Revealing License Plate Numbers on Forums

[rbuswell]

I'd like to think I'm as security conscience as the next guy but I just don't see why people photoshop out license plate numbers on their cars. It seems to me that license plates are part of the public domain. Anyone who sees the car on the street could do anything someone on a forum could, so why does it seem so common?

[SCWDP911]

I am curious about this as well. I have gone both ways on the license plate "encryption" deal. It seems like it is no big deal to me really, at least as long as the car is not photo'd doing something illegal...

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by v8_ranch

I am curious about this as well. I have gone both ways on the license plate "encryption" deal. It seems like it is no big deal to me really, at least as long as the car is not photo'd doing something illegal...

I agree. With all the high performance car forums out there, could the cops possibly be watching all of them? Even then, would the fact that they found your car mean they could charge you? Anyone could have been driving the car.

[jbkeir]

You could sit at any busy intersection and write down plate numbers on performance cars all day long, what's the difference? I think that cops have a lot more to do than go thru BB's and write down plate #'s. You have to be caught breaking the law in a vehicle for cause to be pulled over, not because you drive a Porsche.

[Clarke]

I would not put it past the insurance companys to be watching the performance car forums. If there is a picture of your car on the track I would think that they could cancel you policy

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Clarke

I would not put it past the insurance companys to be watching the performance car forums. If there is a picture of your car on the track I would think that they could cancel you policy

I posted a picture of a crashed car from a track day with the plate visible. The owner contacted me with a request, (which I most certainly did), to remove the pic for this very reason. I apoligized to him, I wasn't even thinking about those types of consequences. As for my car, I've posted pics of it here with the plate showing. Of course I'm a perfect angel and would never do anything bad or illegal

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I think the difference is that on the Internet, there are a lot more n'eer-do-wells and people trolling for this kind of information in a setting where nobody's likely to observe them or wonder about the potentially "suspicious" behavior. If someone's walking through a parking lot full of parked cars jotting down stuff in a notebook about exotic makes/models or taking pictures, they're more likely to be confronted than sitting the the comfort of their living room, anonymous and discrete.

There was a guy that went by the username "Turby" over on R-list a couple years ago that accumulated a lot of information about "target" cars online - most of it through the forums. He stole several 951s (including one in particular owned by a guy there worth about $40k), a couple of F-cars, etc. He was living quite the high life parting these things out until he got busted.

Point is, yes - it can be used against you. Do a search over there on his name if you want more information.

[ljowdy]

Think again boys (girls) I administer a board dealing with replica Spyder 550's. A representative from the State of Calif. Attorney Generals office registered on our board and posted a warning to owners of replica 550 SPyders. The laid out the law and the consequences of having illegally registered replica's in the State of Calif. His main concern were those that have their cars registered as 1950's Porsche Spyders. This was a carry over from the Cobra guys that also had their replica cars illegally registered as 1960's Shelby Cobra's.

The bottom line is that authorities do look at BB's (as evidenced by his written message below) and, if they spot something illegal and your licensce plate is visible, they can do a simple DMV computer search and discover who owns the car and take steps towards prosection. Below is the message Mr. Robert Morgester, a Deputy State of California Attorney General posted on www.spyderclub.com :

Originally Posted by Robert Morgester, Deputy Attorney General

The California Attorney Generals Office has been conducting an investigation into the fraudulent registration of replica vehicles (http://www.caag.state.ca.us/newsalerts/2004/04-042.htm ). The initial investigation was limited to Cobra replica vehicles due to known VIN sequences. We are aware that the same fraudulent vehicle registration issues apply to other replica vehicles and hot rods.

To correct a common misunderstanding of California law, it is a felony to do the following:

1. Register a vehicle where the year of vehicle is misrepresented;
2. Register a vehicle where the value of the vehicle is understated; or
3. Register a vehicle where the year of the vehicle is misrepresented to avoid compliance with California smog laws.

Any of the above actions are a felony in violation of Vehicle Code Section 4463(a). Additionally, the above actions constitute the crime of perjury, in that all statement of facts contained in California DMV documents are taken under penalty of perjury.

If you are a California resident and have done any of the above in registering your replica vehicle or hot rod you may wish to contact an attorney. I would also encourage you to take proactive steps to correct the problem by legally re-registering your vehicle.

If you have further questions you may contact me at (916) 445-9330.

Robert Morgester
Deputy Attorney General
Special Crimes Unit
State of California Department of Justice
(916) 445-9330
Robert.Morgester@doj.ca.gov

[richde]

Personal choice, it could go either way.

The only justifiable reason to edit them out is for theft prevention, but then again, it's not like they aren't on the road with those same plates.

As far as the guy listed above, if he was trying to defraud his insurance company, well, that's between him and his insurance. Same thing with the CA DMV and replica owners. It's one thing to protect the innocent, but this sounds like protecting the guilty. The law might suck, but it's still the law. You knew it, that's why you tried to get around it. If you were misled and you can't fix it, go after whoever misled you.

