ian-mstm

On the one hand, I can see it as a source of generating revenue in an economically strapped state... but, OTOH, I think it'll be really annoying after the novelty wears off!

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/new...tal_billboards

Ian

mayhemuk

Completely stupid IMHO.
Also who pays for them. Who maintains them? What if they break down do the advedrtisers get a refund?
Unworkable and probably cost more than it'll raise.

Norri

What if they break down and don't display the license information,do you get a ticket?

celticgrid

I see plenty of evidence as to why license plates are best made out of thin, bendy material. There's insufficient information to definitively judge, but I suspect these new-fangled ones are not bendy

Would the plates not need to be permanently on, even when parked? So much scope for problems it doesn't bear thinking about.

Steerpike

Yeah, imagine, once they talked about sending a man 250,000 miles in a container the size of a truck to the moon ... and back ... couldn't possibly be done! And they once thought they could put your entire identity on a card no bigger than ... well, a credit card ... that you could put in your wallet and use for all purchses! Silly people. And of course, there were those loonies that thought you could put your entire music collection on a device the size of a matchbox!

Lithium/ion battery (or wire to your car battery?), liquid crystal display not unlike the 'permanent' types used in Amaon's 'Kindle' book readers, some kind of RFI sensor for secondary law enforcement ID ... I'm sure it's possible.

Hate the idea, personally, but I have no doubt that it could be done. Not as ugly as taxis in the US that carry ads on their roofs, though!

Bob

Yeah, it could be done, but it'll cost more than it'll bring in, plus have a much higher maintenance cost. Current plates cost pennies to make, done by prisoners.

Who's going to want to pay more than $20-40 for a plate?

Steerpike

Well, since they are doing it to raise money, I presume they won't implement the project unless they can address those issues. Of course, that's simple logic and the people involved may not be aware of such things ....

On a related note, AZ allows a ridiculous array of plate designs; some are, quitel literally, black digits on a dark background, and I can't even read them from across the street. But I'm told, they are 'reflective' in some special way that the cops can read.

Norri

Are you sure that shouldn't be "I'm told, they are 'reflective' in some special way that the cops can't read"

Here is the link to the ludicrous list of special AZ plates -http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/vehicle/mvdplate.asp

sir_eccles

That wasn't the "Families of Fallen Police Officers" one by any chance? I can never read that one and I note they have a redesign on the way to make it more readable.

Steerpike

Nope, it was the Golden Rule one ... interesting that they are redesigning the 'fallen' one, but not this one! I really can't read this 'golden rule' one from 10 feet away!