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* Fox 32…
Secretary of State candidate and 17th Ward Ald. David Moore is calling on Illinois to adopt digital license plates to replace the current metal ones to help solve the carjacking epidemic.
Moore said the digital license plate platform is capable of sending alerts about stolen vehicles to notify the police and the public. It can also provide the vehicle’s owner with the location of their stolen vehicle.
“While law enforcement struggles to stop carjackings, DLPs will help Illinois drivers close the gap between the time a carjacking happens and police respond by alerting everyone within eyeshot,” Moore said in a statement.
Moore said digital license plates can also notify the public about Amber or Silver alerts.
* Press release…
Deputy House Minority Leader Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) filed new legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives today that would prohibit the state from enacting digital license plates on vehicles registered in the State of Illinois. Digital license plates use the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) as a means of tracking the daily movements of Illinois residents.
Demmer’s legislation addresses specific concerns against a recent proposal to move toward replacing traditional metal license plates with digital GPS tracking as a response to a spike in carjackings.
“Installing GPS trackers on every car in Illinois would raise serious privacy concerns, not to mention the potential for hacking and likelihood of technical problems in what would be an unprecedented intrusion by state government in the day-to-day lives of Illinois residents,” Rep. Demmer said. “The risks associated with digital license plates clearly outweigh any potential benefit. The solution to carjackings is not to track and monitor every resident of the state.”
Demmer’s legislation is House Bill 4105.
* The Question: Your thoughts on this digital license plate idea?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 2:55 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Cost?
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 2:56 pm
Make it an option. If you want a digital plate, which I think would be cool, great. If you don’t stick with the old metal, out of date peeling plating.
Comment by Tom Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 2:59 pm
Chicago PD and the Dept. of Finance have deployed hundreds of automated license plate scanners, both on cars and POD cameras, as have many private owners of parking lots.
There are zero regulations ensuring the privacy of any of this data, so surely legislation addressing ALPR data is more timely than legislation addressing something that doesn’t exist.
It is also worth noting that CPD does not update its “hot list” fast enough to make this technology actually useful for tracking recently carjacked vehicles.
Comment by Q Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:00 pm
I don’t exactly trust the SecState’s office with this data, including their ability to keep it secure. I agree with Demmer that the privacy concerns outweigh any potential benefit.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:01 pm
Well…
I guess if you’re concerned about being “tracked” you’d be against I-Pass too?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:04 pm
Without doing a deep dive on pros and cons I’ll at least say I appreciate the outside the box thinking.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:04 pm
I too would want to know the cost, and perhaps the tracking could just be activated upon the report of a crime.
As for GPS in your car tracking your every move, most late model cars already do this. Should we tell Rep. Demmer?
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:06 pm
Less concerned about the privacy angle - that horse is long out of the barn - but agree with Demmer in the hacking/tech issues.
I’d like to see evidence that IDES can function properly and the AG office ransomware attack has been sufficiently addressed before considering DLPs, to name a couple of recent examples.
Comment by The Doc Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:10 pm
If Demmer is against it….I have to be for it.
Plus..What OW and Ron Burgundy said.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:11 pm
As an option to owners and vehicles, that could be a better workable idea… but as long as I- Pass exists and exists that you can merely register plates and need not a responder, the idea of tracking, even by license plate is long past an idea.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:13 pm
I guess my family and friends have led a sheltered life here in small town central Illinois. No one I know has ever had their car stolen. This digital plate should be made an option and nothing more.
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:14 pm
I like the optional idea.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:14 pm
-you’d be against I-Pass too?-
Wait until they find out the state could theoretically send speeding tickets to people by a simple calculation involving the time it takes a driver to pass between two I-Pass toll exchanges and the distance covered.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:15 pm
===if you’re concerned about being “tracked” you’d be against I-Pass too?===
If you have your cell phone with you in the car, you’re already trackable.
But I’m with Ron. Don’t tell Demmer. It’ll keep him up at night. He’s apparently OK with large monopolistic private businesses having this data, just not “the government.” Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:16 pm
Digital license plates could be used to enact a vehicle milage tax for electric and very high mileage vehicles.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:23 pm
“Your thoughts on this digital license plate idea?”
1) There’s a huge difference between drivers choosing to use tracking devices and the state mandating tracking devices for all cars.
2) How long before this technology for tagging stolen cars is used to tag cars with unpaid parking tickets? Or href=”https://www.today.com/parents/mom-faces-fines-possible-jail-time-over-late-library-books-t166624″>overdue library books?
3) Pass.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:23 pm
Can they be made non-removable — otherwise a smart thief would throw the plate away.
Comment by Old Illini Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:24 pm
===send speeding tickets to people by a simple calculation===
This is already consistently done in Germany in areas of the Autobahn where there are posted speed limits. In most developed countries they have taken measures to ticket people for excessive speed that don’t involve having an officer force you to stop after they themselves have exceeded safe speeds to catch up with you.
