California: a lovely and temperate place! Kind of broke, though. And so it is that the state (currently $19 billion in the hole) is considering a bill that would convert vehicle license plates into electronic billboards "that would mimic a standard license plate when the vehicle is in motion but would switch to digital ads or other messages when it is stopped for more than four seconds, whether in traffic or at a red light," explains the Associated Press. What will end up on these digital ads? Considering that there are only three things advertised on California billboards -- casinos, lap bands, and popular entertainment -- I think we can guess.
From the report:
The bill's author, Democratic Sen. Curren Price of Los Angeles, said California would be the first state to implement such technology if the state Department of Motor Vehicles ultimately recommends the widespread use of the plates. He said other states are exploring something similar.
Interested advertisers would contract directly with the DMV, thus opening a new revenue stream for the state, Price said.
"We're just trying to find creative ways of generating additional revenues," he said. "It's an exciting marriage of technology with need, and an opportunity to keep California in the forefront."
Tom Cruise just read those three paragraphs into Cameron Diaz's voicemail. Come hell or high water, they will have a new Knight and Day viral video (that is about "bros icing bros," for some reason) playing exclusively on the 405 North by end-of-day Thursday.