DPS Doesn't Have A Clue Where Highway Traffic 'Spy' Camera Revenue Estimate Came From

The Department of Public Safety admits in a solicitation for vendors bidding on Governor Henry's new statewide system of highway traffic "spy" cameras that it doesn't have a clue where an estimate of $50 million in new revenue for the state from the system came from.

That revelation is found in reading questions submitted by bidders, and the DPS response to them (Bid #5850000395). The DPS response to the questions is somewhat surprising given that it is the entity that has been in charge of requesting information from bidders.

Two bidders asked for the source of the revenue estimate; in both cases, DPS replied, "Unknown."

Reading the proposals also reveals that initially, the estimate of new revenue was $95 million. The income would flow from fines assessed against those without vehicle insurance. Even at $50 million, the sum listed in Henry's budget, it is estimated that more than 750 motorists without insurance would have to be fined per day to produce that much money for the state given that the vendor would be paid 25 to 30 percent of the fines collected. DPS reports there are 3.9 million vehicles in the state with 3.5 million of them being properly insured.

A DPS source told The McCarville Report Online he believes the first estimate came during one of the initial discussions about the Oklahoma system. He named the person he believes made the estimate, but TMRO was unable to contact that person during the Memorial Day holiday for confirmation.

The system, which would place 220 cameras across the state to photograph the license plates of passing vehicles, is designed to catch insurance scofflaws, those without the mandatory vehicle insurance.

But privacy advocates and civil libertarians see a much more sinister use of the information that would be gathered by the cameras. They note the apparent ease of tracking the movements of motorists, and the ability of the state to harvest unrelated information about the vehicle owner and place it into a computer database. That fear appears to be reinforced by advocates of the "Automated License Plate Recognition" (ALPR) system.

Governor Henry proposed the system as part of an effort to raise new revenue. The push to put the system in place, and those involved, was not revealed in full until The McCarville Report Online published a series of stories about it. (Access those stories by clicking on the Highway Cameras label below.) Norman blogger Kaye Beach first reported on the plan; she and Oklahoma City blogger Andrew Griffin followed its development. Journal-Record columnist Scott Carter also called attention to the plan.

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KTOK's Matthews Talks 'Spy' Cam Controversy

KTOK's afternoon drive show host, Program Director Lee Matthews, has been discussing the controversial highway traffic "spy" camera plan proposed by Governor Henry in his budget.

The controversial plan, designed to determine if motorists have the required state insurance and generate $50 million per year in state income, has drawn considerable interest since details about it have been revealed by Oklahoma bloggers Kaye Beach, Andrew Griffin and Mike McCarville.

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Bloggers Asked 'Spy Cam' Questions Months Ago

It was with very little fanfare, and only an occasional news story, that Governor Henry's budget proposed a new revenue stream from a controversial source: Highway traffic, or "spy," cameras designed to catch vehicle insurance scofflaws, or those without the mandated insurance.

No attention was drawn to the $50 million-in-new-revenue plan until The McCarville Report Online began a series of articles about it last Friday.

No attention in a major way, that is. But months ago, Norman blogger Kaye Beach was asking pointed questions about the plan. She, along with fellow blogger Andrew Griffin, delivered a letter to Governor Henry's office asking that "sunlight" be allowed to shine on the plan. She never got a response.

In retrospect, Henry might today wish he had addressed the subject then because today, the lack of public discussion about the plan figures in the theory by some that Henry and others wanted the plan to "fly under the radar" and they hoped few outside state government would notice it.

Even some in state government didn't have a clue about the program until TMRO reported on it. Said one House member: "I had never heard of this until I saw your first story."

Beach's December 19th letter to Henry, which got no response:

Governor Henry,

I am writing you to express my concern about the proposed automobile license plate scanning cameras to be placed in fixed locations around Oklahoma. This is allegedly a way for the state to automatically verify the insurance status of our vehicles as they pass.

We all agree that the damage caused by uninsured motorists is a big problem, but now, on top of the risk of uncompensated personal loss or damaged property caused by an irresponsible driver we learn that we will also be subjected to unwarranted monitoring by the state of Oklahoma.

My question to you, Gov. Henry, is will you refrain from using the executive powers of the state to decide the matter and allow the people and their representatives an open examination of this issue so that they can properly weigh its merits and cast their votes accordingly?

