Officials say that no personal information will be stored on or transmitted by the chip — only an identification number. But the Ron Paul supporters conspiracy theorists will no doubt see this as another step closer to a totalitarian government. We're no fans of an impending nanny-state either, but what do you think? Do RFID IDs have a legitimate use or will they simply lead to an Orwellian future? [cnet via fashionfunky]

Imagine the chaos that would ensue if a large number of people had their toll transponders cease to function. One possible fix would be for the existing cameras (that snap photos of cars without transponders) to take photos of random cars in an effort to catch the occasional RFID pirate, but any changes to the actual transponders would have to be passed through the California legislative system. Until then, you may want to just pay cash. [hackaday] (Hat tip to Fabienne!)

RFID ID identification is the future, regardless of what concerns are being expressed about privacy. This unified system will make it easier than ever to deal with the agonies that accompany uptight ID security. Needing to show the ID at the supermarket when paying with a credit card, or getting into bars, or any other inconvenience will be less of a hassle now that a machine will know you are you without having to pull out the card and give it to the hands of a scummy bouncer or clerk.

Even when dealing with authorities the RFID-embedded IDs will help. It will help keep people off the roads that shouldn't be there. And during stops it will increase efficiency with the ID information being automatically beamed to the officer, rather than requiring the officer to scribble down your information and harass you about your current address for 15 minutes.

I welcome the widening net of social control and our new RFID overlords. It could be because I am lazy, or it could be more for potentially greater safety and security on the roads. How long until I can get an RFID chip implanted in my skin? That's the real question, and maybe it's just because I have nothing to hide and I realize that transparency of information transfer is the lubricant of efficiency. [Engadget]

It's still the responsibility of the driver to actually pay attention to the warning, and then be aware of the approaching cyclist, but at least the scumbag lawyers of Grenå can find other ways to sue the pants off the city, like suing the pants off of the driver for not paying attention.

Another city installing a system to warn motorists of cyclists is Copenhagen. This city is installing diodes at intersections that will begin blinking when a cyclists passes a nearby sensor. No word on how they'll be able to tell the difference between a bike and let's say — a pair of joggers running in tandem.

Normally I would try to relate this to the United States traffic situation, but who I am kidding, the only bikes we really care about are of the fuel-burning variety. [Treehugger]

A Canadian company is touting its RFID solution to vehicle tracking as superior to plate-reading cameras. Instead of a passel of plate-reading cameras, they're suggesting a network of sensors throughout Southern BC, allowing authorities to track cars in real time with GPS coordinates. Some call it smart. We think either solution should be shelved. Besides, if you were a real criminal, wouldn't you simply take a cordless drill to the license plate and bore through the chip? – Davey G. Johnson

Firm pans plate readers [BCNG Portals]

Related:
Black Box Bogey: NHTSA Says Carmakers Must Tell Buyers They're Being Watched [Internal]