So, picture this. You get the itch to start some chaos at around 3AM local time. You snatch up your stolen shotgun, load a few slugs in there and roll out with a mind to come home in a shiny new vehicle. As fate would have it, you choose to carjack a 2009 Chevy Tahoe, and while everything seems kosher at first (look, there's even a half-full bottle of Coke Zero over there!), the mighty V8 just seems to be struggling all of a sudden. As the horrifying reality sets in (you know, the one that involves the accelerator not functioning any longer), you're left with no choice but to curse OnStar's
Stolen Vehicle Slowdown feature, which has just nabbed its first-ever criminal. As the Tahoe slowly grinds to a halt, you make a fruitless dash and topple into a swimming pool before being apprehended soaking wet, and even though OnStar took just 16 minutes to return the vehicle to its rightful owner, at least you'll go down in history as the first one to fall victim to the system. Here's to you, unfortunate carjacker -- next time, go for a lawnmower. Humiliating video is after the break.
posted October 21st 2009 11:29AM
" For that matter, would signing up for such a service also automatically hand over control of the vehicle over to any random law enforcement official that contacts OnStar, even when you're the one driving?"
A law enforcement officer would first have to find out if the person they were pursuing even had Onstar. Even if he did, he would then need to know the name and account number or password of the person as well. I don't have Onstar myself, but I would imagine it would be like many other subscription services which only need to know account information and serial numbers for the device. I really doubt that Onstar knows the license plate and registration number of the driver to match it up with a specific Onstar device, if a cop calls it in to them.
Smells like a publicity stunt to me....
Wait, On-Star has been shipping in cars for thirteen years and this is the first case of a criminal actually being caught?
Wow, On-star needs to be mandatory to all cars!!
I'm still amazed at how stupid some people are...
@barry99705 .. you do realize you car HAS a computer now right ? Vehicle computers started back in the 70's and OBD ii was manditory starting in 1996..
Secondly, YOU DON'T OWN THE ROADS.. If a cop wants to stop you, with a spike strip, bullet, on-star he's completely in the right.
Driving is a PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT !!
And seriously, keeping the doors locked till the cops get there, give me a break.. All cars have a non-electrical way of unlocking the door, it's for safety.. drrrrrrrrr..
Dancing dog!
so, odd question. why did this article disappear from the main page? does it happen a lot?
So my advise to thieves: memorize the license plate, when you get out (of jail) torch that bitch.
I hope that's you attempting to be funny. I've had a car stolen and one nearly stolen (thieves did a bad job hotwiring and it wouldn't start.) It's not a joking matter.
You run a funeral home I presume?
And I was only half kidding, I think that when technology bites you you should bite back, although I'm not a thief myself it's a general view I hold so it would apply.
The moral of this story if you're a car jacker? Shoot your victims so they can't report it stolen.
So, is this the guerrilla ad GM has been working on to get out of the slump?
OnStar discriminates against Mexicans, someone call the ACLU.
this should pretty much be mandatory on all cars, but for free.
This is truly great, but I wish that other car companies would be able to do this and then that would greatly reduce car theft. Well in theory.
awesome, story from my hometown made engadget news awesome
Fresno, CA ftw
I can't believe Visalia made it to Engadget! I used to live there.
Stupid Californicator.
baha.... cut the gps antenna wire that runs up the passenger side a pilar. and no, i don't steal cars. im simply a mobile electronics installer....