2008
Missouri LP
Candidates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Greg Tlapek, Executive Director
Missouri Libertarian Party
P. O. Box 78623
St Louis, MO 63178-8623
Phone: (877) 868-3487
E-Mail: info@lpmo.org
Website: http://lpmo.org

Missouri Libertarians Wary of Proposed MoDOT Cell Phone Tracking System

St Louis, MO -- October 22, 2005 -- Missouri Libertarians wary of
proposed MoDOT cell phone tracking system.  Privacy issues, cost,
inadequate oversight cited as concerns.

According to an Associated Press news story last week, the Missouri
Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is negotiating with private
contractors to monitor cell phones, using their movements to produce
real-time traffic conditions on 5,500 miles of roads across Missouri.
It has been touted as the largest experimental program of its type
worldwide. Although cellphone users will not be aware of the
monitoring, MoDOT officials have made assurances that there is no
threat to privacy.

But Libertarians are wary.  "They assure us that the movements of
individual cellphone users will not be tracked, but programs like this
have a way of expanding," said Darla Maloney, Missouri Libertarian
Party (LP) Chair.  "Once a system is in place, it's easy to think
about other ways it could be used."

To some libertarians, the very idea of tracking Missouri citizens as
they move across the state is an anathema.  References to "Big
Brother" are a common response: "1984 is closer than you think!" said
Wendy Terry of Independence, MO.

Officials of the Missouri Libertarian Party identify several other
important concerns about the proposed system:

   Cost: MoDOT officials say the program will cost less than 
   $3 million per year.  However, a smaller program in Baltimore
   has already cost more than $5 million, and that system is not
   even fully operational yet.
   
   Efficiency:  Information will be collected across the entire state,
   including hundreds of miles of rural roadways that are not generally
   subject to traffic congestion.
   
   Oversight:  For a program this costly and that raises such privacy
   concerns, legislative oversight seems lacking.

Missouri libertarians call on their state legislators to look into
MoDOT's plan, to assure the public that their privacy is protected and
that their tax dollars are not being squandered on an unproven
experiment.  "Surely there are better uses for our tax dollars," said
the LP's Maloney, "like improving the quality of Missouri's roadways!"

Contact:
Greg Tlapek, Executive Director
Missouri Libertarian Party
P. O. Box 78623
St Louis, MO 63178-8623
Phone: (877) 868-3487
E-Mail: info@lpmo.org
Website: http://lpmo.org

The Missouri Libertarian Party is one of three established political parties
in the State of Missouri and is affiliated with The Libertarian Party.

                                 ###