Police call for remote button to stop cars

[Tinoire]

Police call for remote button to stop cars

Motorists face new 'Big Brother' technology

Juliette Jowit, transport editor
Sunday December 21, 2003
The Observer

After speed cameras, road humps and mobile phone bans, there could be more bad news for Britain's motorists. Police are urging Ministers to give them the power to stop vehicles by remote control.
In what will be seen as yet another example of the in-creasing power of Big Brother, drivers face the prospect of their cars being halted by somebody pushing a button.

<snip>

Stopping cars remotely sounds futuristic, but the basic technology is already available and used in lorries to limit the top speed to 56mph and in new systems to immobilise stolen cars.

<snip>

Similar radio telemetry was used by Formula One pit crews to adjust the engines of racing cars at up to 200mph - until it was banned this year.

'The technology exists and will become more refined as time goes on,' said Nick Rendell, managing director of the Siemens business developing this technology in the UK.

<snip>

Experts now believe the technology could start to be used voluntarily by the end of the decade and ultimately could be made mandatory.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1111211,00.html

[Come Together]

1. This is something

I saw bandied about on US television (Discovery or Nova or The Learning Channel) a while back.

If we do not remove Bush from office, the US will have this in place in 2005...mark my words!

ABB

[Fovea]

2. A friend of mine died last summer

when she was hit on her bicycle by a driver trying to evade police in a high speed residential chase.

I see this as a *good* thing. Driving is not in the bill of rights, and should not be. It is a priveledge given to the responsible, and should be swiftly removed from the irresponsible.

I worked nearly 5 years in an emergency room, and I would gladly throttle the producer of the dukes of hazzard.
This culture has its head completely up its ass regarding the automobile.

[virtualobserver]

3. people could also learn to hack into it

and stop your car on a lonely road.

[Kolesar]

4. I expect that I could disable it

There has to be an antenna on the system to recieve signals. It will be in the repair manual wiring diagram. I would just replace the antenna with a 50 ohm resistor.

[BiggJawn]

9. Then we'd be Double-plus-Bad Felons...

It'd become a federal offense to tamper with the system, just like "turning back" odometers....Probably something put in the law to allow the Robo-Cops to fill your back window with .50-cal. slugs from the roof-top turret if your car doesn't stop after they push the button.

Fuck'em, I'm planning on peddling for the border when it comes to that, anyway. Won't be allowed to buy enough gas to drive there.

[Drifter]

23. First thing I thought ...

was criminals using this device to disable your car. Or even police using this type of technology for illegal reasons.

Not a good Idea.

Cheers
Drifter

[Jacobin]

5. Would be a convenient way to stop protesters from protesting, too

They are already denying boarding on commercial jets to some anti-war protesters.

Now they can just push a button.

[Tinfoil]

7. I feel for the loss of your friend,

however, that is not an excuse to impliment this system. This is yet another step towards big brother and I for one do not want it and will not accept it.


Fortunately, I'm sure it will be easily defeatable. Then, after that, we'll see the gov't having to spend more money on enforcing this stupid law instead of spending money more responsibly on things that can actually do society some good.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. I'm terribly sorry

I deeply apologize for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose a close friend.

Unfortunately, I disagree with your views on the matter. Firstly, if it was a high speed chase, your first qualm should be with the police, whom are supposed to have a policy against engaging in high speed chases unless extreme circumstances occur. Secondly, I believe driving should be a right, protected under pursuit of happiness. Transportation is vitally important in this day, and unless you live in the biggest of cities, you probably do not have an adequate public transportation system. This makes having a car a necessity to a very large percentage of Americans, who need to have a way to get to and from their jobs, their families, and the rest of their lives. Finally, you generalize our entire society as being irresponsible with automobiles, when, just as with everything else, an extremely small percentage of the population are really what's at fault here. Most Americans do not experience more than a couple of minor accidents in their lives.

This is not to say that those people whom have proven themselves irresponsible shouldn't have their licenses revoked. However, driving is not a privilege - it is a necessity, and thus, should be protected as a right.