This is a decision that should not be made without ample sunlight.

I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,
Kaye Beach
Norman, Oklahoma

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Holy Batcameras! 767 Insurance Stops Per Day?

Will Governor Henry's estimate of $50 million in new revenue from vehicle insurance scofflaws caught with his new highway traffic "spy" camera system turn out to be similar to his inflated estimate of how much the lottery would raise?

Some say so today. One enterprising reader of Charles G. Hill's popular blog www.dustbury.com, figures out the figures are mind-boggling, based on a formula by which the system administration firm (not yet chosen) will be paid 30 percent of fines collected: "...for our chunk to be $50m, the total has to be $70m. At $250 a fine, that means we would have to ticket 280,000 vehicles. Not being given a time frame in which this $50m would be raised a lot of folks assume that it would be in a year (we always think in timeframes of a year) but that would mean stopping 767 cars a day!"

(The governor's budget estimates the $50 million in income for one year.)

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Pettigrew: Switzer's Involvement Minimal

Former Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, now a national officer of a firm (InsureNet) bidding to handle the new highway traffic "spy" camera system in Oklahoma, told The McCarville Report Online today that former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, who represents the same firm, has had minimal involvement in trying to land the contract.

The system was proposed by Governor Henry in his budget to raise $50 million in new revenue by determing whether vehicles have the required state insurance. If they do not, fines of $250 are leveled.

Switzer was a Henry donor and fundraiser in his 2002 and 2006 campaigns. Switzer told Fox News 25 yesterday that he has never discussed the system with Henry.

Said Pettigrew: "I don’t think Switzer’s involvement with InsureNet was more than the initial introduction in Oklahoma. The PR firm that was hired by them was Capital Design Group (Chad Alexander) and I believe he is still under contract. I also believe that any lobbying activities were suspended when the RFI came out so as not to convolute the process. Once the RFI was complete the state immediately issued a RFP.

"The three other companies that are bidding on the RFP have probably hired a lobbyist or PR firm as well. In fairness that should be mentioned as well.

"The competitive bidding process in Oklahoma is a good one and one that was reformed in the legislature several years ago. I believe now that all bids are eventually open to the public once a decision is made by the state.

"The security and privacy provisions of the InsureNet system far exceed the other systems that are available. It is the only system that was accepted as the standard for NLETS and it is my understanding that it took them three years to accomplish this."

Privacy advocates and civil libertarians object to such camera systems as an invasion of privacy.

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Even DPS Was Confused By Those Barcodes

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety apparently has been among those confused by the intent of those barcodes on the new license plates.

The codes have been the source of considerable speculation in recent days as The McCarville Report Online has shed light on Governor Henry's plan to install 220 highway "spy" cameras to gather information on possible insurance scofflaws, those who do not carry the required vehicle insurance.

All of those involved now say the barcodes are simply administrative devices used by the Oklahoma Tax Commission for "inventory control."

But on October 16, 2009, DPS issued a "Request For Information" by possible vendors to administer the state's new license plate scanning system and the RFI included this section on system requirements:
• capture vehicle license plate data from stationary locations along selected highways using:
• cameras
• barcode scanners. Oklahoma's new license plates include a barcode. All license plates will be replaced with the new license plate by December 31, 2009. It should be noted that some license plate mounts or surrounds obscure, partially or in whole, the barcode.
• other technology proposed by the responder.

Hat Tip to Kaye Beach at www.axiomamuse.wordpress.com.

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Blogger Tracks Use Of Highway 'Spy' Cameras

Oklahoma blogger Kaye Beach (http://www.axiomamuse.wordpress.com/) has been reporting on the use of highway "spy" cameras for months. Following The McCarville Report Online's series of articles that began last Friday on the proposed Oklahoma camera system, she posted this interesting information:

InsureNet, Inc. (InsureNet) and Intelligent Imaging Systems (IIS) have formed a partnership to blend their respective technologies in order to provide added functionality relating to vehicle insurance verification. IIS is a leading supplier of Smart Roadside™ solutions for the Transportation Safety and Security market.

IIS’ automated electronic screening systems represent the evolution in effectiveness and efficiency of roadside law enforcement operations. With technology deployed in almost half the States and Provinces in North America, IIS is leading the way in helping public agencies use technology to improve highway safety and security.

