MR>-> Having a monitor for every telephone placed in the police station wou
  >-> catch criminals, but it is nevertheless illegal because of constituti
  >-> guarantees of personal privacy.
  >->
  >-> While I'm not so sure I disagree with the use of random license plate
  >-> checks, the excuse that "it catches criminals" is not good enough.
  >->
  >-> Now, as to why I'm not sure I agree that tapping your phone and runni
  >-> your license plate is the same thing...  I don't see how pulling your
  >-> DMV record could reveal any "private" information about you or your
  >-> life.  I see no way to affect a "police state" by doing so.  How coul
  >-> running your license plate invade one's privacy?
  >Again there is a diffrence in listing in on your phone conversations,
  >and merely checking to make sure that the license plate on a car
  >actually belongs to it.
Ok.... I'm willing to concede the issue, but not the point.  "Because it
catches criminals" is NOT a good reason to enact and enforce any law.
It must be "for the good of society".
As for the issue.... After following this thread for just a few
messages, I find that I agree with Rich Willbanks (one `l', and don't
tell him that I agree with him )...  There are many potential abuses
involved in running license plates without probable cause that a crime
has been committed and that the owner/operator of the car was involved.
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