Just curious as to what the reasoning is for people photoshopping out their license plate number when posting pics of their car on the web?

I see this all the time, and I don't understand what the concern is?

I mean, we drive out in public all the time, where everyone is free to see our license plate, right? What's the difference?

 

Because from a plate, a bad person can get your address.

 

Just like they can from seeing you on the street, correct?

And, you can't just get someones address from the DMV by giving them a license plate number, can you? Maybe I am wrong here? I mean, I am sure that an investigator or police can obviously get the address from the DMV, but can the general public?

 

they migth want to hide any mods from the prying eyes at mazda. i dont have that luxury as they know who i am anyway.

 

Well, the vast majority of pics that I see posted on this site have the license plate number edited out despite the fact the car is bone stock.

 

I never saw the point in hiding your license plate either. I just leave it when I post pics. What is anyone gonna do, write me a ticket? LOL

 

Here in Oregon there is an automated DMV set up called "DAVE" that will tell us name, address, vin #, Lender INFO and title #. It is used to check to see whos name appears on the title of the vehicle and whos financing it. to get a persons phone # from it all you have to do is a search in the phone book or 411 connect. It is a account and password protected program.

 

When you're on the street it's hard for someone to target you.. say I **** raz off here, and he looks like his avatar.. if I post a pic with my license plate he can get my number and use it somehow.. otherwise he'd have to be patient and wait till DT next year or come drive around Tampa till he sees me...


Random people off the street usually won't be malicious to you.

 

For the same reason why most don't post under their real name, or have their home phone number and address in their sig.

 

when i took pic of my car or some ppl took pic of my car (just like on ss-7) I took my license plat off. y?! because ... u would never want ur license show on some "unknow" dude's pic. that's mean stranger. and the other reason is... license plate is not looking good. at least i think so. and my license number.. is not cool at all.. it don't like i saw a dude's license(yellow 8) <rev 9k>... that's the license for showing. not mine.

 

Rob, I've totally wondered the same thing. It's an internet-wide phenomenon, not just this site.

It's a bit harder to get to the car owner through a license plate than it is if you have their address or their phone number. Name alone is near impossible. You'd need a birth date...unless your name is Jason Hamilton. The Encyclopedia Brittanica says there's only one Jason Hamilton, and he lives in Tampa, Florida. The rest of us are safe.

Even if you go with the Oregon "DAVE" thing, how many people live in Oregon? Three? Four? Like half of them are named DAVE!

When I get my car on Friday or Saturday, the pics I post won't have the license number blurred. I'll be the test case for the rest of the internet.

 

You would be surprised of how easy it is to obtain information based on the slightest bit of information known about someone. There are several online services online that, for a fee, will let you know what size of underwear I usually buy

 

The DAVE program is nationwide just under different titles most likley. It is used by most car dealerships, lending institutions and many more i a sure mr. population expert.

 

Oh man, when I was living just north of Orlando, there was actually another Jason Hamilton living in the area who was a convicted rapist! Someone had asked my wife if she knew a Jason Hamilton ... you can imagine the conversation.

 

I agree Rob it's funny - drive around among people who are obviously "local" and could get you or your car with the license visible. But on the web, where you're thousands of miles away... ya hide... funny.

By the way, my license plate is Georgia: 800 TM... and my name is Mark Speece. Please don't "get me".

 

That's effed up. Sorry to hear that.

 

Uhh...not quite the same as posting your address and phone number, is it?

Heck, I use my real name here and all other internet forums that I post on (including AVS forum, Hometheater forum, etc).

 

Your name, state (which may be gathered from your license plate or profile) and maybe city may give away more than you think:
http://yourownprivateeye.com/

And just from your license plate:
http://www.abika.com/Reports/LicensePlates.htm

Now just imagine that someone gets really pissed off at you...and they are able to gather information such as your SSN, address. Do you have a clue of the damage they can do?

 

Good luck on the car! But I am already the "test case" since I have listed my 93 RX-7 for sale and didn't blur the license plate number!

I'm a man on the edge!!!

:p

 

Depends on who you **** off, for some, it's one and the same.

 

Yeah, so don't **** people off!

Just like you shouldn't **** people off on the road. They can get your license plate then too. And I think you are much more likely to **** someone off to the point of wanting to track you down while driving on public streets than you are on the internet!

 

It's just one more way of tracking you down.


http://www.google.com/search?sa=X&oi...de,+california

 

I move around frequently, and use a PO box for almost all my mail, but my Aunt who works at the NIH was able to find me last year, even after I ignored her phone calls when she was in town. I guess my downfall was using a real address on my driver's licence

 

Nice try.

But that is NOT me!

:p

 

The easy answer .... not tracking you down .... some people are real ******** .. they'll write down your liscense plate number and say the make and model of your car to their insurance company and said YOU JUST COMMITED A HIT AND RUN ON THEM !!!

No bullshit , happened to a friend I knew, happens ALL THE TIME , so DO NOT PUT YOUR LISCENSE PLATE ON THE WEB.

Ok that is all, 8P