Several years ago, a little white trailer with a radar indicator was placed on some near-by streets. The idea was to give you some feedback on how fast you were going. Duh! Isn't that what speedometers are for?
Then signs began appearing along the streets reminding drivers that children were always present and we should be mindful of the ever present danger. They are cute signs with a yellow and black motif.
Lately the local police department has been setting up speed traps using radar to catch speeders. They are pretty clever at hiding their vehicles behind trees and bushes and there has been a steady stream of local residents pulled over.
Last week I got a letter in the mail. It was addressed to me personally. I was given information on the new program called "Speed Watch". Volunteers use a radar unit to document the speed of vehicles. On a day in June 2008 at 11:20 a.m., a black Toyota registered in my name was observed traveling 10 mph over the speed limit. It was signed by an officer of the Police Department.
Here is my question! I don't normally drive our Toyota. How do they know is was me? It could have been one of you Grasshoppers using the car. It could have been a thief on the premise it was stolen. It could have been Mom. Yes, there is a slight possibility that it could have been me.
What next? Maybe each car will have a GPS locating device mounted inside it's frame at the factory and the government will know where you are all the time and how fast you are going. Wait, don't we have that already? Aren't dashboard mounted navigation systems capable of tracking you at all times? Yes we have reached the point where "Big Brother" is capable of watching you 24/7.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that our personal freedoms are extremely important things. There is a fine line between being reminded that you were speeding and "Big Brother" continual surveilance. We get closer to losing our personal freedoms with all the hook-ups of computers, cable TV connections, security video cameras, GPS systems and satelite tracking. I don't know about you, but I don't like being watched all the time.
Obey the law. Protect your freedoms.
I don't doubt for one moment that someone was speeding in a black Toyota.
Love,
Dad