this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2024
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From Trump campaign signs to Planned Parenthood bumper stickers, license plate readers around the US are creating searchable databases that reveal Americans’ political leanings and more.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Drive around with a permanent bike rack in the way of your tail plate. No front plates.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Some states require front plates.

Blocking a plate with a bike rack isn’t a bad idea, except - a) the rack will wear your paint, b) any automated toll collection based on license plate reading will also be blocked. Probably NBD once in while, but if someone regularly skips tolls and is caught it’s gonna hurt. They just had a toll-skipper sting near me where they caught a crapton of people who regularly skipped tolls with license plate blockers and temp tags. They lost their cars instantly, a few got slapped with 6-figure fines and fees, and I imagine jail time might be on the menu for some.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ours apparently does, but nobody follows that law, and I've never seen it enforced.

  • a - easy fix, drive a beater
  • b - the only tolls in my area use a sensor

If you didn't want to use a tracking sensor for tolls, can't you just pay cash? Whenever I visit Florida, that's what I do. It sucks when the machine is busted, but then I just chuck my change at it and go.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They've been dismantling cash toll stops to erect automated readers in their place.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Dang. I haven't been to Florida (or anywhere with tolls) for a few years, but I knew plate readers were an option, but I thought cash tolls were still quite prevalent.

That's a privacy nightmare.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I've resigned myself to just pre planning longer routes to avoid tolls. I am not putting a transponder in my car and I am certainly not going pay for that privilege or to help normalize it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to intentionally hide your plates

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

But is it illegal to intentionally always be ready to carry bikes?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I mean if you're planning on doing all these weird work arounds, just get a fake plate/mess with your old plates so the letters are more difficult to read.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A bike rack maintains plausible deniability.

Messing with your plates or getting fake plates could land you in court.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Exactly. Cops hate plate obfuscation and will probably pull you over on that alone. Having a bike rack? They'll probably let it slide.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

this will make them more likely to pull you over: each license plate will add to the number of potential cars under a warrant. Imo just don't use a car to commit crimes or get a ride.