Lots of bills RI lawmakers introduce leave you scratching your head...here's one. The House voted to pass a bill allowing a set up of network cameras to watch over RI's highways and automatically fine uninsured drivers. The House approved the bill despite warnings from GOP lawmakers about "incrementally moving" toward a "surveillance state." The bill sponsor is Rep Robert Jacquard, a North Kingstown democrat. The bill would allow a company to operate a network of optical license plate readers that would run plate numbers against a national police database. Plates not attached to an active registration or insurance policy would mean a ticket for the owner. Jacquard says the data collected would be safely stored and monitored by law enforcement but that didn't satisfy the ACLU of RI, the state DMV or the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. House Minority WHIP Blake Filippi, R-Block Island, says the bill has Orwellian implications. Filippi calls Orwell's '1984" a "warning, not a guide book." Rep Anthony Giarusso, R-East Greenwich, asked s simple question when the debate ended, noting the agencies lined up in opposition of BIG BROTHER watching..."how in God's name did this bill ever get this far?"