From: dlv@bwalk.dm.com (Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM)
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 07:28:02 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Big Brother is watching
In-Reply-To: <19970904154807.23567@math.princeton.edu>
Message-ID: <sRwice4w165w@bwalk.dm.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



Fabrice Planchon <fabrice@math.Princeton.EDU> writes:

> 
> On Thu, Sep 04, 1997 at 10:01:20AM -0700, Tim May wrote:
> > (We have the cameras in our area, too. In Campbell, CA, for example. My
> > recollection from news stories is that the camera also snaps a photo of the
> > driver, allowing reasonably positive ID. If the photo is blurred or not
> > usable in court, the traffic charge is dropped (probably only if
> > challenged, though). Some interesting constitutional issues, it seems to
> > me. Namely, if Alice is driving Bob's car and is ticketed, should Bob face
> > the points on his license? Or even criminal charges? Seems to violate our
> > notions of scienter.)
> 
> Photo radars are common in France, too. I was told by a cop friend that
> no more than 20% of the photos are useable (that is, show clearly the
> license plate for purpose of identification). And the law was modified a
> couple of years ago, to answer the question you ask. If somebody is
> driving your car, and you don't give his name, then you face the charges
> (pay the ticket, and get the points...). The funny thing is, when they
> started using photo radars, they were sending the photo with the
> summons. Which, of course can be a problem, as if your wife opens it and
> find the photo with you and and your mistress. This actually happened,
> and the court ruled it was a violation of privacy. Now you have to go to
> the police to see the photo. Needless to say, anything you would use to
> cover your plates is outlawed...


I believe in New York State the car owner is liable for the fine, but no
one gets points off the licence based on the photo.

In some jurisdictions one can get a ticket for having too much mud or dust
on the licence tag, making it hard to read.

P.S. Also in NYS cars have a paper sticker on the inside of the windshield
listing among other things the recent mileage, the year, and the licence #.
Tim's idea of using another car's tags won't work here.

---

Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM
Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps