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Here's the deal where I live....And I'm not overly thrilled with it. Two local police agencie have received federal grant money to help purchase special equipment that puts "surveilance" cameras on the roofs of squad cars. These cameras are able to "read" the plates of cars, and they compare the plates they read to a database of stolen and/or expired plates, and, I suppose, "wanted" car owners.
Why do I have a bit of a problem with this? While I certainly like the idea of "bad people" being apprehended and removed from the street, the TV report of this device showed the officer cruising a shopping mall. In other words, this equipment wasn't simply an addition to a normal cruiser, they used this car for "fishing expeditions" in shopping malls, movie theaters, factory parking lots, etc.
To me, this is getting a little too "Big Brotherish". Secondly, if you don't happen to have a front plate, for whatever reason, you could come out of the mall and find a ticket on your car, as the police are OBVIOUSLY checking license plates. OR, if you live in a state that isn't currently a "front plate state", you may soon be, as this new device looks like it's going to get a lot of law enforcement support.
I dont see where it's "Big Brother" at all....As long as youre not a criminal you have nothing to worry about!!!
One of our local club members had his C5 stolen a few years ago while attending a concert in Denver....bet he wished there was that type of technology back then.....Denver police finally recovered his car (what was left of it) two months later...but he had already collected on the insurance.
He saw the car a few months later for sale at a dealership in the Denver area...Funny, a Carfax report gave it a CLEAN bill of health!!!
Here's the deal where I live....And I'm not overly thrilled with it. Two local police agencie have received federal grant money to help purchase special equipment that puts "surveilance" cameras on the roofs of squad cars. These cameras are able to "read" the plates of cars, and they compare the plates they read to a database of stolen and/or expired plates, and, I suppose, "wanted" car owners.
Why do I have a bit of a problem with this? While I certainly like the idea of "bad people" being apprehended and removed from the street, the TV report of this device showed the officer cruising a shopping mall. In other words, this equipment wasn't simply an addition to a normal cruiser, they used this car for "fishing expeditions" in shopping malls, movie theaters, factory parking lots, etc.
To me, this is getting a little too "Big Brotherish". Secondly, if you don't happen to have a front plate, for whatever reason, you could come out of the mall and find a ticket on your car, as the police are OBVIOUSLY checking license plates. OR, if you live in a state that isn't currently a "front plate state", you may soon be, as this new device looks like it's going to get a lot of law enforcement support.
The key to all things "Big Brother" is simple...do not do anything illegal and then you have nothing to worry about!
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Another option is the buy one of the painted factory type license plate surrounds from one of the vendors. I ran one on mine and it made it look much better.
For all the people who get pissed about being pulled over for no front plate, here is my advice to you: If you live and register your car in a state that requires a front plate than put it on, if not than don't bitch when you get pulled over.
MRSTEAM I know you werent bitching so do not take thie personal, but too many people get a case of the a*s when they get pulled over for no front place when they are required to have one on by law.
I live and work in a state that does not require a front place, so if I pull you over its becasue you did not have a plate in the rear.
I dont see where it's "Big Brother" at all....As long as youre not a criminal you have nothing to worry about!!!
One of our local club members had his C5 stolen a few years ago while attending a concert in Denver....bet he wished there was that type of technology back then.....Denver police finally recovered his car (what was left of it) two months later...but he had already collected on the insurance.
He saw the car a few months later for sale at a dealership in the Denver area...Funny, a Carfax report gave it a CLEAN bill of health!!!
How, EXACTLY, would that technology have stopped your friend's car from being stolen or recovered more quickly??
Secondly, I'm NOT a law breaking scum bag, and have absolutely nothing to hide, other than the front plate, of course. I just don't care for that level of intrusiveness into my life...
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Buy the clear contoured cover and paint the edges (from the inside) to match the body color.
Here in the great State of Illinois that plate cover is now IllegalTOO (thought that's what I currently run)! I'm thinking about one of these, from our good friend Jim...
How, EXACTLY, would that technology have stopped your friend's car from being stolen or recovered more quickly??
Secondly, I'm NOT a law breaking scum bag, and have absolutely nothing to hide, other than the front plate, of course. I just don't care for that level of intrusiveness into my life...
Everytime you leave your home, you are open to that "level of intrusiveness". You drive on PUBLIC highways and streets, everytime you go to a store or a mall ..... you are on some else's property. They have the right to protect their property and their customers by the installation of video ....... you are probably on video today, more than you ever have imagined.
It's pretty standard anymore that law enforcement patrol units are equipped w/ video, many major intersections in cities are monitored by video, store security cameras, parking lot security cameras ...... this is the technology that may have gotten on film and helped recovered the stolen corvette. Law enforcement makes alot of arrests off the video from the private sector.
Who knows .............. the gov't maybe watching you RIGHT NOW with their satellite capabilities
Reading a license plate is not a "search" by 4th amendment standards. anyone can read it at ny time for any reason, There is no "reasonable expectation of privacy envolved" Weather they do it with a camera or seting behind you at a stop light, same thing.
I disagree, It makes the car look like ***. 2nd, its a law that doesnt make any sense other than a way to make money for the state. If it was life threatening to cops or to people, all 50 states will enforce it. I dont abide by senseless laws
Here's my home-painted Corvette Central plate bubble -
Remember the post was about helping him find a plate that was tasteful to be used.
This one gets my vote. If Indiana required me to run a front plate this would be it.
I have also seen them mounted on the factory spoiler under the car. Although this looks good it is stretching the limit and getting stopped is yet likely.
From: Austin, Why are they tolling roads that are already paid for, Texas
Originally Posted by k9ulan
Reading a license plate is not a "search" by 4th amendment standards. anyone can read it at ny time for any reason, There is no "reasonable expectation of privacy envolved" Weather they do it with a camera or seting behind you at a stop light, same thing.
True, but the "as long as you're not doing anything illegal..." part is bs. If a transcription error cause a hit on your car, an innocent person is put in a bad position. The leo will treat them like a criminal and at very least it will be a big hassle.
I don't run a front plate. I know full well I'm giving the opportunity to any leo to pull me over. While I might b!tch about the statute, or having to screw up the front of my car, I won't cry about being cited for it. (as long as the leo isn't an a$$)
In short, the ends do not justify the means. (my.02)
I had the misfortune of getting a ticket in one of our neighboring cities (Kettering)
yep; Kettering and Oakwood are famous (more like infamous) for writing tickes.
I think many here don't complain about being just "pulled over" for failure to display a front plate. But to be given a real ticket (not talking about a "fix-it" ticket) is what will pizz people off; and rightfully so IMO.
I'm afraid we get off easy in SD.. I haven't run a front since I got the car, and since a front plate violation isn't a primary offense... I've gotten pulled over for speeding twice (doh!) both times no ticket for speeding and no mention of the front plate.. guess we have cops that are more worried about making the place safe than pissing people off. As for the argument about how much the front plate helps in crimes, while that may be true, I'm not about to go out and etch my license plate number into every body panel just so the cops can find the bits after it's stolen and stripped... Many states don't require front plates, which tells me it's not that important to someone.
I'm afraid we get off easy in SD.. I haven't run a front since I got the car, and since a front plate violation isn't a primary offense... I've gotten pulled over for speeding twice (doh!) both times no ticket for speeding and no mention of the front plate.. guess we have cops that are more worried about making the place safe than pissing people off. As for the argument about how much the front plate helps in crimes, while that may be true, I'm not about to go out and etch my license plate number into every body panel just so the cops can find the bits after it's stolen and stripped...
Many states don't require front plates, which tells me it's not that important to someone.
Last I knew ........ 38 out of 50 states are required to have 2 plates. By my math that only leaves 12 who do not require 2 plates. That tells me about 70% of the states believe it is important, in one form or other.
I'm going to blow off for a second and then drop the subject ...... but after 33 years of LE, I get tired of people thinking we are out there for ""pissing people off"" ........ if you people that sit back and complain about the little things ........ switch shoes with a LEO someday and see how many little things add up to a larger thing and how many STUPID and deadly people we deal with in a days time, maybe you would understand the world of law enforcement.
And for the guy earlier with all the "senseless" tickets, maybe you should have to walk for awhile and have a better appreciation for your driving "privilege" for it's not a right! Enough said, I'm done.
Everybody stay safe and have a good time, life is too short as it is!