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Fox 25 News Examines Highway Cam Controversy

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Now About Those License Plate Barcodes...

Among the few news stories in the past about the proposed new highway traffic camera system were two in The Oklahoman last November and December.

The November story read in part:

State officials are looking at beefing up the state’s electronic insurance verification system by setting up cameras across the state to randomly record vehicle tags.

Cameras set up at about 200 locations along selected highways would focus in on a tag’s bar code — found at the bottom of each tag — and record it. Bar code scanners would match the tag numbers with a national database containing real-time vehicle insurance information. Vehicle owners without valid insurance would be mailed a ticket.

And that one was followed by this one, in December 2009:

Plans to use cameras to record and ticket motorists driving without insurance likely would involve using actual vehicle tag numbers and not the tags' bar codes, Oklahoma¹s public safety commissioner said on Monday.

The Department of Public Safety is seeking requests for information from companies about using cameras in about 200 locations to capture information from passing motorists. The letters mention using bar code scanners, cameras or various other technologies.

"I don't know of technology that can actually read a bar code from that far away," Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward said. "I am aware of technology that can actually read the car (tag's) characters. It would be able to decipher those and make a check through the system."

Another possible deterrent is that some vehicle tag frames obscure part or all of the bar code, officials said. New tags issued this year contain bar codes for the first time.

One company said it could set up cameras that would capture the tag numbers; the tag numbers would be matched with a national database containing real-time vehicle insurance verification for vehicle owners. Vehicle owners without valid insurance would be mailed a ticket.

The proposed automated enforcement would expand Oklahoma¹s existing system, which went online in July. The system now checks only Oklahoma-tagged vehicles; checks are made only when a vehicle owner has an encounter with a law enforcement officer, such as a traffic stop or being involved in an accident. Representatives from one company told legislators in the last session an expanded system could generate about $300 million annually. The state wouldn't pay for the system; the company would be reimbursed from funds received from fines or administrative penalties.

The Public Safety Department estimates nearly one in four Oklahoma motorists is driving without vehicle insurance. Interested companies have until Dec. 23 to submit information about their systems.

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License Plate Cameras Stir Privacy Fears

The increasing use of highway "spy" cameras that read license plates has created a stir among privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and others who have studied the issue.

The website www.govtech.com explores both sides of the issue in an article about the proliferation of the systems across the country.

Among those concerned about the privacy issue is this expert: "The real potential for danger is collecting a tremendous amount of information, which can then be used, very inexpensively, to do speculative data mining based on searches to target people for various kinds of extra-judicial harassment," said Andrew Blumberg, a Samelson postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.

Most agencies are keeping the data for extended periods because of the investigative factor and because storage of the numerical data is easy. Blumberg said it would be better if the information expired after a few days, but that won't happen.

"It's so easy to make copies of things. How could you possibly assure a hygienic information trail?" he asked. "Look at the E-ZPass [electronic toll] data; it's being subpoenaed in civil court to be used in evidence in divorce cases."

Blumberg said the issues of how cameras are used and what happens to the data they produce deserve serious consideration. "All I really want is for there to be a national debate and for people to acknowledge that this is what's happened. Then we can make informed decisions about what the law ought to be and what reasonable expectations are, or how private people should be when using a car t corner to track everyone's movements. "That's what makes me uncomfortable," and public access."

As the devices get cheaper, they could theoretically be put on every streeBlumberg said of a proliferation of license plate readers. "There will be a post on every corner and it's recording all of the license plates that go by, and that can be used to track everybody all the time without anybody ever knowing it's happening."

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Pettigrew: Barcode Much Ado About Nothing

Former State Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, an official with the Chicago firm that apparently would administer a new highway "spy" camera system in Oklahoma as proposed by Governor Henry, told The McCarville Report Online today that the controversy, in essence, is much ado about nothing.

Said Pettigrew in an email: "I was forwarded your recent report on the state projecting $50 million in the recently passed budget in anticipation of revenues to be received from the possible procurement of a statewide vehicle insurance verification program.

"I have been involved in promoting this program nationally for the past year with one of the possible vendors such a program.