Considering the amount of police misconduct that starts with traffic stops, moving towards a more remote model would likely be a net social positive, even if some people couldn’t go 20 over on a regular basis anymore.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:25 pm
===mandating===
Make it optional, then I’d be more likely to pay attention to its worthiness.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:28 pm
Big Brother has been here for years. But it’s more private sector than government. That phone in your hand. The one with the location settings enabled can most probably be subpoenaed should the need arise.
Comment by ddp76 Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:28 pm
“otherwise a smart thief would throw the plate away” Or hit it with a hammer.
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:29 pm
So DEMsis pro carjacking? Well it does appear to be a growth industry. Verrrrry smart.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:30 pm
A 30 second exposure to 1000 watts of 2 to 2.5 GHz radio energy might have an adverse affect on the functioning of a digital plate.
Comment by We've never had one before Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:33 pm
” help solve the carjacking epidemic ” If you are not going to let police pursue suspects and the DA will not charge them when they are actually caught the epidemic will continue.
Comment by Lowki Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:35 pm
Agree with Demmer.
Comment by One Opinion Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:36 pm
The plates are retailing for $500 for a basic one and $800 for a deluxe one. Just for the plate. And this is Illinois, you will need two plates. Now how do you feel?
Comment by We've never had one before Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:40 pm
I’m with Demmer. I don’t want the state to automatically have the capacity to track everywhere my car goes. Soon enough that ability will be abused because of whatever fear issue becomes trendy or politically influential. Demmer’s bill won’t get the rest of my electronic privacy back, but I’ve got to start somewhere.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:43 pm
If most digital plates are anything like this one, the state would have a major tech challenge on their hands for drivers without smartphones and internet access. Caution, the presenter in this video does use the f-word once and *ss once. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYSDF-r-TzE
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 3:50 pm
The other side of the debate. One of the commenters on this video asked a pertinent question- how expensive would the plate be to replace if you were re-ended? Also, would Illinois require these to be on both the front and back? That is a LOT of potential expense… far and above what we now pay for metal stamped license plates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-zgRK6fpw
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:03 pm
Too ripe for abuse.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:05 pm
yeah the tracking device ability is problematic in some ways. But since it is from Moore, I just keep wondering why he is running, how his run factors in with Dowell, and Alexi…..
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:09 pm
Looks like a solution in search of a problem to me. And the added potential for warrantless searching/ tracking isn’t really a selling point for me. Photo scanners everywhere already creep me out for their abuse potential as we’ve seen in China. Cell phones are voluntary and commercial. IPASS is also voluntary. Car plates mandated by the state are not. As mentioned, these won’t stop or solve carjacking.
As with red light cameras I’m also waiting for a connection to be revealed between vendors and government officials pushing this tech.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:10 pm
I definitely agree with Demmer on this one. It’s bad enough the insurance companies want to know all about you.
I would prefer they figured out a way to make all guns trackable by GPS /s
Comment by Been There Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:10 pm
Is Demmer against making it optional?
That’s my question as to his earnest “worry” to the tracking.
It’ll be telling for sure.
To be against the technology advantage it can be, instead of seeing the optional good, then throw away your cell phones, I-Pass, etc…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:18 pm
Not real thrilled with how IPass handles our data, and don’t especially live in fear of carjacking. Pass.
https://www.wbez.org/stories/how-your-private-illinois-tollway-data-is-shared-with-cops-and-divorce-lawyers/cea68ea0-4b13-481a-80a1-50bf0e9db738
Comment by LakeCo Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:19 pm
Worried about tracking?
The only way to no longer have concerns about privacy, is to completely abandon the concept of privacy.
I wonder how he feels about the reality that I can legally buy low earth orbit satellite images from the open market of a specific location with enough resolution to track a car. These images are refreshed every 90 minutes. These products are often used by hedge funds to track vehicle traffic in retail parking lots to estimate sales. They are available to anyone who wants to pay for it. If they want to track you, all that it takes is a credit card to pay for the service. That’s just one of the methods available. I’ll leave the others for another time, but suffice it to say most people are operating on an outdated concept of privacy which hasn’t existed in reality for their entire lives.
Privacy is an illusion.
But to the point, as one other person has mentioned above this would be an obvious first step for per mileage taxation for electric vehicles - which I’m fine with. Roads aren’t free, and if I use them, I should pay for them. It’s hardly a violation of my privacy to pay for a public road I’m using.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:27 pm
Rep. Demmer would be credible if he took the Mike Madigan approach to cell phones. /s
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:33 pm
Cost… at least for Reviver digital plates- “The basic Rplate with a five-year battery is $499 and then either $55 a year or $4.99 a month. It is also available for $17.95 a month for 36 months. Everything’s a bit pricier with the wired Rplate Pro, which is the more powerful option that works best for fleets because it can offer telematics options through its built-in GPS system. The Pro costs $599 and $75 a year, or $599 and $6.99 a month to buy outright, or you can pay for it in installments of $24.95 a month for 36 months. Plus installation, of course.” https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34748524/digital-license-plates-coming-2021/
Now, would Illinois also have a fee on top of this???
