Meanwhile, Maryland is gearing up to double the number of roadside spy cameras, and automatically check every license plate that passes them.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/6/omalleys-spy-cameras/
That's sad to hear, particularly considering that this Telegraph article would suggest that such a move may cause even more highway deaths.
Regarding the license plate checking, I recall a story about a young Brit who discovered a police van parked in his neighborhood, which also had a 'hidden' speed cam which was placed in a manner suggesting that is was there entirely for revenue enhancement and not with safety in mind at all. He crept up behind the police van, took a high-res photo of the license plate, went home to his computer and was able to produce a near exact copy of the plate. He affixed the printout of his photo to his own car and drove past the speed cam at high-speeds numerous times. ;-)
When the ordinarily law-abiding citizens of Maryland start geting the feeling that the speed cameras are merely another set of grubby fingers going for their wallets, I'm wondering if similar pranks, and worse, will occur? You can only push decent people so far before they'll want to push back.