"The company that I have been working with (InsureNet) does not use the bar-code and was not in any way instrumental in it being in the legislation passed in Oklahoma. In fact the legislation authorizing the state to contract for such a program was passed in 2006. This was 3 years before I became affiliated with InsureNet and also before they began marketing their current insurance verification model. It is my understanding that the bar-code is used by tag agency officials for inventory purposes. To my knowledge we have not lobbied for the passage of additional legislation in Oklahoma and only had a cursory interest in Rep. Ken Miller’s bill last year since we were at that time marketing our system. He asked for the company’s views on the bill at that time and our lobbyist submitted some language that was not used in the bill.

"The automated license plate scanners (ALPR) used in the verification system by Insurenet is identical to the hardware currently in use on Oklahoma Turnpikes. The system we are proposing does not photograph the driver of the vehicle and does not retain any data on non-cited vehicles longer than 60 seconds. They scan the numbers or letters on the plate and check insurer data that is available thru NLETS to see if the vehicle has current vehicle liability insurance. This system does not have the ability to track non-cited vehicles.

"The Department of Public Safety in Oklahoma has been interested in some type of a vehicle insurance verification system for years. InsureNet responded to a request for information that was put out by the department last October as did several companies. We also have responded to the request for proposal that the department issued in March. This process has done under the normal procurement procedures and has respondents from several companies that provide these services and equipment. To my knowledge, a vendor has not been selected."

Pettigrew did not speak to the involvement of Henry fundraiser and donor Barry Switzer on behalf of InsureNet here and in other states.

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Is It Public Safety...Or Political Payback?

[REVISED] Governor Henry's advocacy of a new, statewide system of highway "spy" cameras to catch vehicle insurance scofflaws is touted as a means to public safety, a step forward in the use of new technology to make certain insurance laws are being obeyed.

But is the proposed new system all about public safety, or is it political payback to the man many believe is responsible for Henry's surprise election victory in 2002?

The questions arise because The McCarville Report Online has identified former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer as a key player in the nationwide movement to land lucrative highway camera administration contacts for the Chicago-based firm InsureNet. The firm is considered a "sole source provider," meaning that governmental entities using the system must hire it to administer it if they want to scan all license plates (including those from other states).

Switzer, research shows, has surfaced in at least two states on behalf of InsureNet, which is the only firm in the nation (it claims on its website) with the ability to institute the new highway "spy" camera system that would scan all plates.

Henry proposed the scanning plan to raise, he claims, $50 million in additional revenue for the state. But what doesn't show in the budget is that InsureNet, for example, would be paid 30 percent of everything collected; in short, the firm's "windfall" would be in the millions of dollars in the first year of operation alone.

Read More: www.axiomamuse.wordpress.com

Switzer's name had not publicly surfaced in connection with the plan before TMRO began researching the use of the cameras. And Switzer denies he's discussed the plan with Henry; he told Fox 25 News reporter Michael Henrich he's had no contact with the governor on the issue.

The name of Edmond insurance agent Wayne Pettigrew, a former Republican House leader, had not emerged, either. Yet Pettigrew and Switzer, records in Kansas show, both represent InsureNet in its efforts to launch the highway camera systems here and across the nation. Pettigrew also has been the firm's registered lobbyist in Nevada.

The name of Norman insurance agent Tinker Owens, who played tight end for Switzer at OU, had not emerged, either, but he, too, surfaced in the Kansas effort.

Following the thread of disjointed information about InsureNet's efforts to bring the controversial cameras to Oklahoma highways also shines light on the involvement of others, including Republican Rep. Ken Miller of Edmond, the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee and a candidate for state treasurer. Miller authored House Bill 3326 in the 2008 session which authorized creation of the new license plates, which apparently became the first step in instituting the system and was a member of the committee that designed the plates. Miller, however, says the system would have worked with the state's previous license plates.

And, as with Henry, there's a political connection between Switzer and Miller.

Oklahoma Ethics Commission reports show Switzer donated $2,500 to Miller's 2010 reelection campaign.

But Miller today told The McCarville Report Online there is no connection between the two, that he never advocated the highway camera system and that the barcode on the new plates has nothing to do with InsureNet's system; he said its system reads the actual license letters and numbers.

