Innovations to Combat Racism

Race is an issue of classification and racism comes from those separations. Our perceptions of people are ingrained in us by our families, the media, and our own experiences. We cannot erase these differences--they are our parts to be proud of--and we cannot ignore them (that is colorblindness).

To stop profiling, you need to erase our subjectivity. You need technology, which shouldn't be so hard in our technological/wireless/social media world.

Idea 1: Automatic Police Radar

We already have speed- and light-cameras that tag your license plate and send you a bill. Why not the same for the radar guns in squad cars?

It would eliminate the claims of "profiling" in all aspects. It would simply act objectively, tagging speeders by the license plate and forwarding the information.

Owner versus Driver

With all of our checking-in and social media, the car industry should find a way to have the driver of the car "log-in" before driving. From there, the name is displayed on a cute LED screen near the license plate. (We can put MP3 jacks and all other gadgets into the car. Hell, we even have some that parallel park for us. Why not?)

When someone speeds and it registers on the gun, the officer types in the name before sending the report forward in cyberspace, all without moving from his speed trap. This would especially help officers that ride alone at night or in dangerous neighborhoods.

He or she doesn't know if the person is black or white, old or young. The process could even be set to auto-send the tickets when an offense happens so that the officer has no opportunity to waive a ticket.

(If the person is driving erratically or dangerously, they have to be pulled over. Obviously.)

First Offenders

So you've never gotten a ticket, but you've had some close calls. This new idea sucks. Tweak it.

When the information is sent to be processed, they look up your driving record and see that you've never been pulled over. You have a clean bill. The office, automatic or not, issues you a warning. And, honestly, you should really need only one. If it's an area you know the police to target, slow down.

For those that have repeatedly crossed the law, they get the full ticket and the points. (I'm sure some system of measurement/amount can be established either as a sweeping gesture or state-by-state, county-to-county.)

Perhaps it could even send information back to the officer if the person has outstanding warrants. They already have a system that does that, and I wonder that it could be linked up.

Just like a normal ticket, your cyber ticket could be taken to court and fought.

Invasion of Privacy

Having to log-in your name is an invasion of privacy, your argument.

There's the old sayings: When it comes to safety, some freedoms must be given. What about when cops pull you over for not wearing a seatbelt or for talking on the cell phone (D.C.)? These are to protect you, your passengers, and the drivers around you.

Also, don't you have a Facebook / Google + / Twitter? You're already putting yourself out there for the world, tagging pictures and checking-in anyway. You should really check our their privacy policy (who they give all your information to) and the terms of agreement that you clicked right on through when signing up. You'd be surprised.

Idea 2