Don't be a jackass on the street and cover/remove your plates on the track and you won't have anything to worry about, will you?

[ljowdy]

I concur however, a statement was made indicating that law enforcement doesn't watch bulletin boards. My reply was to dispute that claim.

In regards to the registration issue, many states allow replica cars to be registered as if it were an original ie. 2002 Vintage Spyder registered in Alabama as a 1957 Porsche 550.

If a California resident buys that car and innocently transfers title and registers that car in CA as a 1957 Porsche, he/she is guilty of fraud. It was a warning that caused several of our members to re-register their cars as "special construction" and attempt to get a SB 100 deferal on the smog issues.

[SCWDP911]

Man, this has turned into an interesting thread...

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by richde

Personal choice, it could go either way.

As far as the guy listed above, if he was trying to defraud his insurance company, well, that's between him and his insurance.

Don't be a jackass on the street and cover/remove your plates on the track and you won't have anything to worry about, will you?

I would think that unless his insurance company is just going to take his word for it as to the cause of the wreck, he's screwed on getting his car repaired or paid for. Now liability may be a whole new can of worms. If he gets sued for hurting someone at the track, the company is going to be VERY interested as to the cause and probably deny the claim if he tried to cover up the circumstances. Liability is where the real money claims come into play. You hate to lose your car but a $1 million liability claim, now that's some serious money! I guess what I'm saying is make sure you have the right insurance.

[jonbot]

My opinion is, why even take a chance? Take the extra minute or two and blur it out.

[Rrrockhound]

I'm all for protecting any kind of personally-identifying information. Doesn't matter if someone could get that information in person; there's a difference between appearing with your car in public (where you are mostly anonymous) and posting your license plate on a BBS where presumably you are a regular and at least a few people know your real name and where some hacker punk with "skillz" can learn your IP address and cross-reference it to other databases. How do you think the press found the name of Elliot Spitzer's booty call?

As they say, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you.

[ja78911sc]

We all know that the general public can't access your home address via your plate number. Could your plate number in the wrong hands expose your vehicle or home to theft? Again, anyone can obviously get your plate number on the street but the scum surfing the net is what makes me nervous.

[richde]

Originally Posted by ljowdy

I concur however, a statement was made indicating that law enforcement doesn't watch bulletin boards. My reply was to dispute that claim.

In regards to the registration issue, many states allow replica cars to be registered as if it were an original ie. 2002 Vintage Spyder registered in Alabama as a 1957 Porsche 550.

If a California resident buys that car and innocently transfers title and registers that car in CA as a 1957 Porsche, he/she is guilty of fraud. It was a warning that caused several of our members to re-register their cars as "special construction" and attempt to get a SB 100 deferal on the smog issues.

I doubt you'd be charged with a felony if you simply registered a car in CA the same way you would in the state you came from. There would be some trouble, tickets, a tow, what to do with it, etc.

That does beg the question, what CAN you register it as, the manufacturer of the kit? Of course they don't have CARB certification if they're not in CA. On top of that, naturally you couldn't have all the clean air devices from the donor, because the new chassis isn't the donor. Is it impossible to register a replica in CA?

[3.2 CAB]

As far as the guy that had crashed his car, he might have just not wanted it known. Or some other small reason, maybe he did not want his spouse to see it.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by 3.2 CAB

As far as the guy that had crashed his car, he might have just not wanted it known. Or some other small reason, maybe he did not want his spouse to see it.

That's exactly right. He was having a bit of 'difficulty'.

[pope]

It is not necessary to use your real name, phone number and license plate on the internet. So why do it?

Unlike a community IRL, people can be part of it without being seen. They can target specific subjects and use the information they gather for wrong-doing, although admittedly this happens very rarely.

It is astonishing the amount of things you can learn about someone with simple searching and cross-referencing.

IMO, it's best to keep your personal information for real life and understand that not making it public on the internet is NOT hiding. You can reveal yourself to the people you choose and on a more private basis.


A person sitting on the corner of a street will see one 911 a day. On here he can find hundreds in the same amount of time.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by ja78911sc

We all know that the general public can't access your home address via your plate number. Could your plate number in the wrong hands expose your vehicle or home to theft? Again, anyone can obviously get your plate number on the street but the scum surfing the net is what makes me nervous.

Not true; you can get that info, easily. And I'm 'General Public'.

I saw a rare car that I was looking for and wanted. Went to the state MV office with the plate number, paid a fee ($25, I think) and got the name and address of the owner.

Called them and offered them X dollars (it wasn't for sale). They said no, not for sale, but then they called me back a week later and counter offered. I bought the car.

It's one thing to be driving down the street like I was, its another for some 300 pound loser in his underwear in his mother's basement (or someone in 'Nigeria') using that info.

I just wouldn't do it.