Miller said the barcode is not necessary for InsureNet's purposes. This is how InsureNet describes its system on its website: "The InsureNet technology assigns a 'UC', (Unique Code), to each combination of policy and VIN, (Vehicle Identification Number), which becomes the 'bridge' between insurers and government entities and records." (The phrase "unique code" indicates "barcode" to most of those in the industry.)

Miller said any inference that he has been involved in a scheme to implement the system is in error.

Miller said he was aware that Switzer and Pettigrew were involved because they came to several hearings at which he was present.

Switzer was a key factor in Henry's election in 2002; some credit the popular former coach with being instrumental in Henry's victory. Switzer endorsed Henry and raised a huge sum of money for him as part of his campaign finance operation. Switzer made hundreds of telephone calls seeking donations. He also placed and arranged payment for a last-minute series of radio commercials that included a Henry campaign jingle. That jingle became the hallmark of Henry's campaign and gets credit by some for pushing Henry to victory over Republican Steve Largent.

In Henry's reelection campaign in 2006, Switzer repeated his 2002 donation generosity to Henry; he donated the maximum, $5,000.

Henry's communications director, Paul Sund, said no political payback in involved and any suggestion it is is "absolutely untrue." He noted the vendor will be chosen by competitive bid. It appears at least four firms, including InsureNet, submitted bids.

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New License Plate Part Of 'Spy Cam' Plan?

[UPDATED] Governor Henry's plan to install more than 220 highway "spy" cameras to record vehicle license plates has been flying below the radar in state government for years and despite a few sporadic news stories, the full extent of the system, and those involved in implementing it, has not become apparent until now.

Read all of The McCarville Report Online's revealing stories by clicking on InsureNet Oklahoma in "Labels" below.

It appears planning for the system has been underway for at least four years.

Henry's budget proposal listed the system as the generator of $50 million in new revenue for the state. But in all the discussions, there's been no public mention that can be found of the tiny barcodes on the new plates.

The new license plates were designed to allow the use of highway "spy cameras" to read them and identify the vehicle as insured or uninsured, state records show.

The plates, first issued last year, contain the small barcode across the bottom on the right that is inconspicuous and not noticed by most owners. The sample plates issued by the state and distributed to the media did not contain a barcode sample; that space was empty. Defenders of the system say today that the barcode is not part of the highway camera plan.

The new plate movement sparked interest more than a year ago when Republican Rep. Ken Miller discussed his House Bill 2013, and what he said was the need for a new plate design, on the House floor. During the discussion, he was questioned by Reps. Charles Key and Mike Reynolds.

At one point in the discussion, Miller was asked if there had been discussion between involved parties and InsureNet and if the new or altered language is the result of that communication. Miller said (paraphrasing) that, “Yes,” there had been communication and while InsureNet submitted suggestions, none of their language was used.

Reynolds asked what would be InsureNet’s interest in changes. Miller says because they (InsureNet) would like to be the carrier (for a new highway camera license-reading system).

Miller said he has never advocated the highway camera plan, that his desire to see a new license plate for the state is not related to the plan in any way, and that the barcode is not a part of the technology.

InsureNet technology assigns a "UC", (Unique Code), to each combination of policy and VIN, (Vehicle Identification Number), which becomes the 'bridge' between insurers and government entities and records. In other words, the code allows instant access to information about the vehicle and its owner.

The use of codes on license plates has raised privacy concerns; in Nevada, gun owners protested a similar plan because they said it would allow others to trace them by using their license plate information. InsureNet assures that privacy is protected, but skeptics remain.

Said Reynolds of the highway cameras last year: “That’s a horrible idea. It’s Big Brother at its finest.”

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Gov. Jim Gibbons recently announced that he is reconsidering a plan -- already rejected by the 2009 Legislature -- to install a surveillance net of cameras throughout Nevada's roadways to catch "insurance scofflaws." The plan's efficacy is questionable at best. All we know for sure is that it would be a big step forward to making Nevada a surveillance state.

Nevada Views:

Fostering Big Brother

A Surveillance State Is Not A Budget Solution

By Maggie McLetchie

Special To The Las Vegas Review-Journal

Under this particular surveillance network, every license plate would be scanned, captured and analyzed by a private company. There is an astonishing lack of control over how private businesses use or disseminate all the data they collect about us. But what we do know is that in every case where massive amounts of data are stored by private companies -- Internet providers, Web site operators, phone companies, cell phone GPS systems, for example -- the government has later attempted to obtain that information without oversight, accountability or, most importantly, a warrant.

