Spy boxes in British cars fears

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Spy boxes in British cars fears

Local MEP Paul Nuttall has expressed fears that the Government is on the verge of opening Pandora’s box after its Lib Dem Transport Minister spoke out in favour of introducing black boxes in cars and charging motorists for each mile they travel.

The UKIP Euro-MP says the spy in the sky suggestion by Norman Baker to replace road tax with pay-as-you-drive tolls shows the coalition Government is anti-motorist.

"I believe the introduction of snitch boxes in cars would infringe people’s rights to privacy in their vehicles."

He pointed out that the EU controls the Government’s Sat Nav policy as the EU-commissioned Project Veronica study recommended the mandatory installation of black boxes in all cars to record 20 types of data including recent vehicle movements and vehicle speed.

"The introduction of spy boxes in vehicles would be warmly welcomed by interfering Brussels bureaucrats who want to justify the excessive cost of their Galileo satellite navigation system and get it running from 2014.

“For many years UKIP has warned that pay-as-you-go travel and further tolls would be introduced on our roads despite the fact that the M6 Toll in the West Midlands has proved to be a loss-making white elephant," said Mr Nuttall, Deputy Party Leader.

“Last year, the Coalition government welcomed the introduction of toll lanes on motorways as they said it would boost the British economy and tackle congestion.

“Now, Mr Baker is fuelling further fears that pay-as-you-go travel could become a reality on our roads by suggesting that black boxes in vehicles is the way to go. The EU will be rubbing its hands with glee at his suggestion.

“Billions of euros are being wasted on the unnecessary Galileo satellite project which is being designed to compete with the existing free American GPS system," he said.