[tamathumper]

Just a point of curiosity - I know that online privacy is very important these days... Why do people tend to blur, cover or otherwise obfuscate their license plates when posting pictures of their cars? Is there something nefarious that can be done with an otherwise publicly available license plate number of which I am unaware?

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[94SilverCab]

Dunno....

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[DaveN]

Oddly enough in some Euro countries (Monte Carlo?) you can actually look up a person in the phone book by license plate. They cut you off, you write down their plate, look up their number and pick up the phone! Bypass the Rozzers altogether <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

There is always a way to do something nefarious if you try hard enough so I don't really get it either. Might as well hide your plate while you are driving too as anyone can see it <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[tamathumper]

Good one Jay <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Here in NY we get 8 characters, but we have to take the plate we're given at the DMV first, so I had to order mine last week, and they'll say NOTABXTR.

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[rxter]

General privacy concerns. We are pretty exposed out here in the network. I suppose it's OK to hide a license plate so as not to give the weirdo one more piece of personal info (not that we have any weirdos here of course - well maybe except for Dan).

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[94SilverCab]

That would make 3 of us...Kim Strong has NTABXTR in Halifax, Canada...



Chris Lennon inspired me with NOTA911, but I thought "Who would think this is a 911?"



Regards,



Jay

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[Rap]

considering all the social networking that goes on and all the daily hacked sites is their any privacy? Any info you provide people can potentially be used against you by the right person. Ah for the days of living underground.

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[94SilverCab]

Right, like I'm going to be "underground" driving around in a Silver Porsche 968 Cabriolet...



I was out for a cup of coffee with my best friend's daughter (a very attractive blonde), by the time I pulled into my wife's business 3 people had already told my wife they saw me....and that's in Newtown, where 968s are "common" (thanks to RS Barn).



Jay

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[lbpesq]

I, for one, would never let anyone see my plate! lol



Bill

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[Rap]

Jay I was merely reminiscing about the old days! Gee it must be tough riding around with an attractive younger woman and having your wife find out so quickly. Reminds me of the time I was taking my attractive daughter to the symphony. We were having dinner at a club I belong to and the normally friendly staff wouldn't talk to me. It wasn't until I realized what the problem was and introduced her that people would speak to me. It was truly funny to watch the relief wash over their faces when they realized I wasn't out with some young hottie! Underground no more.

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[rl968]

Actually, I think the reason that people do it is for insurance purposes. At least that's why many people do it at the track. No need to give the insurance company any more info than they may already have. I actually heard that insurance companies will send agents to the track to take down plate numbers.

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[Kim]

Jay - you are living a dangerous life!!!

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[Cloud9...68]

The track, I understand, but on a forum, covering ones licence plate seems a tad paranoid.

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[bombfactory]

It might be a little paranoid, but I always thought you covered your license plate in photos so the bad guys with DMV database access wouldn't be able to run your plate, find out where you live and come steal your car if they happened to like it.



It's possible all that's just an urban legend and never really happened. Remember we all used to have pull-out stereos - and never pulled them out!



And wheel locks... do car wheels ever get stolen any more? Did the really ever? Sorry, a bit OT I know.



-Austin

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[tamathumper]

I'm guessing that if someone has DMV database access, they can do a search for all Porsches anyway... And yes, I've seen two cars stripped after having broken down and been left on the side of the road while the owner assumedly went for help, one on a 13-mile-long dirt road in one of the remotest parts of Maine, and another along the highway here in NY. For the one in Maine, I came around the corner and migrant workers were running for the bushes in all directions.

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[lbpesq]

I suspect if someone is going to go to all the trouble to scour DMV records to steal a car, they're unlikely to pick a 16-20 year old car with modest resale value. Especially a rare one that's easy to spot. Work as a criminal defense lawyer for 25 years and a little of the criminal rationale has to rub off! lol



Bill

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[tamathumper]

That makes sense, let's hope it also holds true for the non-DMV thieves!

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