Candidate Proposes 90 MPH "Speed Passes" Worth The Name

Nevada, where America dumps its nuclear-proof refrigerators, retirees and certified used strippers, needs cash like a penny slot addict. One gubernatorial candidate says giving drivers a 24-hour pass to travel 90 mph could gin up $1 billion. Color us intrigued.

The plan comes from independent gubernatorial candidate Eugene "Gino" DiSimone, a engineer and hirsute lip enthusiast whose "Free Limit Plan" would be open to anyone with Nevada plates.

Here's how it would work: Owners would pay $48 to sign up their vehicle's VIN and license after a safety inspection, and get a transponder. At any time, they could dial into the state's system, pay $25 and travel up to 90 mph in certain areas for 24 hours.

State troopers who catch Free Limit-approved vehicles would get data from the transponder, setting the speeder free. DiSimone said the program could bring in $4 million a day if just 10% of Nevada drivers sign up on any given day, and more if commercial vehicles could take part.

Given that the state sports some of the straightest, most deserted roads in America, the merits seem obvious. The plan would be cheaper than the Silver State Classic Challenge, where car owners pay between $250 and $780 to run flat-out on closed public roads for just one day.

State troopers are not hip to the idea, noting the increased dangers of speed-related accidents they'd have to tackle in remote roads.

And the problem with all of this is that Gino has as much chance of winning in Nevada as Charles Barkley. While opening an American autobahn to all drivers would boost revenues, limiting the Free Limit Plan to Nevada drivers are part of DiSimone's overall "Nevada First" stance, which includes paying off state debt using gold or silver coins from state mines. He also wants to use the state National Guard to deport all illegal immigrants, have county sheriffs assert authority over federal officials and challenge Barack Obama's right to be president because Obama hasn't proved his U.S. citizenship and had a Kenyan father.

We've learned two things from this. One, good ideas can come from all parts of the political spectrum. Secondly, who knew Native Americans had a tribe named "DiSimone?"

(H/T to John & Alaric) [AP via CBS5.Com]