LA's plan to scan license plates and send Dear prostitute-seeking John letters

Have you ever taken a wrong turn or been given a strange route via a map app while driving? What if a license plate reader were to scan your plate, get your home address, and generate a “Dear John” letter which is snail-mailed to your house where your significant other opens the letter to learn you had been soliciting prostitutes? Los Angeles City Council hopes the damning “Dear John” letters will be opened by wives, girlfriends or mothers in order to shame men who solicit prostitutes.

The city council proposed using license plate readers to identify vehicles driving in areas known for prostitution and sending “john letters” to the registered owner’s address. The council voted to send the proposal to the City Attorney’s office. If the plan moves forward, then good luck explaining the wrong turn or even maintaining a friendship if you took that “detour” while borrowing a friend’s car and the letter goes to his or her address.

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