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From: otto@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu (John Otto)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Amendments
Message-ID: <1991May2.202007.2971@mailer.cc.fsu.edu>
Date: 3 May 91 01:02:41 GMT
References: <S25b.3258@looking.on.ca> <6750023@hp-vcd.HP.COM> <63910@bbn.BBN.COM>
Reply-To: otto@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University
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In article <63910@bbn.BBN.COM>, cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell) writes...
> 
>Ah, but look how wonderful things will be when computers enter the
>scene.  If you get one of those "who I am" readouts [that they're
>pushing for use at least in NYC to replace the tollbooths on the GW
>Bridge], then you wouldn't need to take a ticket at all: you roll
>through the entrance booth and they can read out not only who you are
>and which entrance you came through, but *when*.  Then when you exit,
>they can automatically tote up your toll, and even include the fine for
>the speeding violation, as appropriate [and 'synchronization' wouldn't
>be an issue, since all of the timings would have been done relative to
>the system clock on the machine coordinating all of this].  Won't that
>be nice? :-)
> 
>[NB.  They can do that anyway, just by using your car ID # [which is
>right where the toll-taker can see it, although that is a LOT of crap
>to copy down as you go through], but entering your plate number as you
>drive away is probably workable.]
> 
>  /Bernie\

Ah, but with Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) they don't have to hire
as many toll booth workers and you don't have to stop.  It's also possible
to base billing on vehicle weight and pollution (e.g. CO emission) levels,
as well.  It's convenient, too.  You get a road bill at the end of the
month, like a phone bill now.  But I really hate the privacy invasion 
involved in both.
John G.Otto jgo@fsu.bitnet  jgo@rai.cc.fsu.edu  fsu1::otto