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Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance

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switchblade saints
08/01/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
hmmm, not sure how this would work exactly since in my state insurance covers the driver as well. So I can have non-owners insurance and drive someones car that doesnt and I would be covered.
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MushyHeirloom
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
Guess where they can stick it? I'm a fan of mandatory insurance, but I'd rather it not be required (as here in NH) than be enforced by traffic cameras. This seems like "guilty until proven innocent" to me - why should I have to go to court to fight a computer's fuckup? At least a live cop will hear you out if you're polite (as you always should be).

I'm not advocating that anyone go shoot these out, but it would be pretty cool if they just ended up with holes in 'em.
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Kaiser-Machead
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
Isn't it enough to have your insurance information handy when you actually need to present it? Nice idea, but having so much technology do so many things strikes me as being overly complicated, and may present more problems than they solve. All we need are failed scans that end up with false citations for not driving without insurance.
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Kaiser-Machead
03/18/09

@Kaiser 'Club Sammich' Machead: for driving without insurance.*
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JC Whitless
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance

Sorry, screwed that up.
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closhedbb
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
To anyone who has a problem with this:

Notice they are not putting in place any new laws. They are just devising a way to enforce the law by observing public places. It was already illegal, and has been for some time. You just might actually get in trouble for it now. Either you agree that people must be ensured or not. If you don't, fight the law, not the enforcement of it. If you do, how can you have a problem with enforcement fo the law?
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@closhedbb:

I can support the law and contest the punishment - taking money from people isn't conducive to them being able to afford things like insurance.

So which is it, do you want all motorists insured (full compliance) or do you want all motorists scrutinized and fined (full enforcement)?

If everyone got caught for every law they broke, the vast majority of our population would be in jail or in debt to the government for life.
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ChibaCityCowboy
03/18/09

@nutbastard (Everyone come to snowmodo!!!): "the vast majority of our population would be in jail or in debt to the government for life."

I think thats the long term goal.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@ChibaCityCowboy:

sure seems that way.
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krom
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
@nutbastard (Everyone come to snowmodo!!!): as i said. simple solution, works very well in switzerland. no insurance - no license plate.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@krom:

so ok, lets say you have insurance, you get your plates, and then you cancel the insurance. Do they send someone around to take your plates back??
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krom
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
very simple solution, works here in switzerland. no calid insurance, no license plate.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@krom:

they do that here 'cept they just won't give you a registration sticker, which will get you pulled over.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
God damn it.

Attn Government - SENDING PEOPLE $400 FINES DOESN'T HELP THEM GET INSURANCE.

Buy fucking insurance policies for the drivers and send them the bill.

I'm a firm believer that cops ought to carry a full range of head lights and tail lights, and that if they catch you with one out they ought to replace your light and send you a bill. What's the goal here? To ensure safety and compliance or to line the public coffers with the money of those too poor to fucking afford insurance in the first place, making it that much harder to get insurance.
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Stikman008
03/18/09

@nutbastard (Everyone come to snowmodo!!!): I like the way you think. I was thinking the same thing in regards to the poor people who can't afford insurance.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@Stikman008:

"I like the way you think."

You mean the whole, 'finding mutually beneficial solutions instead of arbitrarily punishing people by robbing them' thing?

It runs in the family.
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JC Whitless
03/18/09

@nutbastard (Everyone come to snowmodo!!!):

That works until you pull over a Cadillac....

Try changing the headlight bulbs on that!!

Thanks GM!
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Hello Mister Walrus
03/18/09

@Stikman008: If you can't afford car insurance, they should probably not buy a car. Just like people who can't afford house insurance should not get Nintendo Wiis.

And yes, some of these rules are meant to increase city revenue. Cities are not costless to operate.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@JCWhitless - I'm totally Re-Starded:

Whoops, sorry, I forgot that America still makes cars.
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berribrand
03/18/09

@nutbastard (Everyone come to snowmodo!!!): Uhm, no. I do not pay taxes so the police can fix YOUR broken headlight. You fix your own headlight with your own money that you (presumably) earn. You have a car with expensive super bright halogens? Tough luck, you bought it, you fix it. Otherwise, you pay the fine for operating a vehicle with a broken headlight.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@berribrand:

assface - to protect and serve. that's their job. part of their job (in theory) is helping people change out flat tires.
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JC Whitless
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
Aaaand as someone who had to fight a speeding ticket against the city of Chicaga' for doing 70 in a boat (that's right, they pulled over a boat trailer?!?!?!) received via mail, I'm sure this insurance database will be totally accurate.