The government could, for example, seek the camera records of every car attending a particular political rally; could track the daily traffic patterns of individuals; could even request that InsureNet provide them with real-time location of a particular car -- without any court oversight or warrant.

And no one should understand the privacy risks like residents of Las Vegas. In 2004, the FBI requested and received hundreds of thousands of customer records from private car rental, air and hotel companies -- and all of this data, which many tourists probably hoped would stay in Vegas, remains somewhere in an FBI centralized data bank to be mined, compared and analyzed by the government. Las Vegas is already a surveillance city; why turn Nevada into a surveillance state?

The continuingly increasing presence of cameras in Nevada symbolizes the potential for a dark future, where our every move, our every location and our every communication, is recorded, compiled and stored away, ready to be examined and used against us by the authorities whenever they want.

The supposed justification for the plan? Money.

Our civil liberties should not be for sale, no matter how grim the budget crisis is.

Additionally, the theoretical collection of these insurance fines is just that -- a theory. The company has never built a system in the United States. Even insurance industry organizations question whether it could work. And it would require already burdened court resources to collect fines.

If it does work, it's InsureNet that stands to profit -- without competitive bidding for the state contract. If there are fines to be collected, the DMV should be collecting them without giving a cut to InsureNet -- and they should be collected in a way that does not subject every driver on Nevada's freeways to surveillance. The DMV just spent our tax money to upgrade its own insurance verification system, greatly reducing any justification for the InsureNet proposal to actually prevent unlicensed motorists from driving on our roads.

Moreover, the premise that we should fund our long-term budget gaps with the income of consistent lawbreaking is bizarre. Nevadans should resist the temptation to fill shortfalls with the profits of crime, because it means as a public policy we want people violating the law. If they don't, our budget problems come back -- but we've still got the surveillance technology in place. This type of short-sighted budgeting is not only fiscally unreliable and arbitrary -- it gives the government unnecessarily broad surveillance powers and also the perverse incentives to see every citizen as a walking dollar sign. We want law enforcement to be enforcing good public policy -- not a fine or fee at any cost.

The Legislature rightly rejected this unsound legislation in 2009. Let's hope that support for the principles of privacy, good sense and good government once again leads to this idea's demise at the special session.

Maggie McLetchie is interim southern program director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada.

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Pettigrew, Switzer, Tinker Owens Made InsureNet Pitch To Kansas House Transportation Committee

From The Minutes Of the Kansas House Transportation Committee Meeting 3/10/10: There being no other bill introductions the Chairman recognized the “InsurNet (sic) the Paperless Verification of Uninsured Motorists” presenters. (Attachment #1) The first presenter was Wayne Pettigrew, National Marketing Director of InSureNet. Mr. Pettigrew introduced the other consortium members with them who included Scott Bolkema, Board Member and Human Resources Department of InsureNet, Barry Switzer, Sooner Communications Group and Tinker Owens, Sooner Communications Group and Bonnie Sharp, KS
Legislative lobbyist. According to Mr. Pettigrew a couple of changes have allowed InsureNet to become available. One being a decision in 2007 that has allowed interstate and intrastate citations to be collectible in all states. He said today there are no “escapes” and the days of ignoring a citation are over. Vehicle reregistration and drivers license renewal depend on paying and clearing any fines - including those regarding insurance - from any jurisdiction. Mr. Pettigrew then introduced Dr. Jonathan Miller, President and Chairman of the Board of InsureNet. Testimony was that this system can now meet the exact needs of many divisions of government. In each state, the Departments of Motor Vehicles, Public Safety/Law Enforcement and others can be fully and professionally supported. He said this system is owned and controlled by State Government. This system is connected to over 35,000 U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies and 1.2 million officers. Dr. Miller said this product is an accurate and automatic, non-invasive bridge between insurers and governmental entities, consisting of seven data elements. He said the system is accurate, instantaneous, easy to implement and exceeds all privacy protection laws for vehicle owners and insurers. After the presentation they stood for questions. When all questions were answered the Chairman thanked the group for their presentation.

[Pettigrew and Owens are members of the board of directors of First Trinity Financial. Owens, former OU and New Orleans Saints wide receiver, is the owner of Tinker Owens Insurance in Norman.]

