What is it? California is considering electronic license plates which would look normal when the car is moving, but when stopped at a red light, would flash advertisements to the motorist behind them (rear plate only). Why do it? California lawmakers are considering this to open a new revenue stream for the State, claiming it would help alleviate the existing $19 billion dollar deficit. What’s the down side? How long before kids hack into this and show ****, play video’s, or use it to promote their own things or, to turn the license plate dark to avoid police, or change the plate # for criminal activity? What is the potential to distract the driver while slowing behind a stopped car for more accidents? Is this a good idea that will reduce California’s debt or are we just asking for trouble here? Share your thoughts with us. Read more regarding this proposed legislation here.
More brilliant ideas from California Legislators, soon to be ex-California legislators. They need to quit thinking of ways to raise revenues, and start thinking about how to cut costs. Union pensions are a good start. Why in the hell would I want the government to get into business for itself.
Hopefully the adverts aren't too distracting, we may see more car accidents which will more than negate the amount of money earn from the advertisements. Those guys can think of anything! Why not cut their pay and also the funds for their pet projects?
I have to agree when ever your bank account gets low the first thing you do is start cutting luxury costs, kinda like all their pensions. Its pretty bad when we are paying for all these pensions but most of can not even find a job that offers a pension plan. I guess it is time to run for Office. The way I look at it are people are ready for someone that is actually going to do something. Not lie and squirm their way out of doing what has to be done.
You wouldn't even have to get a serious elected position to start feeding off the fat of the tax payer. Check this out. An LA county supervisor spent his 1 million dollar discretionary budget(who the hell gets a one million dollar discretionary budget as a county supervisor) on remodeling his office. No sh*t. Apparently the guys office is around 1000 sqft. One of the many reasons the State of California needs to enter the advertising business. [Edit] Just got a copy of the scanned recommendation to the city budget office, with a break down of the costs. Its a must read. Too aggravating for words. This thing got rubber stamped like so many other projects of its kind. Page 2 under PURPOSE/JUSTIFICATION OF THE RECOMMENDED ACTION Page 3, under Environmental Documentation. I forgot to mention the $700k estimate did not include furniture, which brought it to a cool million.
That is absolutely insane and sickening. When will people learn. Yea your right on there. This is not at all what the Founding Forefathers intended it to be. Then again many of them also warned us they were afraid of what they created did not go far enough to control the Government end of it. Our system is supposed to be balanced with the citizens one side and Government on the other. The scale simply needs to be tipped back and all positions need serious reconsideration. I think alot of it has to do with not enough people willing to step forward and do the right thing, which is in the best interest of "We the People". Thanks for sharing.
Bad idea. The cost to produce their dream of electronic license plates for vehicles in California, which amounts to over thirty million, would simply be too expensive. The addition of advertisements on license plates will cause too many distractions for drivers, which may cause a rising amount of automobile crashes (similar to how electronic televisions cannot play video in the front of a car because it would be too distracting for the driver). The presentation of the car's license by electronic means would present some temptation to tech-savvy people. If you are skilled enough in computer programming, changing your license would be simple enough. Also, I would be tempted to remove the state advertising and place my own. Call me ignorant if you think so, it does not matter that much to me. Take it or leave it these are my views.
I don't think the plan, as it is, would have a lot of support. You car is your personal property, not a mobile ad billboard for the state. Though, if they want to go forward with this, What I think they should do, first of all, is make this program completely optional. Then, the State could raise revenue by selling the electronic ad license plate itself at a profit to drivers, but not getting involved in selling the ads. The ads could be organized by a private company, sort of like Google Adsense. This private company could be the middle man between the company that wants to buy an ad, and the driver that wants to sell ad space on his/her vehicle. The State could raise revenue, jobs could be created with this new private company, and anyone with a car could earn some extra money.