(I'm sorry, we don't recognize Smithville Family Insurance. Pay up)

I am never driving in the city limits again. Metra, here I come.
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Saboth
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
I'm not really liking this automated police state we are heading for. "Can you prove it was me driving this car?" "Well no, but cameras show your plate, and the computers say you are guilty of murder, as your car was found at the scene of the crime, in addition to other facts. They have already determined your MO, as they have cross referenced your credit history and mortgage, along with IRS logs and employment history, and determined there is a 51% chance the victim was murdered for her diamond earrings, which you apparently wanted to sell for 1/2 of their 1.5 million dollar cost. The computer has already sentenced you to 25 years in prison, beginning immediately, and they have gotten your room ready in advance."
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Geisrud
03/18/09

@Saboth: wait, we get turn down service too?

I was wondering where my taxes where going.
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msisaac
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
I'll probably be in the minority here, but I like this idea. I'm usually against Big Brother tactics, but uninsured motorists should not be allowed on the damn road. I'm not sure I like the idea of 30% going to a private company and I would like to know where the rest of the revenues would be going (i.e., education, road repair), but I don't mind the idea of nailing uninsured motorists with heavy fines. And it's not like this is really an invasion of privacy. You're out in public. There is no reasonable expectation of privacy. The city is just checking plates against an insurance database.
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Geisrud
03/18/09

@msisaac: I (and my car) may be out in public, but my vehicle insurance is not public information.

If they want to check, then pull me over for a valid reason.

In the mean time, the police can go protect and serve instead of intimidate and violate.
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groovyone
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
They'd make a fortune here in Houston!
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Cordfucious of Tech Clan
03/18/09

@groovyone: so where in Houston do we put these lights?

1400 Lubbock sounds like a great spot for entrapment
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Mr. Motox
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
Well, I am all for getting the uninsured off the road. If they know they are driving without insurance, and they know the address, shouldn't they go impound the car????
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@Mr. Moto:

"I am all for getting the uninsured off the road"

Are you kidding? the uninsured are the most careful drivers out there!
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Monty
03/18/09

@nutbastard (Everyone come to snowmodo!!!):
the uninsured are the most careful drivers out there!

I hope you meant that as sarcasm. In the first three years of living in the Seattle area my brother, wife, and I were all hit by uninsured motorists (separate incidents) and all three of us were in the hospital.

If that is the most careful drivers out there, then there must not be any other drivers.
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Monty
03/18/09

@Mr. Moto: I agree that the car needs to be impounded - that would be even better than sending a ticket that will never be paid.
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AzaleaBrutus
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
Dear Police,
When you can hold your own people accountable for every action they do, then you can start holding me in the same light. Until then... fuck off.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@AzaleaBrutus:

Amen!!!!!!!
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closhedbb
03/18/09

@AzaleaBrutus: If every member of the police force has to be perfect before the rest of the population has an obligation to obey the law, we're in for a real treat.
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nutbastard
03/18/09

@closhedbb:

Not perfect - accountable. Don't twist words.
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Monty
03/18/09

@AzaleaBrutus: All fine and good until you have a close family member injured by an uninsured motorist, as I have. That changes your perspective quickly on issues like this.
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Cordfucious of Tech Clan
03/18/09

@Monty: No what changes is when you have a cop who runs a light and smashes your loved one and your LOVED ONE gets the tickets. No lights, no siren...just downright speed.

And here in Houston......MAN! We are not gonna talk about all the cops/constables/dep. sheriffs/State Troopers who bait you and try to pop you, or the ones who have been DRUNK behind the wheel and KILLED citizens to have the department try to cover it up and accuse a legal citizen of being an illegal because of his heritage
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subryu
03/18/09

In reply to Chicago Street Lights May Scan for Car Insurance
Is this a Rod Blagojevich and Geico joint venture?
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Hello Mister Walrus
03/18/09

@subryu: Ha.
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