I-Cube (Integrated, Intelligent Imaging) E-Mail info at I-Cube dot co dot za OR Call 082 562 8225

"We're trying to make sure drivers get fair warning about upcoming changes that will affect them, Sean Comey, spokesperson for AAA Northern California, said. "You don't want flashing lights in your rear view mirror to be your first clue that rules have changed."

All laws went into effect Jan. 1 unless noted otherwise.

New laws for 2008

n Hot fuel: Under Assembly Bill 868, authored by Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles), California will begin work on a study of the effects of fuel temperature on consumers. Liquids like gasoline are less dense at higher temperatures, which means consumers may receive less fuel than they have paid for.

n Driving under the influence driver's license declaration: AB 808, authored by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra (D-Hanford), requires applicants for a driver's license renewal to sign a declaration that states if they drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and someone is killed as a result, they can be charged with murder.

n Street racing: Senate Bill 67, authored by Sen. Don Perata (D-Oakland), broadens vehicle impound laws to allow law enforcement to seize a vehicle when

arresting a driver for reckless driving, reckless driving in an off-street parking area or exhibition of speed.

n Teen cell phone: SB 33, authored by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) prohibits anyone under age 18 from using a cell phone (hand-held or hands-free) or any other mobile service device, such as a BlackBerry, while driving. Beginning at the same time, under SB 1613 (passed in 2006), drivers 18 and over must use a hands-free device if they are using a cell phone while driving. These laws go into effect on July 1, 2008.

n Ticket masking: AB 645, authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), prohibits courts from allowing persons charged with driving under the influence or with a hit-and-run from attending traffic school, thereby masking a ticket that would otherwise add two recordable points to a person's driving record.

n Hidden license plates: AB 801, authored by Assemblywoman Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel), prohibits the use of a device that would impair the recognition of a license plate by an electronic enforcement device like a red light camera or those at toll bridge booths.

n Smoking with children: SB 7, authored by Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), makes it illegal to smoke cigarettes, a cigar or a pipe in a motor vehicle where a minor is present. Violators can receive a fine up to $100 per person.

n Hazardous material: Under AB 1612, authored by Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), the Biennial Inspection of Terminals program requires a physical inspection of hazardous material commercial vehicle terminals and eliminates an administrative inspection. This legislation came in response to the accident by a commercial hazmat driver which resulted in destruction of a portion of East Bay freeway.

n Vehicle registration fee increase: AB 118, authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), increased annual vehicle registration fee and the smog impact fee in order to provide revenue for research and development of alternative fuels, consumers can expect to pay $3 to $11 more when registering. This law is in effect from July 2008 through 2016.

n Emergency ferry service: SB 976, authored by Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), creates a San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority.

n Older drivers online safety training: The DMV took regulatory action this year to authorize online Mature Driver Improvement courses. AAA has partnered with "I Drive Safely" to offer an Internet-based course.

n Diesel smog check: AB 1488, authored by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), integrates lightweight diesel vehicles into the biennial smog check program. This law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

n Bicycle intersection detectors: AB 1581, authored by Assemblywoman Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) requires, to the extent feasible, placement of traffic signals that detect motorcycles and bicycles at intersections.

n Alternative fuels: AB 118, authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), creates a program to provide grants and loans to fund research and development of alternative fuels and for a new clean air program. Owners of cars less than six years old would pay an additional $8 for smog abatement fee and an additional $2 for registration. Funding for the program would be derived from a variety of sources with automobiles being the biggest source, contributing about $150 million annually. This law is in effect from July 2008 through 2016.

I-Cube or Integrated Intelligent Imaging (I³) focuses of proactive crime prevention using real time links to multiple internal and external databases in order to generate a warning prior to crime occurring, allowing anticipation of the offence. All the projects I-Cube is involved with have a central theme of using images, as this allows both the real time and covert nature of the proactive crime prevention systems to operate to the best effect.

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS: As the person or car approaches the entrance a camera captures a number of images from which the license plate or face are extracted. These images are saved, allowing this information to be used in subsequent investigations. The face or license plate is then compared to local databases, allowing greeting of repeat visitors and external databases, such as insurance companies, stolen and suspicious vehicles, SAPS, Metro, etc. If the vehicle is listed as stolen, appropriate action should then be taken. If the vehicle is listed as never have been registered, this is a good vehicle to investigate further. Within a short period of the system being in operation, most vehicles and people have been logged and registered, allowing typically limited resources to be focused on the few remaining exceptions. The ability to leverage the equipment to operate in a marketing role, while still actively focusing on proactive crime prevention, has major advantages in a cash limited environment. If you have more than 50 people a day passing a point where we can place a camera, I-Cube has the experience and ability to turn this into a revenue stream. Please contact I-Cube to explore this further.

WHAT IS REQUIRED: The key to proactive crime prevention using real time links is that the system does not require human intervention, it is fully automatic. The camera automatically captures the image, the facial or license plate is automatically compared to both local and remote databases and if required an alarm is generated. The I-Cube solution can operate locally but using a wide range of communication means (including ADSL, 3G, GPRS, iBURST, Wireless or satellite) a real time link to multiple databases can be established, allowing immediate updates of stolen vehicles as they are added to SAPS or the insurance databases.

