NO2ID

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ia ... d-drivers/

Garage ‘spies at the pumps’ could cut off fuel supply for uninsured drivers

By Ian Cowie
Your Money
Last updated: March 13th, 2012

Now that one in 25 motorists in Britain is driving uninsured – and these drivers are involved in collisions which kill about three people a week – the Government is considering cutting off their access to petrol or diesel by using ‘spies at the pumps’.

Accountants Ernst & Young are working with the Prime Minister’s Office on plans to identify uninsured drivers on garage forecourts and at fuel pumps via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). The cameras, already installed to prevent motorists driving off without paying for fuel, could be used to cross-reference number plates against the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) database. A positive match, showing that a vehicle is without insurance or tax, would mean it is prevented from filling up.

Graeme Swan, a partner at Ernst & Young, said: “Following a presentation with officials at Number 10, where we suggested the approach, Government is now looking to move this policy forward.

“The key to this is simplicity. Connecting the existing technology and is relatively inexpensive and wouldn’t be a big information technology programme.

“There shouldn’t be concerns about ‘big brother’ because there is no new database, no vehicles are tracked and no record is kept. It’s simply a new rule of no insurance equals no fuel.

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The obvious weak spot for that is that if, say, I had a red BMW, all I have to do is find another red BMW, use ASKMID to check if thats insured, and then just get plates for the insured car and stick them on mine. Won't stop anyone but once again ANPR is being hailed as a crime-stopper.

strange that, you'd think MP's would be good at thinking like criminals wouldn't you

This is bloody stupid. We are getting more like 1984 everyday.

So what happens if a person walks into a petrol station with a fual can. Are they going to refuse to allow you to fill it up?

People don't have registrations for ANPR to check. So this is utterly stupid and unworkable.