Welcome to increased speeding taxes

The Federal Aviation Administration has been asked to permit the use of pilot less planes (drones) to carry out civilian and law-enforcement functions in the United States but has not to this point. The fear is that they could interfere with or crash into other manned aircraft. Drones come in various sizes. There are two main types. Automated planes programmed to fly a mission and the type that are remotely controlled by someone on the ground.

Some of the reasons for their use that I see as legitimate:

1. Tornado researchers want to send them into storms to gather data
2. Oil and gas companies want to monitor pipelines
3. Homeland Security wants to use in border patrol
4. The Coast Guard wants to use for search and rescue.
5. Law enforcement could use them to track fleeing suspects
   

Now, besides the obvious risks to other aircraft and people on the ground I have even a bigger problem with the use of these drones. My biggest fear comes from distrust of our government officials. There is the obvious thoughts of "big brother" watching us but they already have the capability to do this in many ways.

More importantly, there was a seemingly minor line in the story. "State police hope to send them up to capture images of speeding car's license plates." How far do we really have to go to catch someone driving over the speed limit? What is law enforcement's role in regards to speeding? I believe it is to provide safety and security to the public. In other words, prevent excessive and dangerous speed that risks injury to law abiding citizens. This could be done in ways that do not involve tickets. The problem is, this is not profitable. I think law enforcement has taken on the task of tax collector. Do we really need a Predator drone searching for speeders to write tickets? How much money do you think this drone would have to collect in tax/fine revenue to just pay for itself. You can be sure if an agency gets one, they will use it to turn a profit. Be ready... the tax man comes.

True story, I was driving down a major road and witnessed a car swerving and driving erratically. In a span of about 1 mile I, along with a passenger, saw this vehicle nearly hit 10 cars. He was swerving, accelerating and slowing in such a way that he looked like he was trying to cause an accident. It was so bad that I actually thought I needed to do something. I could have ignored it, pulled into my office and gone about my day but it was so bad that I couldn't. I knew where a county sheriff often sits for a speed trap. I turned and pulled up to the sheriff's vehicle as the "suspect's" beat up Volvo continued on. The deputy was sitting with his radar gun aimed down the road. I told him what I had just seen. Yes, I know....snitch. Believe me, I thought about this but decided it was worth it if it prevented an innocent person from getting hurt. So you ask, how fast did he pursue the vehicle to put an end to it? Did he spin his tires as he went after him to protect the public? Nope. He said "I didn't see it". Yes, I realize you didn't see it. That is why I, as a concerned citizen, am alerting you to this so you can pull out and see it for yourself and put a stop to it. "He is going to cause an accident or kill someone." Here it comes. Poncherello is going to spring into action. Again nothing but "there is nothing I can do if I didn't see it." I almost apologized for blocking his radar gun. I half way expected to get pulled over for blocking a travel lane as I drove off. If only there had been a drone in the air. They could have mailed me a ticket.