Five years after the first signatures by California Gov. Jerry Brown, new digital license plates have finally hit the streets. According to The Sacramento Bee, the new plates started rolling out this weekteam, and they are by no means cheap.
Motorists who choose to purchase the digital number plates can register their vehicles electronically and avoid having to affix road tax stickers each year. Digital signs have computer chips, batteries and wireless communication systems. They will also be able to display in person messages if of course the authorities allow it.
The antiface(individuals) are expected to have the plates for $699, not including installation costs. Owners will also have to pay a monthly fee of $7. Digital license plates will only be allowed on the rear of the vehicle.
A state spokesman said there were only 116 vehicles with digital license plates at the moment. "The purpose of the pilot project is to identify and analyze the potential benefits, so we are still in the evaluation phase."
As with all new technologies, cyber security and hacking seem to be of great concern to the Authorities. The ability to locate a vehicle with the wireless communication system of digital license plates may be ideal for multi-car owners, but for individual drivers, the feature it can become a nightmare.
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