Won't quite work like that. But one the owner calls into OnStar that the car has been stolen. They cut the power once the owner give the correct info (not the cops). Should make car retrieval better. I know it would have been nice last year when my truck was stolen (and still never found). This give those the want OnStar a little extra.

 

This is from article:
The process for Stolen Vehicle Slowdown would go something like this. A customer calls OnStar to report that his vehicle has been stolen, which would prompt OnStar to locate the car via GPS. OnStar would then provide the car's information and location to law enforcement in the area. The police, when they are able to establish a clear line of sight on the stolen vehicle, can then call into OnStar and request that the car be slowed down remotely. OnStar would then send a signal to the car that would instruct it to reduce engine power, thus slowing the car to an eventual stop.

 

This is basically an extension of the vehicle tracking service already offered by OnStar.

 

I dislike the idea immensely. With all of the bills and laws that have managed to be passed in recent years, i can see one being passed in the near future which allows for law enforcement to have your car shut down. I also dislike the fact that we seem to be placing cameras everywhere in bigger cities. Still no where near as many as britain but give it time.

 

Correct, the owner contacts onstar first. OnStar won't do anything until the owner gives the correct info to OnStar that they own the vehicle, not the cops. Cops are only letting onstar know when they see the vehicle. OnStar can infact kill power at anytime. Thieves can't continue with a car that won't run.

Cops will not be able to do this until the owner contacts OnStar. They can not request this on their own.

 

Well, we already have Event Data Recorders in the cars that record the last five seconds of operation before either the airbags deploy or power is cut to the recorder. So if you're in a wreck, all your insurance company or law enforcement has to do is get either a court order or a search warrant to have the manufacturer analyze your driving behavior in the final seconds of the collision.

 

Yeah, I agree. Not to sound paranoid ( I am ), but we, and Britain, among other Western countries, are becoming the Orwellian police states of fiction.

I know those we "elect" try to convince us it is all for our own good and bogeymen and bad guys will be stopped because of these efforts. While true to an extent, it give an increasingly uncomfortable amount of power to a lot of people NONE OF US ELECTED or in many instances cannot even sue or effectively remove if they get out of hand.

People DO get out of hand when they have power. History, recent and old proves this time and again.
Brings me to my favorite adage:
" Who watches the Watchmen?"

 

Local News TV station also mentioned that they want to be able to have a gps device the cops can fire from their car while in pursuit of a vehicle that would stick to the back of that car. Then the cops can call off the chase so that any innocent people won't get hurt and then just safely close in from all directions to nap the guy when he slows down or stops someplace since the gps will be showing the cops where he is.

This method is for the cars that don't have OnStar

 

I really like that idea. I also heard it on the radio oner day.

 

a good one