So they're useless for crimes not involving a reported license plate? Sounds like a pretty worthless marginal gain. The Chinese have done it better since their mass surveillance apparatus isn't contingent on reported license plates, or even the involvement of a vehicle. Start a fight on the street and they'll find you. Is America really this incompetent that they can't match a 10+ year old system?

No, that's just one of the things you can search on.

So what you're saying is that I can report your[1] car as being associated with a crime, and the police will show up wherever you and/or your car is and treat you like a criminal?

I love this for you!

[1] the literal you, as well as the figurative

No, the comment is not saying that. You appear to have invented it.

If you think there's something wrong with my interpretation, then please explain what that is to me. I'm not seeing a problem with it.

(I may, in fact, be an idiot. Help me out here.)

Sure, you made up a bunch of things the comment doesn't say, and then said "so you're saying?". No, they are not saying.

You're just as [un]qualified to interpret the intent of the comment that I replied to as I am myself, comrade.

Neither of us wrote it.

We're policing future crime now?

I think they made a movie about that.