You know that startled feeling when a police cruiser is bearing down on you with flashing red and blue lights. You pull over to let the cop pass, but he pulls up behind you, and next thing you know, you're being asked for your license and registration.

"I wasn't speeding, was I?" you ask in all innocence.

"No, your inspection sticker is expired," you're told.

"How could he know that? It's dark," thought John Keeler when he was stopped for this reason on Belmont Avenue in North Haledon several weeks ago.

Then John remembered seeing a Record article about some Passaic County sheriff's cars being equipped with computerized equipment that quickly reads license plates and matches them with motor vehicle records.

"Are they using this Big Brother-type gear to go after motorists for minor infractions?" asked the Wyckoff reader.

Yes, sometimes they are. The equipment can scan 500 license plates a minute, but only two of the sheriff's cars have it so far. So, if your car is in violation for any reason, it's fair game.

The stated reason for the equipment, however, is for spotting serious violations, such as stolen vehicles. Using these devices for so-called "minor infractions" raises another question, which troubled John even more than his Big Brother gripe:

Q. The $130 fine is higher than penalties for driving an unregistered vehicle, running a red light, careless driving or speeding 19 mph over the limit? Why is this fine so high?

A moving violation typically carries only an $85 fine. So, your question suggests that this equipment is being used indiscriminately to raise money for cash-strapped towns and counties. But you may be overlooking the additional mandatory penalty for the moving violations you mention — two points.

Most drivers consider points worse than fines because they can trigger auto insurance premium hikes that last three years.

At least penalties for heavy no-points violations don't linger. In our view, the most overpriced of these offenses is the $180 penalty for failing to produce a license and registration. That's $360 if you leave both at home, plus court costs — much more than most of the worst moving violations. Police can also tow your car if you can't find your registration. The fine should be in the $50 range.