Comment by Anon221 Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:37 pm
Who will pay for it?
Comment by DuPage Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:41 pm
Read through this post twice and searched through the Google for longitudinal data to justify “a spike” worthy of such an action as implementing “digital” license plates. Many references to (and seemingly conflicting reports regarding) the extent to which this is a case of Chicagoland “youth” looking to joyride.
Ultimately, would love to come across a five-year, statewide heat map of carjackings by region. Or something showing a trend, at a state level.
Shy of that, I’m a firm “no” to the idea:
1) We can’t even get a single line of digital LED text onto our Ipass transponders to let us know in real-time how much money is in our Ipass piggy bank. In 2021, that’s a reasonable, feasible ask. Mass-produced, that’s an extra $2 / transponder.
How do GPS-embedded license plates, then, carry a price tag of $500+? Consumer GPS devices with a nice UI and a soothing British voice redirecting me after making a wrong turn cost half that amount.
2) We live in an age where the vast majority of us truly have no clue how much privacy we give up simply by owning an Internet-enabled (and GPS-enabled) smartphone.. let alone using it for.. anything “smart”. I have zero desire to add one more tracking device to my daily livelihood.
3) I know this isn’t a clean analogy, but this really smells of the burning kindling of the next iteration of red light cameras and speed cameras. Not sure I’m convinced of the efficacy of either to solve the respective problems for which each was built.
Not interested.
Comment by Zoomer Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:42 pm
I can see the advantage for fleet operators to centrally manage and remotely update their vehicle registrations. If they wish to make it optional for those sectors, I have no problem with that.
I see zero benefit for the average driver.
Our phones already provide Amber alert information.
If you’re worried about car jacking, an On-Star type solution that can remotely disable the vehicle is a more effective option.
These plates are too easy to disable or remove to deter theft. 5 seconds with a strategically placed drill bit and it’s done for.
Comment by Stig Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:42 pm
===Moore said the digital license plate platform is capable of sending alerts about stolen vehicles to notify the police and the public. It can also provide the vehicle’s owner with the location of their stolen vehicle.===
On-star and most of the other manufacturers have the capability to track and make the stolen vehicle go no faster then 15MPH and the horn and flashers run. At this point the customer has to have a subscription to these services. The state should arrange for this service to be available to police on a per/use basis, paid by the state.
Comment by DuPage Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:55 pm
I like the implementation of digital licenses plates. Why worry if you have nothing to hide?
Comment by Bob Meter Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:00 pm
The first thing that came to my mind was that the criminals would remove or disable the plate (as mentioned above). So, if it isn’t good for that, what is it for? If you are worried about your car being stolen, there are plenty of commercial products to choose from.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:03 pm
Make it optional, if you provide finger prints.
Comment by Mad Hatter Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:14 pm
Insurance will pay for my more expensive vehicles and I am not too worried about my $500 car being stolen. Plus what is going to happen when police are able to look up a vehicle owner’s race by their license and then track that vehicle? Racial profiling on steroids.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:35 pm
Also, tollway privacy is not an issue south of I-80. And even when I do go to the Chicago area, I can avoid tollways, if I am not in a hurry to get where I am going.
Comment by A Jack Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:50 pm
If I witness a crime involving a car, currently I can help identify the car via the license plate. I can’t do that with a digital plate.
Comment by City Guy Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:52 pm
Count me out. Big Brother (government and business) already knows way too much about our lives as it is.
Comment by Manchester Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 6:02 pm
If it’s optional I have no problem with it. We don’t have a car jacking problem where I live so there is no real need for this. Of course the car jacking is an obvious, convenient reason to enact this.
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 6:18 pm
I cannot believe this is the most effective way to stop carjackings. You are spending a large sum on every car to protect a few.
I might support drones with cameras so that cars could be followed without high speed auto chases.
Comment by Last Bull MooseI Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 7:28 pm
== send speeding tickets to people by a simple calculation ==
Big Brother was doing that 50 years ago on some eastern toll roads. Which is why, if you drive like a bat out of hell, you stop at an oasis for gas and food, so your elapsed time was below the speed limit.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 8:25 pm
how about we go back to old fashion police work. Conduct stings like we used to…….have U/C cops drive nice cars in areas where carjacking have been happening. Of course this would require that we do proactive police work and would be accused of targeting black and brown people when in reality we are targeting criminals and don’t care if they’re brown, black , white or blue.
Comment by popeye25 Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 8:33 pm
==Why worry if you have nothing to hide?==
Don’t assume I have nothing to hide.
Comment by Old Illini Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 8:57 pm
Digital license plates are a really dumb idea.
Comment by Odysseus Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 8:57 pm