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InsureNet's Enticing Appeal To Cash-Short States

InsureNet, apparently the nation's only firm that specializes in processing vehicle insurance information obtained from highway "spy" cameras, bases its current appeal to governments, in part, on helping them raise money at a time when revenues don't match expenditures.

Oklahoma vehicle owners found to be without insurance would be fined $250. InsureNet, based in Chicago, would keep 30 percent of that sum, meaning its income would be multiple millions of dollars assuming the state's income is $50 million as projected.

While the firm apparently has not yet been chosen to handle information obtained from Oklahoma highway cameras, as outlined by Governor Henry in his budget and as approved by Henry and Republican legislative leaders in their compromise budget to raise $50 million, it seems certain it will be.

Among those tied to the firm are former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, a Henry campaign fundraiser, and former Republican Rep. Wayne Pettigrew of Edmond, the firm's national government relations officer.

This is the firm's pitch to governments from its website:

State and Local Government – At this time of financial shortfalls, almost nothing can do more to support the financial needs of State and Local Governments. The fact that this is simply supporting the rule of law and protecting the Public is an additional, but very significant bonus. Governments are able to provide a substantial benefits package to Citizens at no cost to taxpayers, including a fair, safe, accurate, non-invasive, and efficient system. InsureNet provides the tools for law enforcement, DMVs, courts, insurance departments and others to do their jobs with greater professionalism, while removing all uncertainty. Officers, DMV staff and others cease being the targets of often irate people trying to register or drive without insurance. This is no longer a burden for government as status is always and only directly controlled by the insurer. Government can benefit from dramatically increased revenues, (additional citations, premium tax and business tax). This is the only interstate system and also only international system. It is the only accurate system and the only system for use by Law Enforcement everywhere. It is the only way to do accurate “e”registration and handle toll way requirements. For countless reasons, this is the Nation’s answer to the problems associated with uninsured vehicles.

Last February, the Las Vegas Tribune-Review printed an article about InsureNet's efforts in that state and reported "It is unknown how effective InsureNet's system is. No other state has implemented the program. According to the Chicago Tribune, InsureNet representatives told Chicago officials that the company planned to have 'three or four states' signed on within months. That was a year ago."

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Barry Switzer Tied To InsureNet Firm; Will He Profit From Henry's Highway Camera Plan?

Former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, credited by some as being responsible for Governor Henry's upset victory in the 2002 governor's race, apparently is connected to a company that may benefit from Henry's plan to use highway traffic cameras to identify those without vehicle insurance.

While there's been no announcement that InsureNet will be the company chosen to process information obtained through the highway cameras, it has won contracts in other states as a "sole source provider," meaning it is the only firm able to perform the service.

Former Republican House member Wayne Pettigrew of Edmond is a national officer of the firm.

Switzer was a fundraiser for Henry in 2002 and again in 2006. His endorsement of Henry in the 2002 race, many believe, propelled Henry to victory. Switzer also was responsible for placing a last-minute series of Henry radio commercials with a jingle that became the hallmark of the campaign.

Switzer's connection to the firm comes via two articles, the first in a Kansas legislative bulletin and the second written by Kansas blogger Vince Wetta in January of this year:

Bulletin ~ The House Transportation Committee heard a presentation Wednesday on InsureNet, which provides paperless verification of motorists’ insurance status. Former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer, who implemented the program in Oklahoma, was present at our meeting.

By Vince Wetta In Topeka (January 2010) ~ On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee heard testimony in support of a new, statewide system for tracking uninsured vehicles. The system, InsureNet, has already been installed in a variety of states, including Nebraska and Pennsylvania.

The intelligent tracking systems (Intellisections) would take pictures of the rear of vehicles and process the license information through a national intranet system within one minute. If the identified vehicle is uninsured, the owner will receive a citation in the mail. To protect privacy, the information is destroyed 60 seconds after it is processed by the tracking system. No private data is retained in the system. This noninvasive approach has made the program popular with many groups and lawmakers. The technology would be placed alongside major interstates, in areas of high population and near the borders of Kansas. An automatic citation system would mail citations within 24 hours. There is no cost for implementation. The service, maintenance, and equipment are paid for by a portion of the new revenue InsureNet generates. It is estimated that $150 million in uninsured motorist fees will be generated for the state of Kansas in the first year. Barry Switzer, former Oklahoma football coach, represented InsureNet. He said to tell all his friends in Sumner County “Hello."