The system requires a camera linked to a computer, running the I-Cube Intelligent Software. The software is trained to recognise the item to be logged or counted, be that people, cars or different types of products. Once the item is logged, it can then be compared to pre-set rules or databases, allowing an alarm to be generated if the incorrect number of products exit or a vehicle enters after hours or is listed as not allowed. The ability to link vehicle colour, weight, and driver, biometric and other info as required to the license plate gives the I-Cube system tremendous advantages.

I-Cube can integrate with your existing system or provide dedicated cameras, computers and networks. Please contact I-Cube with your requirements and existing equipment.

WHAT DOES IT COST: I-Cube can provide database links only, software only, some hardware and software or a complete solution, fully installed and maintained, if required? The cost can be a capital amount, a rental per month, a cost per transaction or shared revenue. Costs range from 0.13c per chicken (based on 100 000 birds a day) to 3c per car (based on single entry / exit lanes) to R1 950.00 per month to R49 500.00 for the software and hardware. Please contact I-Cube for your specific requirements.

The following illustrates some examples of the users of this technology. Please contact I-Cube or your local IT / CCTV / DVR / biometric supplier for a customised proposal, taking into consideration your requirements, existing solutions and possible revenue sources.

SCHOOL: The entrance of the school is covered with a camera, which is linked wirelessly to a PC running the I-Cube software. The students, staff and parents are enrolled into a local database, which allows specific messages to be placed on an electronic display, while visitors are directed to the visitor parking area and then to reception. The schools limited manpower resources can then focus on the visitors, rather than the known parents or staff. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

DISTRIBUTION CENTRE: The ability to link the license plate, driver facial image, vehicle type and colour, container number and weight of the truck and weight of goods listed on the invoice prevents unauthorised removal of any items. Productivity per vehicle is up while the number of hours wasted at weigh bridges has been substantially reduced, as the distribution centre no longer allows vehicles out which would be fined for overloading. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

GOLF ESTATE: The existing cameras at the entrance and at key points through the estate were linked to the I-Cube LPR software allowing all visitors and residents to be logged at a number of points through the estate. The system was linked to a national database of suspect and stolen cars, allowing proactive crime prevention. When an alarm is detected, the armed reaction team are called into action, supporting the estate front end guards. A side effect of the I-Cube LPR solution is that the average speed of the vehicles is automatically determined, ensuring the estate remains children friendly. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

OFFICE BLOCK: Parking, or rather the lack of parking within the office block was the reason to call I-Cube. Each tenant has a certain number of bays allocated for staff and visitors. When these bays were occupied and more vehicles were allowed into the office block, major congestion resulted, causing severe frustration for both visitors and office workers. I-Cube utilised the existing cameras to count the number of vehicles into and out of the office block. When the number of vehicles approached critical level, a mobile LPR system was deployed and staff parking in visitor areas were requested to remove their vehicles. Failure to comply led to banning of those vehicles for a certain number of days, again utilising the I-Cube enabled LPR solution. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: The problem faced by the neighbourhood watch was not that of limited resources or money, but of how to prevent known criminals from entering the area patrolled by the neighbourhood watch. The exiting dome cameras were linked to the I-Cube LPR solution, plus a mobile LPR solution was provided. All vehicles and people entering the neighbourhood watch area were recorded and match against the known criminals. If matched, these people were approached and asked to explain where they were going and what they were doing. Car theft was reduced substantially while contact crimes no longer occur. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT: The department had a recovery rate of fewer than 30% of all fines issued. I-Cube introduced a road block LPR solution which allowed the traffic department to generate an alarm when a vehicle with an outstanding fine or warrant was detected. These vehicles were then automatically pulled over to a parking area where the drivers were informed of any fines or warrants were issued. The drivers had the option to pay any amounts outstanding via credit card, check or cash via the I-Cube supplied mobile payment systems. The number of outstanding fines has improved substantially to more than 70%. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

TAXI ROUTE MONITORING & ENFORCEMENT: If taxi routes are not regulated commuters along non profitable routes are not serviced and violence between competing taxi associations often results. If the taxi routes are monitored with the I-Cube LPR solution illegal operators are immediately identified and prevented from operating. Where two of these monitoring points are linked, average speed determination can be determined and the number of trips per taxi per day can be calculated and communicated to the taxi owners. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

TRUCK OVERWEIGHT ENFORCEMENT: A number of kilometres before the truck reaches the off ramp to the official weighbridge where a fine would be issued, the license plate is captured using the I-Cube LPR solution and weight is determined using an in line weigh sensor. If the weight per axle or total weight exceeds that allowed, the license truck is sent a message via the variable message signs (VMS) that it is required to exit on the next off ramp and proceed to the weigh bridge. If the driver / vehicle proceed past the off ramp or do not go to the weigh bridge, an alarm is generated, allowing the truck to be chased / pulled over further ahead or logged for further action. Please contact I-Cube for more details.

A NUMBER OF OTHER EXAMPLES EXIST: Please contact I-Cube for more details.