ITS and Locational Privacy: Suggestions for Peaceful Coexistence

This article reviews several legal cases where the implementation of transportation technologies has raised civil liberties arguments. The authors examine these cases from both legal and political perspectives. The authors caution that without knowledge of the legal framework that may apply to emerging technologies, developers in the field of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) may face conflicts when their new ideas reach the implementation stage. However, a better understand of the concept of privacy, both as a political concept and a legal protection, can provide a foundation for future ITS progress without the bumps in the road that have been occurring thus far. The authors review one relevant case from before ITS, in the arena of seat belt ignition interlocks. They go on to review a number of ITS projects, including automated enforcement, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) taxes and electronic tolling systems, and electronic enforcement of graduated drivers licenses (GDL). They note that electronic enforcement of GDL rules offers a way to examine driver monitoring technology that is currently used in the private sector (on a voluntary basis) but which would create privacy concerts if a government entity were to mandate implementation. The article concludes with a list of six recommendations that ITS planners and developers could follow to reconcile the legal and political privacy issues raised by ITS. These recommendations focus not only on the legal issues per se, but also on the role of public perception and acceptance.

Language

  • English

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01352554
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Sep 26 2011 7:58AM