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National Leader In Use Of Highway Camera Data Employs Former Rep. Wayne Pettigrew

Wayne Pettigrew, former Oklahoma House member, is the National Marketing & Government Relations director for the nation's leading firm in administering data on vehicle insurance data gathered using controversial highway cameras, the firm's website discloses.

Here's Pettigrew's pedigree from InsureNet:

Mr. Pettigrew has twenty-six years experience in insurance marketing as a former regional pension specialist for Prudential Insurance Company and national insurance brokerage owner. He currently serves on the board of a domestic regional insurance company in which he is part owner. Mr. Pettigrew also served ten years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives including four as Assistant Minority Leader. He owns a governmental consulting firm specializing in state legislative issues.

Mr. Pettigrew will coordinate national marketing and legislative lobbying efforts for InsureNet, Inc. These services will include: organization and management of research, lobbying and media/public relations initiatives; review of bill/code language; and support of presentations, RFI/RFP responses, and meetings with legislators and State or governmental officials.

From a business website reporting on the firm's efforts in Arkansas: Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry is interested in InsureNet technology, too. The company wants to put up 220 cameras at sites picked by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. The company would keep 30 percent of each $250 fine.

"After getting about your second ticket, you'd keep your insurance current," said InsureNet spokesman Wayne Pettigrew, a former Oklahoma legislator.

It's reported InsureNet has landed administration duties in other states as a "single source provider," or the only firm qualified to do so.

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Henry Outlined 'Spy Cam' Plan In Executive Budget

Governor Brad Henry proposed the use of highway cameras ("spy cameras" to many) in his budget earlier this year. Note that the word "camera" is not mentioned.

Here's the text:

Compliance Initiatives
Automated Enforcement of Vehicle Insurance
The Governor’s budget proposes that the State of Oklahoma better protect Oklahomans from uninsured motorists by increasing drivers’ compliance with compulsory vehicle insurance laws through implementation of an automated enforcement system. An automated enforcement system will increase the efficiency of the current Oklahoma law enforcement, enable equal enforcement of in-state and out-of-state violators and reduce costs to existing vehicle liability policyholders. An automated system also eliminates insurance fraud by providing instant insurance verification.

The automated system can be implemented at no cost to the state. It is estimated that the state will collect $95 million in revenues from this program.

http://www.ok.gov/OSF/documents/bud11.pdf

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Do We Know All We Need To Know About Henry's Plan To Scan All Vehicle Tags In The State?

As The McCarville Report Online reported earlier today, the budget agreement reached by Governor Henry and legislative leaders proposes to raise $50 million through the use of highway cameras that record vehicle license numbers and check them against a database of insured motorists; those that are not insured are fined and the state gets the revenue.

There are indications there's much more to this story, as indicated in this report from last February by Tulsa reporter Emily Sinovic of Fox23:

Reported By Emily Sinovic/Fox23 Tulsa ~ (Last Update: 2/23/10) ~ The technology company SecureNet says it met with the Tulsa City Council today to discuss the possiblity of installing automatic license plate recognition cameras in some police vehicles.

Oklahoma Drivers could soon be watched by hundreds of highway cameras across the state. The cameras electronically read your license plate and then check it with a state or national databases.

Governor Henry's spokesperson said there hasn't been a final decision, but a legislative source close to the Department of Public Safety told FOX23, Governor Henry has already told the Department of Public Safety to move ahead with the installation of the cameras.

The idea is to check for uninsured motorists and make some money doing it. The proposal is to install 200 cameras on highways. The cameras read every license plate as you drive by, checking your license plate with an insurance database. But some worry it may find other personal information.

It's called automatic license plate recognition.

Amanda Teegarden is the Executive director of OKSAFE, Oklahomans for sovereignty and free enterprise.

Teegarden said, "There's no other way to describe it except it's truly a big brother surveillance society and again the serious concern is the prevalence of cameras. The move to more camera in the munipalities and the state raises serious privacy concerns. Right now is the time to take action. I think it's of the utmost importance that they understand the danger that is looming. "

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