Baywolfe wrote:

Isn't this technology almost old enough to shave now?

Yes and you can DIY now, too.
http://visl.technion.ac.il/projects/2003w24/
http://www.ispyconnect.com/userguide-ispy-server.aspx#1
http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=25708

I have only tried the first one, and have been downloading what I can from the forums.  I am not sure where they get a 20,000$ price tag on this shit (other than a municipality will pay that kind of money), but the decent pocket cam is enough to trigger a read (iPhone is poor, Canon PowerShot OK).

It'd be fun to record all the plates around you on a morning commute and then check at the end of the month to see who's there everyday.