[P1]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I disagree 100%

Also, Iowa just did away with their front plate law about 2 years ago so since I had an off-center plate for 10 years I can now have no front plate AND no holes.

Off-centered plates is the best way to make the front of your vehicle look very, very unappealing.

[MassNerd]

Originally Posted by zentanker

...that's a recipe for being shot or beaten down on my property. If my 90lb dog doesn't get an invader, I will. Come rob me.

That's great for you.

You really think that works for everyone? Some of us have to go to work every day rather than stay home and defend the castle.

[zentanker]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

Exactly.

the amusing thing is that people who blur their plates make themselves look guilty and get extra attention from people who actually have the ability to find them. Silly criminals!

[UncleWede]

I just try to be cognizant of the shot and not include my plates.

[P1]

Originally Posted by zentanker

...that's a recipe for being shot or beaten down on my property. If my 90lb dog doesn't get an invader, I will. Come rob me.

Why am I getting a feeling you are working extra hard to prove a point? Know what... we can always run an experiment. Why don’t you put a bunch of personal information on the web and we’ll all see if anyone starts messing with you.

Deal?

[amgraham]

Interesting... I've been looking at used cars for my daughter. I've come across the ads with the plate visible, the ones with it blurred/blocked out, and the ones with the stupid finger over the pic.

My sister is a state trooper. We had lunch the other day. I brought this up. I asked why people do this. I can see your plate perfectly well while I'm sitting behind you at a light and it seems to me... even if they know your address from an ad, it doesn't seem like there's much they can do to which the plate/address tie-in.

She said... If somebody has a 2013 Nissan Sentra in silver... and they need a bunk plate for some reason... They'll search ads for a 2013 silver Nissan Sentra that shows the plate. Make a "fake". Then... when the cop sitting behind you at a light runs the plate or the "reader" runs it... it all looks legit. Especially if they have 58 outstanding tickets in a city that uses the drive-by plate readers to find cars to boot/tow.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by zentanker

As if the strangers on the road, at bus stops, and walking along sidewalks are somehow more trustworthy than those people with internet access?

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by amgraham

Interesting... I've been looking at used cars for my daughter. I've come across the ads with the plate visible, the ones with it blurred/blocked out, and the ones with the stupid finger over the pic.

My sister is a state trooper. We had lunch the other day. I brought this up. I asked why people do this. I can see your plate perfectly well while I'm sitting behind you at a light and it seems to me... even if they know your address from an ad, it doesn't seem like there's much they can do to which the plate/address tie-in.

She said... If somebody has a 2013 Nissan Sentra in silver... and they need a bunk plate for some reason... They'll search ads for a 2013 silver Nissan Sentra that shows the plate. Make a "fake". Then... when the cop sitting behind you at a light runs the plate or the "reader" runs it... it all looks legit. Especially if they have 58 outstanding tickets in a city that uses the drive-by plate readers to find cars to boot/tow.

its a possibility, but not a common problem. rather than manufacturing a plate, which is usually obvious, criminals are more likely to "cold plate" a car by stealing an actual plate. most of the time, they are too stupid to steal a plate belonging to the same make/model.

[zentanker]

Originally Posted by P1et

Why am I getting a feeling you are working extra hard to prove a point? Know what... we can always run an experiment. Why don’t you put a bunch of personal information on the web and we’ll all see if anyone starts messing with you.

Deal?

As if I'm going to post my social and my credit card numbers and everything else... right...

I've already posted my plate... in case you didn't notice, that's what this thread is about, not posting blood type, medical history, credit card numbers or anything else!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by P1et

There is more risk. Once it’s on the internet, it’s permanent. Information can spread in a very quick manner. Plus there are folks on here than can run plates and track those back to personal information.

If the NASIOC forum has taught me anything, is that people can find anyone with even the tiniest bit of information. The internet can be an unforgiving place which is easily infected with mob mentality. Best to play it safe.

Originally Posted by jmg

If the NASIOC forum has taught me anything, is that people can find anyone with even the tiniest bit of information. The internet can be an unforgiving place which is easily infected with mob mentality. Best to play it safe.

Exactly...trolls are everywhere.

You have zero interaction with the thousands of people who see your plate on a daily basis....give some weirdo online an excuse to F w/ you though and it's "challenge accepted" in their twisted mind.

