It just occurred to me, while perusing the galleries, that everyone blurs out their license plate (unless it's a cute vanity plate) in pictures they post on the internet. Why is that? It's not like your plate is blurred out when you're driving around every day. Nor are your VIN, insurance card, registration, social security card, atm card & license in the photo with it at the same time. What can be gleaned from your tag # being seen on the web?

Not making an attack, only an inquiry. How is the internet any different than every day motoring in terms of license plate visibility?

thanks

 

most who see it while you're driving don't see your name, and the viewership is much less. Here, it's for anyone to see, everywhere.

But that said, I don't do it.

Matt

 

Good question...I have to admit I've done that myself - but only cause others did!

 

I guess it's a matter of ease. if someone for whatever reason wanted to find a particular color MINI or MINI part in their area, they could easily go to your gallery and find out. From that I guess, someone looking to cause trouble would have the connections to link that plate with an address.

It's different because you are protecting yourself from someone looking to cause trouble. It's much harder for someone to find a particular MINI or a MINI with particular accesories just by looking on the street.

 

I've always thought it was a bit silly myself. The only reason I can think of is for those who are heavily modified and want to be sure that MINI won't black ball them because of it.

 

I have always blurred my license plates when posting pix of my cars on the web.

 

It's a reflection of the general level of paranoia that exists in this country. We're bombarded by notions of identity theft, cyber security, invasion of privacy all within a national climate of threats from unknown and shady enemies (we're at war with everyone, and everything it seems.) I'm not at all surprised that people think they can hide their identity by using login IDs, or using hotmail accounts, or blurring their license plates in photos. The facts are that purely random acts of violence and bad acts are very rare. Over 90% of all child abductions are by family members or people known to the the children, for example. Certainly, terrorist attacks are random, impersonal events, but much more common are events with clear causal links to actions taken, or not taken, by victims and perpetrators alike.
My license plate says INIW--it's almost impossible to hide and avoid. It's witty and intelligent, and there can only ever be 52 or so of them in the US.
cheers, phil

 

it's DR OBNXS! But I can understand not wanting to publish needless stuff to the world at large...

Matt

 

I noticed others have done this...I keep forgetting to. I guess it makes sense. But where I live there aren't that many MINI's and none just like mine...so Spike stands out anyway. I figure I'll worry about something else....

 

I get it Gandini! The Cop gets dizzy trying to look at your plate upside down and forgets what he or she was going to write you up for! Smooth, very smooth,

 

People can get registration information fairly easily off of license tags.
Stalkers are very clever and may just want to meet you or your MINI.

Am I glad that no one could ever recognize me.

 

where the perp used the DMV to get owner information. Now it's much, much harder in CA.

Matt

 

I don't blur because i don't know how.Q

 

yep this is why. And that all. end of

 

Wow, one of the more intelligent posts we will read today . . .

 

Do you drive with the plate that way? Pretty neat, but has to draw trouble!

 

Had it that way for a long time . . . The back is right-side up. In Texas, so many nice cars run without their front plate that this is pretty mild. If I ever get asked, I'll turn it over on the spot. My police friends just laugh and say that as long as they have a spot to bounce the laser, they're happy.

 

:impatient is this for real?...so are you saying if a car doesn't have a front plate a police radar can't detect you?

 

No, it just gives them an easy place to aim and since plates are full of 3M reflective stuff, It doesn't hurt what they are trying to do . . . Cars have enough reflective stuff to get a laser signal without the plate.

 

Uncle John: In my first post with my new plate, I acknowledged you--I also like the fact that you run your rear plate like me (INIW) and your front plate as MINI! In NM we only get one plate, so there's not even an option to run the front--saves taxpayer money, I presume (the vanity plate costs $17 in NM!)

your my contact in TX!
phil

 

You Bet!

I've had more fun with that stupid plate . . . Next time we make it to Albuquerque, I'll let you know. We have to get a picture of the cars together. We visit NM for fun every couple of years. Last time, Mar 05, we were there for the great blizzard and got snowed-in at the Marriott Pyramid for 3 days. The lady in the concierge lounge got pretty sick of me eating all the chicken tenders . . . woo hoo.

 

Exaclty...plus I guess it gives you a bit of anonimity (sp?) with the internet.

 

gandini - i respect & appreciate this response - thanks!

 

With the dramatic increase of internet fraud and related crimes, it is not that hard to get a person's name, adress, contact information, social security # and other data once you have a person's tag...and from there the sky's the limit...yes, it is true that everyone sees your tag on your car, but on the net, it is (can be) world wide....heck...all I need is your phone number, and I can get everything you ever wanted to know about yourself from that...if I get your tag and run it, I have an express route to that info...but then, I have access to the resources. Not everyone does...you need the appropriate clearance.

I enjoy reading creative plates...the "best" one I've seen so far (and I'm not sure the direction the owner was going with it) was "DCK HED"...(I dunno, doctor for the male anatomy?) Mine starts wit RBZ...although I am never too BZ, just am BZ when riding the MINI....

...and it could just be paranoia....Mick

 

I've never bothered to blur mine out when posting pics of my cars. Don't live in fear and paranoia, so it's all good.