Curiousity questions here:

I see most everyone cover up their license plates when posting pictures on the web.

1. Should I do it too/is it necessary?

2. What is different where anyone can see my plates on the street and make note of it/take a picture of it anyway without my knowledge.

3. Has anyone here been a victim as a result of their license plates posted on the web?

Thanks, Z

 

Hey Chief...(MHFontaine, DT2, USN 86-91 here )

Great question. I've been posting on these online forums for years; www.corvetteforum.com mostly -- you should check it out. I've always posted my pics without my tags covered and have seen many others do it as well...to date I have never heard of any bad things happining as a result of it. I'd like to know the answer to your question also.

Marvin

 

i believe its peoples concern with the amount of information u can find out from just the license plate... dmv public records... name address phone number but i think thats it not sure...

 

Well, you got a good argument here... It's just an extra measure of safety, since you are exposing your plate number to the entire world... I've used a paid website that gave me alot of information on the owner just by entering the license number. I did this b/c the car I found on the autotrader seemed to be a scam... The scam artist was based in Russia, and he even had a fake escrow website setup!

 

Actually, for some people it's a simple way of getting out of a ticket. How so? For example, my buddy has a blue Murano, lives nearby (BAY). Not once has he been to L.A. in his Murano. But, the other day he received a parking ticket in the mail(pics included), apparently someone saw his plates somewhere, put them on-on their Murano, and parked somewhere he/she shouldn't have (L.A. area). When a competent cop runs the plates, it should match the description of the vehicle... not sure about the color of the vehicle though. So technically criminals could get away with fake plates, as long as they put them on a similar vehicle.
Capiche...

 

IMO, it's the same reason why people who autoX will cover their liscense plate or take them off all-together becaue there are lots of people who takes pictures or film them at the autoX.

The reason being is if you ever God-forebid ever get into an accident and claim insurance. The insurance company would likely do some sort of investigation before they pay you a big sum of money. And if they come across your car on the internet or whatever with your license plate with say a Twin Turbo in the engine bay or any after market stuff. They can say that was what caused the accident and might not have to pay you as much since your insurance didn't know about the extra horsepower you added to it so that they can charge you a higher rate or to let you go.

They also could prove that you autoX the car which might cause more stress or prove that you like to go hard on your car and that might prove that you were more at fault for speeding in the accident or whatever. You get the picture.

 

Healthy paranoia and good OpSec.

(EMCM (ret) 1981-2004)

 

I often take photos at 350Z meets, and if I post those photos on the internet, I generally blank out the license plate numbers. Its a simple courtesy. Permission to take photos in a public place is inferred, but I do not have the owners permission to post the photos.

Posting photos of my car is different. I generally do not blank out the license plate numbers.

 

well, Mitsubishi watches the Mitsu forums and voids the warranty of anyone they see with pics of their car racing, etc. Hiding your true identity seems like a good idea in case some other makes decide to start this tactic.

 

Would mitsubishi have leg to stand on in this case?

 

Between the lawyers and their money........im not sure if id want to find out.

 

I've never seen a compelling reason to black out my plates...

 

In the rx7 group, a guy had his well known car stolen, and it was believed to be tracked back to his mod list/info from the website that made his car a target.

 

ITS one stop shopping! all the people that list the mods/ audio/ video/ PC ect.
if they showed their plate someone could run it. get the adress, and break into it because they already know what they can get.

if i had a bunch of custom stuff in mine i wouldnt want people knowing where to find it

 

Hi Marvin,

Thanks for serving.

Great set of cars you have there. I have been on the corvetteforum a few times but just to read. I'm on the z06vette.com mostly.

Z

 

I dunno.....I'm pretty sure there's something in every warranty that voids it if you race your car.

 

I H8 mitsubishi anyways for allowing that dumb looking 350z-wanna-be.
Okay, I'm not going to thread jack.

 

Ok so when you are out and about driving your car everyday, dont you think hundrerds of people can see your plates and write them down if they want to??? Whats the difference between people looking at the actual plate or a photo of it?? Blacking out license plates on pictures is absolutely a waste of time.

 

Nice paranoia makes me not even want to post pics of my car anymore. I don't even like posting pics of what I have or put a list of my mods. To many theives out there.

 

Those hundreds of people you are driving by will not know if you have a double din DVD system or state of the art subs and amps like they would know by seeing you plaster your setup on this forum.