Prudent or just paranoid

If you're breaking the law or cheating on your spouse, it's probably a good idea to avoid these programs. Otherwise, you're spending an awful amount of time waiting at tollbooths and, if you're a frequent flier, airport security lines for a minor privacy benefit.

True, electronic toll records kept by state transportation agencies have been subpoenaed in criminal and civil cases. And to join the Registered Traveler program, you must pass a background check, and your fingerprints and an iris scan are sent to the Transportation Security Administration.

But the government already knows your Social Security number, where you live and work, what you drive and how much you made last year. Hiding is hard.

On the plus side: Agencies and vendors in the TSA and toll-tag programs say they don't resell your data. And neither the TSA nor its contractors keep records of your travels.

The prudent conclusion: Don't waste time at tollbooths - where video cameras are watching you, by the way.