[0007]

14. Very well said!

[Mr.Green93]

11. see the ninth amendment

n/t

[karlschneider]

31. My condolences. I also lost a very close friend in a police chase. He

was the policeman (George Lee Brady) and ended up crashing into an oncoming car at Admiral & Lewis in Tulsa. Killed him and 2 people in the other car. The 15 year old kid joyriding got away but was caught later that night. I was also working at the police dep't then (to pay for college) and was devastated that George chose to continue such a dangerous chase. But I do understand the adrenalin 'high' that gets cops going in those situations.

And even after that, I strenuously object to the sort of technology discussed here. Too man opportunities for mischief.

[DulceDecorum]

6. They hate our freedoms

and that is why we need technology
to halt the donkeys of mass destruction.

[GregW]

8. They didn't need "remote control" in the movie, "Ronin"

A LAWS rocket worked just fine thank you very much!

:eyes:

[Robb]

12. See, that's the trouble with the British.

In this country, the same issue would be addressed by the police in the form of requesting bazookas for highway patrol.

/sarcasm

[0007]

13. Police must find another way this will not work for many reasons.

Chasing the alleged criminal, or what the police believes for whatever reason is not the answer. It kills and damages property.

I don't know what the answer is, maybe a GPS system that could find the car in question.

[zbdent]

15. Didn't you read about the "traffic light override" devices used by police

and EMS?

It didn't take too long before somebody started marketing the "play at home" version.

And that news was only a few short months ago.

[yellowcanine]

18. Yep - bad idea for this reason.

For it to work in a "generic" way for law enforcement everywhere, the technology would have to be fairly transparent and it would only be a matter of time before "black market" devices would be in the hands of bad guys. Not to mention the problem of training police to use it properly - such a device in untrained hands could have tragic results. Therefore its use would be limited to officers that were certified on the device - limiting the effectiveness.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

20. "traffic light override"

is a completer scam, as far as the ones sold to motorists.

Overriding the light generally just turns them all red, in both directions. Since only cops and EMS can legally run a red light, all Joe Average is going to do with his new strobe light is mess up the traffic pattern and slow himself down.

[KansDem]

16. This is nothin'...!!!

I don't even have a remote control and my car stops all the time! *rimshot*:silly:

[mbperrin]

17. Let's go all the way and make dashboards

out of C4 with remote detonation devices!

Quit pussyfooting around and get some real testosterone!

[electricmonk]

19. Car dealers already have it

Saw it on the news a month or so ago about car dealers installing remote kill switches that they can use to disable a car if you're late with the payment. They claim there's a safety built in to keep people from having their car shut off at 65mph but I'm waiting for that to malfunction and the lawsuits to follow.

[Bombero1956]

21. Oh that makes sense

Kill switch shuts off the motor which runs the power steering and power brakes and in most cars you have to depress the brake to shift the tranny. If the police should disable your car in error how does the system get reset.

[dw]

22. Scenario: Car A has the technology, but Car B behind it doesn't.

Car A stops suddenly. Car B doesn't. Who's liable?

[ProfessorGAC]

26. Good Hypothetical

Methinks this remote idea creates more problems than it solves.
The Professor

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

24. It'll be great for practical jokes

Take one of those devices and hook it up to a powerful transmitter and instantly cause every car in NYC to shut off.

For more practical uses, you can use it to shut down the cars of the people who piss you off. They cut you off in traffic, you cut off their engine. I can't wait to get one. It would only be a matter of time before they become available on the black market.

[DrWeird]

25. How about a button for firing jackass police?

Preferably into the sun.

[Alpharetta]

27. Wrong-way drivers on the freeway

and other obvious drunks.

I'd say would be good arguments for phasing the functionality into new cars.

[KansDem]

30. Assuming drunks and wrong way drivers can afford new cars...

I would think that economic Darwinism would make it harder for these people to afford new cars, what with lawyer's fees, penalties, lawsuits, medical costs, etc. Therefore, these drivers would not be buying new cars. Consequently, implementation of this new technology would result in the risks outweighing the benefits.

I do agree that wrong-way drivers are a problem, having had near collisions with a few who I assumed were drunk...

[WildClarySage]

28. Sounds like something a few sexual predators

would really love to see happen here.

[amber dog democrat]

29. all the more reason to have an older car

I'd like to restore an old type I VW Bug.
There have to be work arounds.