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Even better: in Germany, the cameras black out the passenger's side of the car automatically for privacy reasons, so that only the driver is identified.

This was a problem in 2008 when a car with steering wheel on the right systematically got caught speeding. The driver knew full well what was going on an placed a muppet in the passeger's seat. The picture is fantastic:

https://gizmodo.com/the-muppets-animal-caught-speeding-drivi...



This is funny, but in repeated cases the authorities would require the car owner to keep a driving log for that car. So this wouldn't work for very long.


At that time, British and Irish governments didn't share licence plate ownership data with their continental European counterparts. German authorities couldn't trace the owner of the car without a physical stop. Situation has changed in recent years and I understand that now the data is exchanged.


Really? They can require that in Germany? Imagine if they did that in the US, I suspect most drivers here are unable to read.


Not unusual for commercial trucking, or to satisfy the IRS when you have business writeoffs for mileage.


In Washington State they go one step further: cameras can only take pictures from the rear. They're not allowed to actually take a picture of the driver.


So it becomes a civil matter between the state and the vehicle I assume? Registered owner automatically becomes the liable party?


Yes (same in Ontario, Canada generally). The owner gets the civil fine, but there are no demerit points put on anyone's license.

If one is pulled over for speeding (or anything else), then the officer can identify the driver and they get points as well.

I think points are used as an (dis)incentive for people who would be otherwise be willing to just cut a cheque. Too many points and you start getting insurance problems.

* https://www.ontario.ca/page/understanding-demerit-points

Seems to be somewhat common in a few jurisdictions:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_system_(driving)




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