San Jose Mercury News reports that Democratic State Senator Curren Price submitted a bill focused on the initiative, and that it was passed with no opposition. Now the state's transportation authorities will consult with the Highway Patrol and other groups to decide whether or not to go through with the plan.
Advocates believe the digital license plates could actually cut license plate construction costs and bring money to the state via ad sales. Hypothetically the tech could be used to display personalized messages as well.
The obvious quip here would be one about accidents caused by drivers distracted by flashy advertisements, but the plan is to only show ads when a vehicle has been stationary for more than four consecutive seconds. Things would stay simple when the vehicle is moving, and the license plate number would remain visible at all times.
On the other hand, some people will complain that there are already too many ads out there. Billboards line the highways, cabs carry ads, and cities and states have been selling ads on buses and trains for ages. Maybe that's too much, or maybe we're all accustomed to tuning it out by now anyway.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Rpsycho