There's a debate sparking over the possibility of requiring all new automobiles to be equipped with electronic data recorders, also known as "black boxes."
Supporters say the black boxes provide valuable investigative information and help to make the roads and your ride safer.
However, opponents say the government would be taking away people's rights.
"When you start telling your private business what they have to put in there, it limits the choice for the consumers," says Cindy Gillie, an officer of the Genesee Area Patriots group.
She says "big brother" would be overstepping its bounds if it began to require black boxes in all new vehicles. "We should be assumed that we're not doing it incorrectly. They're now assuming we're doing it incorrectly and warrantless search is a problem."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there is no law requiring black boxes in all new vehicles. However, there is a possibility it could give a proposal later this year.
Traffic officials say the devices do not record sensitive information like voice conversations, but they do record things like speed, the airbag deployment, and whether the brake or gas pedal were used.
Opponents say other information, like whether the driver is eating or talking on a cell phone could be programmed in. They say it's already happening in Europe.
Supporters say, it's a reasonable and useful device.
"It is a vital tool we use in crash investigations and also records information that will help build safer cars and safer roadways," says Michigan State Police Lt. Stephen Sipes of the Flint Post. "This is just another independent witness, a non-biased witness to the incident, so they are really valuable."
Police say the device is always recording and is triggered to save what happens five seconds before and after a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the black boxes were originally installed to monitor airbags to make sure they were deploying properly and that since then, several other safety factors have been monitored as well.
