California weighs 'digital adverts' on number plates

"Moron of the Month" award just has to go to the person who thought-up this idea
California weighs 'digital adverts' on number plates

Under the bill before the state legislature, the California motor vehicles department would have until 2013 to research digital number plates, including the amount of revenue they would raise, restrictions on the messages they display and any impact on traffic safety.

According to a state analysis of the bill, while the vehicle bearing a digital plate is in motion the plate would display the registration number.

But when the vehicle is stopped for four seconds or more, the number would be replaced with a scrolling set of messages including advertisements for private businesses, educational institutions and other organisations that have contracts with the state.

Criminals in California would love this idea.
"Hello 911 some masked men with guns just jumped out of a parked car and ran into the bank"
"Can you tell me the registration number of the car?"
"Yes, it is 'buy vanilla coke now with 20% less sugar'"
"OK Honey just hang about there and wait for the men to come back and drive off, hopefully you will not get shot and will have time to read the real registration number, if the suspects have not interfered with the car's movement sensor"