Ever heard of swatting?

[pz619]

Why take the risk? Is anything going to happen? Probably not, but I’m not going to tempt someone who has too much time on their hands.

[zentanker]

Originally Posted by pz619

Why take the risk? Is anything going to happen? Probably not, but I’m not going to tempt someone who has too much time on their hands.

If you're driving a car with a plate, YOU'RE TAKING A RISK. At least according to your logic. But you're doing it! Every time you drive your car.

Why are you taking that risk to drive your car?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by zentanker

If you're driving a car with a plate, YOU'RE TAKING A RISK. At least according to your logic. But you're doing it! Every time you drive your car.

Why are you taking that risk to drive your car?

One is an option, the other is not.

[xQx]

I think we've pretty much covered the facts on both sides of the argument and are now debating the probability and cost/value of risks.

I only just posted an image that I removed the obvious references to my tags in, then found it's actually still got a not-obvious image of my tags in it. I've chosen not to remove it.

So it comes down to this:

1. What does it cost me to blur them out
   • Time
   • Image Asthetics
   • Apparently, looking guilty of something
   • I'm proud of my custom tags and I want everybody to recognize my wealth and taste
2. What am I risking by not bluring them out.
   • Strangers reverse looking up my details
   • Theives replicating my plates after searching for my car
   • Do-gooders dobbing me in because of something I said online.

Depending on the value and probability you place on each item, you'll blur them out or not.

[P1]

Originally Posted by zentanker

If you're driving a car with a plate, YOU'RE TAKING A RISK. At least according to your logic. But you're doing it! Every time you drive your car.

Why are you taking that risk to drive your car?

Driving your car in public is one pool where your plate is exposed. The internet can be a secondary pool. Do you want to limit exposure? Then blur your plate online.

It’s not rocket science.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by xQx

I think we've pretty much covered the facts on both sides of the argument and are now debating the probability and cost/value of risks.

I only just posted an image that I removed the obvious references to my tags in, then found it's actually still got a not-obvious image of my tags in it. I've chosen not to remove it.

So it comes down to this:

1. What does it cost me to blur them out
   • Time
   • Image Asthetics
   • Apparently, looking guilty of something
   • I'm proud of my custom tags and I want everybody to recognize my wealth and taste
2. What am I risking by not bluring them out.
   • Strangers reverse looking up my details
   • Theives replicating my plates after searching for my car
   • Do-gooders dobbing me in because of something I said online.

Depending on the value and probability you place on each item, you'll blur them out or not.

I blur my plates to improve the aesthetics, but it's more of a paint out than a blur. Some look more "real" than others, but I think it's an improvement over just a big giant blur or a finger over the plate. I takes a little more time, but I'm in photoshop with these photos anyway:

F80 M3 Mulholland by JMG, on Flickr

Upper Lot - BMW F80 M3 by JMG, on Flickr

20190310 - i3 Parking - IMG_1148-Edit_100 by JMG, on Flickr

M3 CS by JMG, on Flickr

Lunch Break V2 by JMG, on Flickr

[pz619]

Originally Posted by zentanker

If you're driving a car with a plate, YOU'RE TAKING A RISK. At least according to your logic. But you're doing it! Every time you drive your car.

Why are you taking that risk to drive your car?

Ok, I can see we're not getting it. Driving a car on the road is something that I HAVE TO DO. Putting pictures of my car on the internet along with the plate is NOT SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO.

[obert]

Originally Posted by zentanker

If you're driving a car with a plate, YOU'RE TAKING A RISK. At least according to your logic. But you're doing it! Every time you drive your car.

Why are you taking that risk to drive your car?

There is a reason people take their plates off and cover their vin when they go to big local meets

[upstatedoc]

will someone just kill this thread with fire please

[obert]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

will someone just kill this thread with fire please

Best I can do lol

[Milan]

OP you obviously didn't used to own a Honda. Back in the day before the US got cars like the WRX/Evo and Hondas made up like 50% of the car scene, it was really common for thieves to go online and look up peoples mods, then find out where they lived based on their license plate information. As a result, peoples houses were getting cased and their cars stolen.

Now with all the data privacy out there currently, I don't think it's as easy to get DMV information and stuff anymore, but I'd probably rather be safe than sorry.