Digital license plates?

[UnCytely]

California drivers can now sport digital license plates on their cars

The license plate-sized screens display a plate number and allow drivers to renew their registration. They also allow users to track a vehicle with GPS and display a warning if the car is stolen.

www.npr.org

Expansive, but attractive nonetheless, especially if you have an upscale car. I can see a car company like Tesla including them as an option, built-into the car. That way, the plate would be part of the design, and not literally screwed on after. It would also be one less source of potential rust corrosion. I have seen cars where, especially in the front, the design of the car was such that no thought at all was made into how to put a plate on the car.

Now that one company is doing it, I can see other companies doing the same, doing it better, and doing it cheaper. It basically is just an e-ink display, made weather-resistant.

 

[CascadeClone]

Firat thought is a lowjack thats removable isnt much of a security feature.

Second thought is it will make taxing ppl per mile driven a lot easier.

 

[Clonehomer]

So you're replacing a 50¢ piece of metal with a screen that's going to cost $20 / month? Reminds me of the old SNL sketch of the Machintosh post-it.

 

[Cyclonepride]

You're basically buying a device that allows you to be tracked.

 

[BryceC]

You're basically buying a device that allows you to be tracked.

Posted from a phone probably

 

[KidSilverhair]

Second thought is it will make taxing ppl per mile driven a lot easier.

That’s actually probably a smarter way to tax vehicles/road use anyway. It‘s just too complicated to do now.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Posted from a phone probably

Nope

 

[nfrine]

All the EV's evade the state and federal gas taxes now. Electronic plates will help with that tracking.

 

[ISUAlum2002]

All the EV's evade the state and federal gas taxes now.

Yeah, instead now we pay a surcharge on our annual registration that is supposed to replace the state gas tax loss but it's actually more than I would have paid if I was buying gas for a 30mpg car. Here in Iowa, anyway.

 

[SECyclone]

Firat thought is a lowjack thats removable isnt much of a security feature.

Second thought is it will make taxing ppl per mile driven a lot easier.

Bingo. It’s coming

 

[Clonehomer]

Firat thought is a lowjack thats removable isnt much of a security feature.

Second thought is it will make taxing ppl per mile driven a lot easier.

I guess this is seen as a benefit to those who only drive a few thousand miles annually. So perhaps the old lady who only drives to church once a week shouldn't get taxed the same as someone who has an hour commute every day?

 

[Cydewayz]

1. You are a day late to renew and it shuts off...instant ticket, lol
2. How are people supposed to stack up registration stickers all over this, lol?

 

[NWICY]

Someone will hack them so it says your car is stolen and you get swatted driving down the street.
To anyone that wants them more power to you. Give me the cheaper option.

 

[BryceC]

Nope

Do you own one?

 

[Cyclonepride]

Do you own one?

I do. That doesn't mean that I am going to willingly sign up for more tracking

 

[wxman1]

Can we just get rid of the front plate first?

 

[pourcyne]

Let's hope they move faster than Iowa. I ordered blackout plates three months ago. County treasurer said the state just started processing my request last week.

 

[MeowingCows]

Meh. Seems unnecessary/not real beneficial for most people. I'd pass on it at this point.

 

[mynameisjonas]

You're basically buying a device that allows you to be tracked.

Which is the real reason they’re probably coming out with this.

 

[SCNCY]

Meh. Seems unnecessary/not real beneficial for most people. I'd pass on it at this point.

Yeah, I don't see the benefit either. I know some people care more about the look of their care than a lot of others. I fall in the later, so I don't really care what it looks like, or if their is a plate in the front, etc. I especially don't care for a digital plate if it's going to cost me a fee each month.