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License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of More Than Just Cars (www.wired.com)

submitted 1 month ago by Xatolos@reddthat.com to c/technology@lemmy.world

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From Trump campaign signs to Planned Parenthood bumper stickers, license plate readers around the US are creating searchable databases that reveal Americans’ political leanings and more.

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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Some states require front plates.

Blocking a plate with a bike rack isn’t a bad idea, except - a) the rack will wear your paint, b) any automated toll collection based on license plate reading will also be blocked. Probably NBD once in while, but if someone regularly skips tolls and is caught it’s gonna hurt. They just had a toll-skipper sting near me where they caught a crapton of people who regularly skipped tolls with license plate blockers and temp tags. They lost their cars instantly, a few got slapped with 6-figure fines and fees, and I imagine jail time might be on the menu for some.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ours apparently does, but nobody follows that law, and I've never seen it enforced.

a - easy fix, drive a beater
b - the only tolls in my area use a sensor

If you didn't want to use a tracking sensor for tolls, can't you just pay cash? Whenever I visit Florida, that's what I do. It sucks when the machine is busted, but then I just chuck my change at it and go.

[–] LunchMoneyThief@links.hackliberty.org 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They've been dismantling cash toll stops to erect automated readers in their place.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Dang. I haven't been to Florida (or anywhere with tolls) for a few years, but I knew plate readers were an option, but I thought cash tolls were still quite prevalent.

That's a privacy nightmare.

[–] LunchMoneyThief@links.hackliberty.org 2 points 1 month ago

I've resigned myself to just pre planning longer routes to avoid tolls. I am not putting a transponder in my car and I am certainly not going pay for that privilege or to help normalize it.