4 ms·

e.g. at BigBox Mart towtrucks will traverse the parking lanes, with ALPR cameras quickly detecting repos to snatch. My car is paid for but I just don't display

e.g. at BigBox Mart towtrucks will traverse the parking lanes, with ALPR cameras quickly detecting repos to snatch. My car is paid for but I just don't display a license plate period (in my US state it's only a $10 fine to not).

xxpor 7mo ago
>My car is paid for but I just don't display a license plate period Which of course draws a bunch attention to you regardless.
- ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
  It's not about hiding — it's about sending a message. IIRC, Steve Jobs was known to do this in his black plateless Mercedes (decades ago).
  - jauntywundrkind 7mo ago
    Wired even wrote this up (2010). Getting a new lease every 6 months, which apparently legally let him go plateless somehow. https://www.wired.com/2010/08/the-mystery-of-steve-jobs-plateless-benz/ https://www.wired.com/2010/08/the-mystery-of-steve-jobs-plat... I found it pretty grossly offensive a practice.
    - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
      I lived nearish to him during this era, and after this article was published, it seemed like every black Mercedes in town started going tagless.
- tbyehl 7mo ago
  It really doesn't, there are lawful reasons to not have a plate yet.
  - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
    Tennesee also doesn't require antique vehicles to display the license plate (only to have it "available upon demand"). It's only 25 years old to be considered "antique," but you must request this from DMV (i.e. isn't automatic).
maratc 7mo ago
There's an XKCD on licence plates (https://xkcd.com/1105/ https://xkcd.com/1105/) which is probably relevant to your case, too.
- ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
  I have a printout of #1105 in my glovebox, specifically because my license plate is similarly-ridiculous (and "unscannable" but a legally-issued specialty plate). On the reverse is a copy of my state's law on "proper display of registration identifier," but not to discuss with a cop (for him to find in event of being an asshole, searching my vehicle). My vehicle blends in and is otherwise-legal — non-compliance encourages me to obey most traffic laws — but I do carry the plate in my passenger seat to display in event of pull-over (my plate is some iteration of "no plate," and I do respect individual officers' safeties [1]). [1] They have every right to know, when performing a lawful investigation. My plan would be to hold it up while initially stopped (to show intent of identification, my plate is complicated in many ways and must be searched for in a very odd way).
  - mmmlinux 7mo ago
    I think its funny you think youve come up with some unscannable license plate.
    - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
      My state does not allow certain confusing characters, but I'm part of an organization which issues plates in specific violation of aforementioned character restrictions (as an added bonus the plate/organization is emblazzened with `EMERGENCY` across the bottom). ALPR camerae mis-read the plate, having applied state interpretation rules — no human outside my organization has ever read it correctly, either [0]. But of course since you cannot even see it anymore it is definitely unscannable. I can drive by speed camera without issue (i.e. no citations received; not that I regularly do, but have tested). [0] Only once have I been pulled over, in the past decade (back when plate displayed normally), after traveling behind a cop for miles going 100mph+ through Dade County mountains. Cop: "I have no clue what agency you're with — you're plate didn't scan — but you need to slow the fuck down. You're lucky I have somewhere else to be!"
project2501a 7mo ago
can you put some kind of filter the screws the cameras up?
- deleted 7mo ago
  [deleted]
- ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
  These lens "blockers" are working less-and-less well (as tech gets better if they ever worked well at all), and seem to increase targeting from law enforcement. In Tennessee, after the first two citations for "improper display of registration" it becomes an actual crime (an actual misdemeanor); if I ever get to this point (four months now multiple cops behind me haven't given a single F), I have an increasingly-insane series of "protests" that have semi-interesting legalities [0]. [0] e.g. transfer registration to brother ($10 gift fee every few months, which results in no tag requirement); small 3ft trailer (possibly with guillotine erected atop, blocking view), as TN does not issue license plates to trailers less than 15ft length ---- This isn't about "disappearing" (impossible in any modern civilization) — it's about sending a message and adding one small additional layer of protection from simple broad ALPR searches.
AdamN 7mo ago
$10?? I thought it was a major crime to drive without a license plate.
- ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
  Welcome to Tennessee (it shouldn't matter, but it does: clean-cut taxpaying middle-aged white guy, with former background in govt data centers [1] ). If I had any detectible minority status, I would display a plate properly. More onlookers (from behind) snap photos of this taglessness than any other politics/offensive bumper sticker I've had [2] — my only thought is that my vehicle misleads them to think that perhaps I'm undercover I.C.E. (purposefully obscurring)..? [1] I've woken up blackout in a comped hotel when friends in identical situation got arrested/PI; I still carry a long-expired govt work badge in my moneyclip [2] 2nd-most popular, all-time, was "Patron Saint of Denials Luigi Mangione" image
  - dec0dedab0de 7mo ago
    In New Jersey your parked car could be towed for not having a plate.
    - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
      In Tennessee we don't even issue front plates. Most vehicle registrations are <$30.00 (imagine!). Twenty years ago my then-fiance and I were entering NYC via tollbooth, and the attendant harrassed us about "where is your front license plate?!"
      - dec0dedab0de 7mo ago
        That's odd, because Pennsylvania doesn't have front plates either, and it is pretty close to NYC.
        ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
        PA's blue/yellow standard plate is soooo ugly they don't need to issue more than one.

xxpor 7mo ago

>My car is paid for but I just don't display a license plate period Which of course draws a bunch attention to you regardless.

ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
It's not about hiding — it's about sending a message. IIRC, Steve Jobs was known to do this in his black plateless Mercedes (decades ago).
- jauntywundrkind 7mo ago
  Wired even wrote this up (2010). Getting a new lease every 6 months, which apparently legally let him go plateless somehow. https://www.wired.com/2010/08/the-mystery-of-steve-jobs-plateless-benz/ https://www.wired.com/2010/08/the-mystery-of-steve-jobs-plat... I found it pretty grossly offensive a practice.
  - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
    I lived nearish to him during this era, and after this article was published, it seemed like every black Mercedes in town started going tagless.
tbyehl 7mo ago
It really doesn't, there are lawful reasons to not have a plate yet.
- ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
  Tennesee also doesn't require antique vehicles to display the license plate (only to have it "available upon demand"). It's only 25 years old to be considered "antique," but you must request this from DMV (i.e. isn't automatic).

maratc 7mo ago

There's an XKCD on licence plates (https://xkcd.com/1105/ https://xkcd.com/1105/) which is probably relevant to your case, too.

ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
I have a printout of #1105 in my glovebox, specifically because my license plate is similarly-ridiculous (and "unscannable" but a legally-issued specialty plate). On the reverse is a copy of my state's law on "proper display of registration identifier," but not to discuss with a cop (for him to find in event of being an asshole, searching my vehicle). My vehicle blends in and is otherwise-legal — non-compliance encourages me to obey most traffic laws — but I do carry the plate in my passenger seat to display in event of pull-over (my plate is some iteration of "no plate," and I do respect individual officers' safeties [1]). [1] They have every right to know, when performing a lawful investigation. My plan would be to hold it up while initially stopped (to show intent of identification, my plate is complicated in many ways and must be searched for in a very odd way).
- mmmlinux 7mo ago
  I think its funny you think youve come up with some unscannable license plate.
  - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
    My state does not allow certain confusing characters, but I'm part of an organization which issues plates in specific violation of aforementioned character restrictions (as an added bonus the plate/organization is emblazzened with `EMERGENCY` across the bottom). ALPR camerae mis-read the plate, having applied state interpretation rules — no human outside my organization has ever read it correctly, either [0]. But of course since you cannot even see it anymore it is definitely unscannable. I can drive by speed camera without issue (i.e. no citations received; not that I regularly do, but have tested). [0] Only once have I been pulled over, in the past decade (back when plate displayed normally), after traveling behind a cop for miles going 100mph+ through Dade County mountains. Cop: "I have no clue what agency you're with — you're plate didn't scan — but you need to slow the fuck down. You're lucky I have somewhere else to be!"

project2501a 7mo ago

can you put some kind of filter the screws the cameras up?

deleted 7mo ago
[deleted]
ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
These lens "blockers" are working less-and-less well (as tech gets better if they ever worked well at all), and seem to increase targeting from law enforcement. In Tennessee, after the first two citations for "improper display of registration" it becomes an actual crime (an actual misdemeanor); if I ever get to this point (four months now multiple cops behind me haven't given a single F), I have an increasingly-insane series of "protests" that have semi-interesting legalities [0]. [0] e.g. transfer registration to brother ($10 gift fee every few months, which results in no tag requirement); small 3ft trailer (possibly with guillotine erected atop, blocking view), as TN does not issue license plates to trailers less than 15ft length ---- This isn't about "disappearing" (impossible in any modern civilization) — it's about sending a message and adding one small additional layer of protection from simple broad ALPR searches.

AdamN 7mo ago

$10?? I thought it was a major crime to drive without a license plate.

ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
Welcome to Tennessee (it shouldn't matter, but it does: clean-cut taxpaying middle-aged white guy, with former background in govt data centers [1] ). If I had any detectible minority status, I would display a plate properly. More onlookers (from behind) snap photos of this taglessness than any other politics/offensive bumper sticker I've had [2] — my only thought is that my vehicle misleads them to think that perhaps I'm undercover I.C.E. (purposefully obscurring)..? [1] I've woken up blackout in a comped hotel when friends in identical situation got arrested/PI; I still carry a long-expired govt work badge in my moneyclip [2] 2nd-most popular, all-time, was "Patron Saint of Denials Luigi Mangione" image
- dec0dedab0de 7mo ago
  In New Jersey your parked car could be towed for not having a plate.
  - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
    In Tennessee we don't even issue front plates. Most vehicle registrations are <$30.00 (imagine!). Twenty years ago my then-fiance and I were entering NYC via tollbooth, and the attendant harrassed us about "where is your front license plate?!"
    - dec0dedab0de 7mo ago
      That's odd, because Pennsylvania doesn't have front plates either, and it is pretty close to NYC.
      - ProllyInfamous 7mo ago
        PA's blue/yellow standard plate is soooo ugly they don't need to issue more than one.