MPs have approved a $2.4 million scheme to electronically tag cars, in a bid to crack down on the eight percent that are currently unlicensed.

Unveiling the plans in the House of Assembly on Friday, Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown said the Transport Control Department loses $1.8 million a year in uncollected revenue.

The new law will make it compulsory for drivers to have tiny electronic tags mounted on their windshields.

These will be scanned by devices attached to utility poles and also handheld versions that will flag up untagged and therefore unlicensed cars.

A court summons will be automatically issued, and any motorist removing or destroying the tag will be subject to a maximum fine of $10,000.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party questioned whether the plans would turn Bermuda into a “Big Brother” state and asked how Government intends to employ the new technology on a long-term basis.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell asked: “Is this an invasion of privacy? Is it Big Brother? Is that the next stage? What’s the cost? Is it a Government cost or is it going to be passed on to the consumer? How is this going to solve Bermuda’s traffic problems? There are literally no facts and figures that say this is the right thing to do.”

Dismissing the criticism, Dr. Brown said the technology would help the Police fight crime and was supported by the insurance sector.

“There will be a public education effort that will quite likely show Bermudians this is not Big Brother. The technology does not allow any snooping on the part of Government,” he added, comparing the critics to “the people who favoured typewriters over computers — and we all know how history unfolded there”.

Dr. Brown said the law would initially affect only cars, but motor bikes and auxiliary cycles would be phased in at a later date. The legislation will now go to the Senate, with the issuance of tags to Bermuda’s 22,400 cars slated to begin on July 1.