[OT] Why Hide License Plates in Pics?

[GimmeM5]

The practice of hiding or blurring license plates is pretty common everywhere, but I have never really heard the explanation as to why you should do this (or if it is just an optional thing a lot of people do). I suppose the additional information could somehow be used to get even more info, but there is no more information than someone could get by simply seeing your car on the street or in a parking lot.

It's not a big deal, I've just been curious as to where the practice came from and why... You still see pics of cars with their license plates visible, and I don't think I've heard any of them complaining about stolen cars recently.

[BmwNut]

I think people are worried about the exposure rate the pics have when on the internet, and the amount of deranged people that surf the web. The biggest issue with it though, is whenever you drive in public people see your plates, and OMG your face too! They might even be able to see your house as you pull in! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...eeeeeeeeee.gif
It's paranoia, as I don't think it is an issue at all.

[Ag Surfer]

I don't think there's anything negative about doing so, as you can see from my post here: http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/sho...455#post858455

However, I do understand that there maybe some privacy concerns. To each his own.

[wiggis]

Originally Posted by GimmeM5

It's not a big deal, I've just been curious as to where the practice came from and why... You still see pics of cars with their license plates visible, and I don't think I've heard any of them complaining about stolen cars recently.

1) Car Cloning - i.e. making out a stolen M5 is ligitimate by giving it the number plate of a non-stolen version

2) Linking a car registration (and therefore the owner, address and so on) with an IP address and possible admissions of speeding, whatever

In general, given the amount of data available to all sorts of unsavoury people these days, the less information you put out onto the internet (or public domain generally), the better.

That's why I blanked out the registration number on the photo's I posted, and I was careful to make sure my house name wasn't visible either, so as not to place my car at a particular address. It's also why I get purchased items delivered to my office address, don't give out my landline number, am ex-directory, etc. etc.

Paranoia without a doubt, but given that we're all photographed at least 1,000 times a day via CCTV, I'm not in the mood for giving out more information than I need to.

[badboypolar]

Well here in California we have the "Elenor" law. You have to write to DMV Sacramento with a copy of your business license to get the info. You can also be the previous owner.

So it doesn't mean anything here unless someone spots your car on the road.

[TurboCarrera]

Has anyone ever heard of a single instance of having a license plate seen on the internet leading to an actual problem? In 13 years of being in the internet business, I have never heard of anything, ever.

Steve
00 M5

[KBK]

It would be foolish to ask me, I'm obviously paranoid. As Mel said in the film 'Conspiracy Theory', "I'm only paranoid because they're trying to kill me."

ps: BMWnut, I absolutely love that crazy little smiley. Where did you get it from. I live like that. I need it.

[unfoundhorsepower]

PARINOIA..WHO ME?????

[J Irwan]

I always do it for security purpose.

Especially if you have a lot of modification , Performance mods, expensive wheels, expensive ICE gears,.. etc..etc.. and the fact that pretty much everyone on the interet can browse to any forum and look at your siggy (to those who has habit posting every single mod on the siggy), just in case there are car-thieves floating around like vultures..the last thing I want to do is give out my license plate.. (its like asking for trouble)....

call me paranoid, but why not taking precautionary step before anything bad happen.

my $0.02


Regardz,

J Irwan

[Beamer_usa]

Well let's see know, I have a privacy blocker on my home and cell phones, and I am not listed in the phone book or directory assistance. and I pity the fool that tries to ask me for my Social Security #. Me Paranoid!!! No never!

[bimmernut1]

It varies state to state. I went to the effort to ask our DMV could individuals obtain personal information from a license plate number. The bottom line is someone can but they have to submit a form and it must be for one of the specific reasons on the form. There is a penalty for using the form illegally (like criminals would really care), but it's not as simple as calling in with someone's licence plate number. The funny thing is that people see your plate on the road every day and if someone wanted to gather info, they would more than likely get it that way rather than from a photo.

If you are interested in the legal reasons personal info can be released (at least in my state) take a look at section 4 of the attached form and the reasons listed below that section. Some are pretty weak in my opinion. Obviously they got added at the behest of some lobby.

http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/forms/trdl302.pdf