Automatic tickets for uninsured drivers coming soon as Oklahoma works out license-plate scanner deal

[TexasTowelie]

Oklahoma finalized a deal this week with a company to use license-plate scanners to catch uninsured drivers, and the firm expects to issue an eventual 20,000 citations a month starting as early as next year.

The program, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, involves setting up automated scanners on highways around the state to detect uninsured vehicles and mailing their owners a citation with a fine of $184, according to the District Attorneys Council.

Gatso USA, a Beverly, Massachusetts-based company that specializes in red-light-running and speeding detection systems, will initially get $80, or 43 percent, of each fine. Its cut will decrease to $74 after two years and $68 after five years, according to a contract approved by the state after more than six months of legal review and negotiation.

The company could expect to bring in $1.6 million a month if the 20,000-citations-a-month estimate is accurate.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/automatic-tickets-for-uninsured-drivers-coming-soon-as-oklahoma-works/article_d40042f9-74c8-55d0-9d0a-d18154941b87.html

[VMA131Marine]

1. Coming soon to an EZ-Pass toll station near you....

Actually, Massachusetts already has toll by mail which relies on license plate scanning for cars without a transponder so presumably they could implement this fairly easily.

[gladium et scutum]

4. So does Ohio

Drove a short stretch of toll road with an automated toll booth while in a rental car. The toll authority billed the rental company for two trips on the road, total charge $2.50. The rental car company, in turn, billed me $32.00 for the two trips. They paid the $2.50, then nailed me for administrative and processing fees.

[TomSlick]

2. I see a hitch.

I have automobile liability insurance. My insurance would cover me while driving a car belonging to a person who didn't have insurance. So, I would not be driving without insurance and the owner of the car certainly wouldn't be.

[kacekwl]

3. Another way to make sure poor people stay poor.

Can't afford insurance but need to get to work to make some money to maybe buy some but bingo you get tagged on the way to work now you have to find a way to cough up 184.00 bucks you don't have and can't pay the fine. Next time you take the long way to work and hope there is no scanner to clip you again. But now you get pulled over for a brake light out and now you are informed your licence is suspended because you failed to pay the fine. Now you have no insurance no licence and the cop will have to impound your car to the tune of 200.00 for the tow and 100.00 per day storage and now have no way to get to work thus are fired. I could keep going no job no rent no apartment etc etc etc.