Are license plates like credit card numbers?

[TerryH]

Why do most drivers here mask the plates on their car when they post a photo? Is there a threat of identity theft or something? Seems a car's license plates are such a public thing. After all, the public sees them more often than the owner.

[Schrup]

I don't see the big deal, I blur other people's plates out of respect, but not my own.

[porschenut]

With a license plate number, a thief can find out where the car lives and go steal it. If you're a thief looking for a particular year 911, what better place to find one than on a board like this where owners frequently post pics of their cars?

[ZOA NOM]

If they can do that, why not simply get a list of all the 19xx year Porsches that live in xxx area code from the same source. Seems like a lot of work to troll the message board until one shows up in your neighborhood. I agree with Schrup, no big deal.

[jess p]

In many states for a fee of $4.00, one can obtain through MVD, the residence of any license plate number. Additionally, many
plate numbers are coded for the county residence.

[Quicksilver]

Oooouu, oouu! Vanity credit card numbers!!! I want the patent!


Wayne

[svandamme]

in camera country , somebody might copy your plate and rack up some tickets on your name...
but frankly , i find that kinda far fetched, at least over here in the Netherlands, you can ask for a copy of the picture from the camera, so if you know you werent at a certain location that day, then you can ask the pic... and i know that there ain't much 73 targa's in the color of mine so i'de be surprised if somebody would actually be able to pull it off...
also , my car hasn't had it's technical road worthy certification , so anybody trying my numbers... is bound to be pulled over pretty soon

[Chuck Moreland]

I don't get the fuzzy plate thing.

We drive around with our license plates exposed all the time, visible to the locals. The guy who is most likely to steal your car is local, not across the country checking the internet.

[TerryH]

We know if there's a way to exploit something, it will be done, especially online. Everyone has the right to protect their privacy, so I'm not against masking the plate. But has anyone been screwed by making their plate visible on the net or heard any horror stories?

I wouldn't want my home phone number or address visible, but my work numbers are visible on the net and I don't get any prank calls even after 11 years.

[azasadny]

I'm not afraid...

[bob tilton]

well i just got my easy to remember plate but at least it's a car thieves will probably have no interest in.

[soup dragon]

In the uk car cloning is a big problem,police have found in some cases up to 5 cars with identical plates.
Normally its the run of the mill cars that get cloned as people who buy these secondhand dont get hpi reports(stolen/scrapped/missmatching numbers etc)
A mate of mine got some london congestion charge bills even though he has never taken his car to the centre of london,it took quite a while to clear it up.

[Jack Olsen]

Here, here.

[89turbocabmike]

If they want to steal it, they have to catch me first!

[Randy Webb]

Zonas - some states will not allow those database searches. In Oregon, only 1 plates's worth of info can be gotten and there are others restrictions. I agree re most thieves will be local.

Hey Bob - how much does you lightwt. weigh?

[Two Oh]

Originally posted by bob tilton
well i just got my easy to remember plate but at least it's a car thieves will probably have no interest in.

ABSOLUTELY BAD A$$

[Par911]

I don't see the big deal, I blur other people's plates out of respect

Same here, I do it out of respect for other people's privacy.

[porschenut]

Originally posted by jess p
In many states for a fee of $4.00, one can obtain through MVD, the residence of any license plate number. Additionally, many
plate numbers are coded for the county residence.

Why would these states allow this? Don't they realize it makes it easier for car thieves and other unscrupulous people with malicious intentions to do their evil deeds? What idiot decided it was a good idea to make all this information available to anyone who wants it?

[sundaypunch]

I don't see that it's a big deal either way. I do find it funny that many of the people that blur their plates post numerous details about their personal lives and posessions on a public forum. Some of these people also post that they will be attending certain events and even the hotels they are staying at.

[Joe Bob]

Thye don't allow address releases based on DNV records. Not since a few people have been stalked and killed.

There are "other" less obvious ways to get a person's address but it's NOT thru the DMV records.

There have been a few cases where cops have run records for friends or to get a "Betty's" information for themselves. They now have to use a requester nuymber and justify every DMV access. Some law enforcement officers have been canned for unauthorized use.....so post with confidence.

It's the public utility and phone records that you have to worry about.....those are open to the person with the cash or computer know how.