TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Some Concerned About Privacy Implications of E-ZPass System

Re: Some Concerned About Privacy Implications of E-ZPass System

Barry Margolin (barmar@alum.mit.edu)
Thu, 24 Mar 2005 21:33:31 -0500

In article <telecom24.130.18@telecom-digest.org>, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
wrote:

> John Levine wrote:

>> The potential for privacy problems is severe, but to their credit I
>> don't think I've ever heard reports of abuses. Besides the
>> possibility of tracking people by tag use, there's the violation
>> tracking issue. If you drive through an E-ZPAss booth in NY with no
>> tag or an invalid tag, a camera takes a picture of your car and they
>> will ask the state DMV to look up the license plate number so they can
>> send you a ticket.

> The original private contractor for the NJ EZP system was notoriously,
> sending out many violation notices that weren't deserved. That
> strongly discouraged motorists from adopting EZP. Of course, now the
> NJTpk intends to eliminate the EZP discount, which is a stupid move
> since it removes the incentive for motorists to use EZP, esp
> occassional drivers. Result is more overcrowding in cash lanes.

Massachusetts doesn't give a discount for FastLane, but last year they
instituted a tax deduction if you use it enough to be considered a
commuter (I think $150 or $250).

Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me ***

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