Missed it- public comments for mandatory auto black boxes

[brucey]

"Do you have warrant?

(Y) (N)

(Y)

Thank you! Here is everything the driver has done wrong for the past 6 months."

[razor02097]

6 months of data would be massive... Most black boxes used in passenger cars to record crashes only record seconds to minutes before the data pull.

I was just saying if they don't have a warrant the cop couldn't just plug in to the data port and prove you were speeding, not wearing seatbelt, failed to completely stop at a stop sign, etc.

IMO Black box information should be protected under the 5th amendment so the information can't be used against you unless you specifically give permission to pull the data. However I don't see it being protected under the 5th because it isn't you that is incriminating you its an object. Therefore it should be protected by the 4th amendment... i.e. against illegal search and seizure. What they will try to do is say the data isn't a "thing" so it isn't protected. It's a complicated fight with way too many gray areas.

[gone-ot]

razor02097, I agree with you, however, the fact that the OWNER of the vehicle cannot disable or otherwize remove something that is NOT YET governmentally required is a HUGE problem...samething as with GM's use of OnStar™ and the fact that GM can/does "track" vehicles even AFTER the owner has formally "ceased" its operation.

[PressEnter[]]

I don't tend to be an alarmist, but I don't like the foot in the door. There's almost no end to how the data could be used to enforce laws. There are already cars that use SatNav to determine local speed limits and alert you if you are speeding. Something similar could be used to auto-ticket drivers.

[gone-ot]

"Self Incrimination" boxes that YOU have to pay for!

[t vago]

But you may be able to qualify for lower insurance rates!

If we don't mind Big Brother gathering a little data for cheaper insurance, then we shouldn't mind Big Brother gathering this exact same data for other purposes. What could go wrong?

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by t vago

What could go wrong?

...King George vs. George Washington.

[TheEnemy]

I'm pretty sure that the data in the box would still be protected against illegal search and siesure, requiring a warrant or permission prior to aquiring the data similar to prior to looking in the trunk of your car.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by TheEnemy

I'm pretty sure that the data in the box would still be protected against illegal search and siesure, requiring a warrant or permission prior to aquiring the data similar to prior to looking in the trunk of your car.

...you don't drive much in the south or thru Texas, do you?

[t vago]

Yes, it's quite okay to have these mandatory black boxes installed. You can even comfort yourself with the fiction that you merely get to refuse permission to access these mandatory black boxes, to any policeman who would stop you on suspicion of speeding.

That is, until you get arrested for doing precisely that.

Did I mention that you might be able to get lower insurance rates with these mandatory black boxes? Win-win!