privacy that was guaranteed under our U.S. Constitution. There's always good that can come out of something but I think that the negatives far outweigh the positives." A better way, he says, is to get tougher on non-insured drivers during normal traffic stops.

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What others are saying

Uninsured Motorist
I don't think it's invasion of any one's privacy, if they are driving on public roads, they should have insurance. It's the public's tax dollars they are driving on, they should have insurance.
By John Q Public @ 12/01/09 12:07:03 AMreport abuse
It wont work
There is one problem in all this. The bar codes that are the target of this are on the lower right edge of the plate. Now go walk through a parking lot and you will see lots of license plate frames that cover that bar code. I didn't even know there was one on my car because it is completely covered only by looking at some on cars with no frame did I see what the camera will be photographing.

This is not going to work. If they want to be serious about this simply require insurance for autos be purchased for 12 months instead of allowing monthly insurance. Then mandate that insurance may not be cancelled during that period. Now when someone buys a car tag they would have to have the insurance valid for 1 year which is how long the tags last. If the police see a car with no tag or an expired tag they would know to stop it for insurance violations. Then they shouldn't fine the driver, instead take the car or truck and auction it off... you can't afford insurance then you shouldn't have a car.
By Yirmin Snipe @ 11/30/09 10:13:43 AMreport abuse