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Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

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481–490 of 670 posts

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#481
post #464

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The police unions have a crazy amount of influence over politics where the basically just cry if they don't get their way and threaten to not go after criminals, it's happened in multiple states iirc Basically every step of the way, whenever some sort of reform comes up they fight it tooth and nail while simultaneously grabbing every bit of extra power that they can. These powers include things like surveillance and…

I agree police unions are awful and cause more harm than good. Everything you say is true (to some degree) but I don't think this qualifies the country to be a police state. I'm not afraid of the police coming to my door because the police have a problem with me. I don't like them but I don't fear them and neither does anyone I know. There is still a due process and even though even one incident is too many, most tim…

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Maybe you aren't the target now but who's to say you won't be in the future? Consider your perspective versus those who live in predominantly Black communities

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came_...

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#482
post #441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I flew back from Baltimore yesterday. It's a great town. It's far, far from a failed city. I've been to failed cities. Baltimore isn't it. Are there things that could be improved? Sure. Roll up them sleeves.

[flagged]

That which is asserted without evidence may be dismissed without evidence. I was there yesterday, my evidence is my experiences and memories. My judgement: not a failed city.

Do you have evidence to the contrary you feel is strong enough to prove your currently unproven claim?

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#483

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Furthermore, state law prevents Baltimore (and only Baltimore) from annexing suburbs to increase the tax base St. Louis is the other major independent city. The state doesn't restrict its ability to annex suburbs, but it hardly matters. It doesn't happen, anyway, and it almost certainly wouldn't in Baltimore, either. Who wants either city's problems?

One case where I can see a suburb welcoming an annexation is when pension problems get out of hand. There are hundreds of small municipalities which have promised policemen, firemen, and others huge pensions. Many of these pensions are underfunded and only survive by "borrowing" from the budget and/or "borrowing" from future generations' pension assets. It is unclear whether the PBGC ( https://www.pbgc.gov/ ) will ba…

Really depends on who is in power at the time.

Famously Ford refused to bail out New York when they went bust back in '75 (he did later sign legislation giving them loans, but my understanding is that those were paid back).

Probably also depends on the trifecta, since during the Obama administration (republicans controlled the house), the city of Detroit went bankrupt and nobody bailed them out either.

Source 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_New_York_City_(1946...

Source 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_bankruptcy

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#484
post #454
post #437

Baltimore has a police force out of their control (it's in state hands) but they still have to pay for it. This has resulted in massive retention and recruitment issues, and some of the cops who did stick around were on the take -- specifically the Gun Trace Task Force, home of the locally-famous Jump Out Boys. Baltimore is an independent city, so it can't rely on county assistance for anything. Furthermore, state la…

> Where is Baltimore supposed to get the funding to meet this increase in demand for city services? That is for American politics to figure out. This is an American political issue and blaming Korean car makers is absurd.

Interestingly, isn't this exactly what happens when American tech companies get fined and/or are forced to implement certain regulations in Europe?

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#485

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once you’ve had a gun pointed at you from a car, taken down the license plate, then been told there’s nothing they can do because the car was stolen —- you’ll realize that car theft isn’t some individual problem. We’ve had the tech to solve this problem for decades, but car manufacturers decided to save a few bucks.

The tech to make it impossible to start a car without the owner's consent, even when the attacker has hardware access? Are you also selling magic beans and snake oil?

“We’ve had tech to solve this problem” isn’t the same statement as “tech to make it impossible to start a car without the owner’s consent, even when the attacker has hardware access”.

Engine immobilisers cut out all the easy “jam a USB stick in there” attacks, The Kia Boys do not exist in Australia where they’ve been mandatory for 20 years.

Lesson here for Americans - if you want something like this it has to be legislated. Cheap manufacturers will absolutely save a few bucks and not include it if they can.

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#486
post #437

Baltimore has a police force out of their control (it's in state hands) but they still have to pay for it. This has resulted in massive retention and recruitment issues, and some of the cops who did stick around were on the take -- specifically the Gun Trace Task Force, home of the locally-famous Jump Out Boys. Baltimore is an independent city, so it can't rely on county assistance for anything. Furthermore, state la…

I’m all for making cars harder to steal, but I don’t think constructing the problem as unsolvable and out of the cities hands is all that compelling either.

Just realize that making cars harder to steal means a locksmith can't help you if you lose your key. You'll have to have the car towed to the dealer and pay $500 - $1,500 to get a new key coded to the vehicle.

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#487

I live in Baltimore, in a pretty "good" part of town where most of the young professionals and Hopkins hospital staff live. I know 4 different people who've had cars stolen in the past 24 months. In 3 of these cases the perpetrators were teenagers, and in 2 of these cases they brandished guns. Only one of these thefts were Hyundai/Kia-related, and the thief punched my buddy in the face during the theft. Many others I…

In my small neighborhood there is a group of 4 teenagers who have stolen probably a dozen kias. They drive them for 20 minutes, total them for a tik tok, and walk away with immunity. They have been arrested, charged, and released at least 3 times.

One of my neighbors has a recent kia that is not susceptible to these hacks, and 2 weeks ago witnessed these teens trying to steal her car one night. She went out and told them they were on camera, and they threatened her and kept trying to steal the car. She called the police who came later and explained steering wheel locks and did little else. The next night the same teens came back, and this time having learned about the details, went out and informed them that her car was not susceptible. They continued trying, damaging the ignition with a screwdriver but not stealing it. The third night in a row, she left a note explaining it in the window, which did not deter them but cause them to bust out the window with the note taped on it.

The city is now distributing steering wheel locks for free to any kia owners, but they have caused a local shortage and can no longer offer them.

I've had neighbors waiting for their appointment to have the ignition modified have their cars totaled.

If you street park your car, even if it isn't a kia, you have high odds of being side swiped by one of these kids on purpose.

It's not a car theft issue, it's a legal joyride and clout exercise. You are lucky if your city is still only experiencing car theft and not this new form of car terrorism.

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#489
post #454

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where is Baltimore supposed to get the funding to meet this increase in demand for city services? That is for American politics to figure out. This is an American political issue and blaming Korean car makers is absurd.

Once you’ve had a gun pointed at you from a car, taken down the license plate, then been told there’s nothing they can do because the car was stolen —- you’ll realize that car theft isn’t some individual problem. We’ve had the tech to solve this problem for decades, but car manufacturers decided to save a few bucks.

Which is why many countries mandate immobilisers in cars.

I have had my car stolen twice so this issue isn't distant from me, if it has become a state issue it needs a state solution.

Individual responsibility seems to be the American preference though, on an individual level you have the ability to install an immobiliser, and being familiar with the car's features when you make such a massive purchase shouldn't be unreasonable.

Re: Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

#490
post #448

[flagged]

Would you care to elaborate what you believe this problem is, and how you've deduced it?

The poster is referring to a subset of African-Americans that have the highest crime rates of any demographic in the US. To be clear, I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the poster.
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