Slashdot | Using GPS To Catch Speeders Found Illegal

[Jim Choate]

On Wed, 4 Jul 2001, Declan McCullagh wrote:

> 
> On Wed, Jul 04, 2001 at 08:11:06PM -0500, Jim Choate wrote:
> > On Tue, 3 Jul 2001, Declan McCullagh wrote:
> > 
> > > If the speed limits were 85 mph and a rental car company decided it
> > > only wanted drivers to go 65 mph, they could put this in their contract
> > > and enforce if, if they so choose.
> > 
> > How? The only ethical way would be to either put a govenor on the vehicle
> > or else have somebody ride along with you. Otherwise they'd just have to
> > trust the civil authorities to catch speeders.
> 
> 1. Notify renters you're going to GPS track the car to catch speeders
> 2. GPS track the car to catch speeders
> 3. Fine speeders
> 4. Tell them you've fined them
> 
> Perfectly ethical, though probably bad business practice.

Actually it's not, it's a strawman to draw in more income.

If the auto vendor was really concerned about their vehicle they'd install
a govenor (like they did on the '64 1/2 Mustand for example) that would
limit the RPM's of the engine. Quick, easy, simple. A lot(!!!) less
expensive (about $20) and more reliable than a GPS receiver.

It's the typical bait and switch (typical of capitalist/libertarian goals
that is).

What's an example of why this process won't work? Consider the GPS is set
for 55MPH and the customer is doing exactly 50MPG (hence not being shown
as a speeder) but is in a 30MPH zone.


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