Blanking out License Plate in Photos

[AMPowerJ]

I have always wondered why folks blank out their license plate in pictures? I mean anyone of thousands of people see it every day on the road so what's the big deal. What am I missing?

BTW - This seemed like the most appropriate place for the question and yes I know

[JC919]

I kind of saw everyone else doing it and figured there was a reason

[AMPowerJ]

This will be interesting. I think that is why everyone does it too. Just like you don't know why you do something the way you do but you do because your dad always did it that way.

[Scorpion]

Guess it just makes it a bit easier for someone to track you, better safe then sorry it seems lol.

[///M PWR 00]

No point in doing this. Anyone on the road can write your license plate number down at any given moment.

[graider]

this thread brings up a good point. I did the same thing too because everyone else was doing it, but now i see that it is not neccessary anymore.

[gr8000]

it is similar to why people prefer to maintain hidden identities (eg not revealing their names) over internet forums. makes it easier to say things without potentially creating liabilities

[J08M3]

With my full name and picture posted on Facebook, I guess there is really no need to hide my license plate number on here

[sayemthree]

peoples like to be anonymous on these internets.

[gr8000]

Originally Posted by J08M3

With my full name and picture posted on Facebook, I guess there is really no need to hide my license plate number on here

not until you say something in this post that pisses somebody to the point that wants to get you! otherwise you should be fine

[TwistaStick]

If you get into a confrontation on these forums or on the street it is very easy to find you by your address the car was registered to. All you need is a license plate number and a subscription to one of those websites that can give you that information. Or if you have a buddy at the dealership or DMV, can look it up too. It is best to be as anonymous as possible, you just never know who's gonna come after you. So be nice on the highways and the forums, and keep hiding those plates.

[sard]

I personally do it also. I figure maybe one day if I do something that can be used against me such as a mod in the engine bay that would obviously void warranty, there would be a slight chance BMW could use the photo against me. I've heard stories of insurance companies going to the track and photographing all the cars plates there to attempt to void the insurance claims. Also if I eventually spend many many green backs on the car, if most of the mods were internal, I'd want to avoid the fact someone can without mistake pinpoint my car.

[Bimmer Nerd]

Originally Posted by sard

I personally do it also. I figure maybe one day if I do something that can be used against me such as a mod in the engine bay that would obviously void warranty, there would be a slight chance BMW could use the photo against me. I've heard stories of insurance companies going to the track and photographing all the cars plates there to attempt to void the insurance claims. Also if I eventually spend many many green backs on the car, if most of the mods were internal, I'd want to avoid the fact someone can without mistake pinpoint my car.

thats a good point, but before this thread i had NO idea also why people did that, and i agree with "///M PWR 00 " because your license #'s are not hidden in public.

[sard]

Originally Posted by godora

thats a good point, but before this thread i had NO idea also why people did that, and i agree with "///M PWR 00 " because your license #'s are not hidden in public.

They're not hidden in public, but then on the forum we're advertising all the mods we have on the car which aren't seen in the public =). Call it a little dose of paranoia. I'm sure it'd be easy to know whose car it belonged to either way, but still .. Good thing there are AW's pouring out of the cracks.

[Naru]

Originally Posted by Scorpion

Guess it just makes it a bit easier for someone to track you, better safe then sorry it seems lol.

That's exactly it. When you see cars on the road, nobody carries a pen and paper to write down the plates. It's a totally different situation when it's online. The picture of the plate will be there easily accessible for anyone to see.

[jm1234]

Wow, I didn't realize anyone could look up a license plate number for $10. I'm a little shocked this information is publicly available and that if it is that I have to pay to get it.

I thought people were paranoid lemmings and covered their plates because others did.

[FStop7]

Originally Posted by Naru

That's exactly it. When you see cars on the road, nobody carries a pen and paper to write down the plates. It's a totally different situation when it's online. The picture of the plate will be there easily accessible for anyone to see.

camera phone makes it easy to snap a pic of a plate while on the road, though