Trade-offs

The New York Times magazine had an article about EZ-Pass last week. The author, Christopher Caldwell, notes that is is "one of the many innovations that give you the option of trading a bit of privacy for a load of convenience." Well, I pay cash at the tolls, it is a good way to get rid of change, now that the laundry on my floor no longer accept quarters (nor dimes, nickels and pennies for that matter). It is true that EZ-Pass users have a quicker experience at the toll, but that make them even more prone to speeding and cutting my lane.

But I digress. Imagine someone getting hold of your EZ-Pass box. He becomes you. Security cameras take picture of the car, but it is difficult to see the driver's face. Considering how easy it is to get in trouble while driving a car, the thought of someone impersonating your EZ-Pass persona is scary.