I'm not necessarily agreeing with the law 100% myself, put simply pointing out that changing the law is beyond the scope of any of us here at CL. That is up to elected representatives and judges. We can discuss it and express our opinions, but until the law IS changed, driving will remain a privelidge, not a right, and we can cry and pout and whine and kick our feet up and down like little kids....to no avail.

 

And dont you think thats a problem? The fact that we have no voice to change things? It wouldnt be a problem if we did have a voice but there was a larger majority voice with an oppossing view. But the fact that we have no say at all! Im confused, I thought this was supposed to be THE example to the world in what it means to have a free country? We do have freedoms in other aspects of life biggest one being having the ability to publicly state things contrary to goverment policy without fear of reprisal, but why should this be any different?

 

One reason why this wont happen for at least a very long time IMHO is the accuracy of GPS systems and the ability to get a lock on the satellite consistently in all areas. What will happen if the system can't get a lock like in tunnels or major freeway underpasses? Will the car allow you to speed then, or not allow you to move at all? I think there is too much liability for manufactures right now if there is a malfunction. Imagine travelling on a 70 MPH freeway and the system malfunctions and only allows you to go 25 MPH. That sounds like a major hazard too me.

 

The US government flicked the switch today on a new GPS signal, known as L2C. The signal, according to the government, is transmitted at a higher effective power, allowing it to "work better in urban areas and indoors." The new signal, being transmitted by the IIR satellite launched in September, can also be received using less power, potentially allowing better GPS reception by smaller devices such as cellphones. However, most current devices may not be able to make use of the new signals without upgrades.

Source: http://gps.engadget.com/2006/01/25/g...volume-on-gps/

 

Okay, maybe the might help solve the weak signal problem but what about system malfunction? It ma be rare, but it could also be deadly.

 

What if your car's ECU wouldn't let it start if GPS is disabled or missing? Resistance is futile.

 

I totally agree with you bro, I was just playing devils advocate.

I'm a major computer geek, but even I (or maybe because I am) wouldn't want my life to potentially be hang in the balance while depending on technology...

 

Like what other governments? Canada where they're MUCH more of a big brother than the U.S.? Singapore where there's rules for everything and stiff punishments? China which censors the internet?

You can vote for candidates that want them to be set where you want them set.

Insurance companies don't really want completely safe highways because then they're not needed or they certainly can't justify the huge premiums!!

 

The UK certainly has way more surveillance cameras than the U.S. for example, and speeding tickets by cameras are all over the place, but it's easier there because the population is so much more dense and the country so much smaller. But I've no doubt the U.S. will do the same things as they become more feasible.

As far as those 'fanatical' about privacy, they've already lost, they just don't realise it. Read "World Without Secrets'.

 

You buy a stand alone!

 

[QUOTE=bitkahuna]Like what other governments? Canada where they're MUCH more of a big brother than the U.S.? Singapore where there's rules for everything and stiff punishments? China which censors the internet?

I didnt say US would be a nation that is the most repressive one either.

 

Here in Mexico City, they are going to use speed cameras beginning Monday on the major arteries and traveled streets. It will record your license plate and then when you go in for obligatory emissions testing you will have to pay up any fines recorded by the cameras. The cops will not pull you over.

I will be immune having foreign plates and also my friends who live in Mexico State that adjoins the city.

 

I'm not too worried about this because of all the issues that manufacturers will incur to set cars up properly for this. Especially the expense side as we all know how they try to economize whenever possible. I don't see this being an issue for at least another 10 years from a manufacturers standpoint.

Wide scale implementation will be lucky to be accomplished in 10-15 years if they started today. Which would lead to other hazards when cars without this type of equipment are on the same roads as cars with this equipment. For an initial period (6 months to a few years) you'd never be able to leave the right lane on the highway (perspectively speaking) as all the people with normal cars would be zooming right by and you wouldn't have enough speed to merge in. We'd all see how slow you were and never buy these cars with this equipment. It's too much of a cultural issue (the need to speed) which would make society very reluctant to adopt this and politicians that did would probably find themselves in the food stamp pretty quickly.

Besides there are easy ways around this

1) Have a car(s) that are pre- this type of equipment. (i.e our current cars)
2) Disable the system in the car in order to make it a stand alone as Inabj2 noted. Where the system still receives and sends a signal but it isn't hooked up to the motor/computer.

I speed quite regularly (actually almost every street I drive on except school zones) and they'll have to pry my radar detector from my dead cold hands before I slow down...LOL! (little play on the gun saying).

 

Well, it may or may not be a problem....depends on how you look at it. We make ( and repeal ) laws through elected representatives. We can elect them but in the end it is they who actually vote for or against bills and laws......and then on top of that you have the courts which can declare laws unconstitutional.
Yes, it's a mess.....but that's the country we have.....and I would still rather live here than anywhere else.

 

Yes...if possible. I used to do this with my old Mazda GLC.....connect the EGR valve up once a year for the emissions test....then disconnect it and seal it off. The engine....even brand-new would never stop pinging with it on, regardless of fuel type.

Actually, Inabj, I am FAR more concerned about the tremendous number of "traffic-calming" devices going up like 3 and 4-way stops, barricades, DO NOT ENTER signs, speed bumps / humps, etc......going up literally EVERYWHERE....yes, in many places that do not NEED traffic-calming but get them anyway because some civic group just asks for them. They are far more of a pain in the a * * in my opinon than a GPS device....they wear out brakes and transmissions.