Plate locks
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,113
Likes: 2,194
From: Big Bend Country, TX
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
And you can post hard copy verifying the number of people driving around with hot plates ? Ever thought of starting a poll as regards how many store their cars off site ? It would be interesting to see the results. Otherwise, your statement is pure speculation.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
LOL. Lot's of paranoia. Yes, if your plates get stolen and reported as used in a crime the cops will show up at your door. But they're not going to haul you off to jail based on nothing more than that. You'll tell them your car is in storage (or in your garage, or wherever), take them to the car, discover the plates are gone, and they'll start an investigation. Not arrest you.
Where you could run into trouble is with parking tickets, because the burden of proof is on you, the owner, not the municipality or state. But that's a whole lot different than being arrested.
And if someone's really going to break into your secure storage area to steal your plates, a little security screw isn't going to stop them. The screws go in to plastic. A thief will just rip them off the car anyway.
Where you could run into trouble is with parking tickets, because the burden of proof is on you, the owner, not the municipality or state. But that's a whole lot different than being arrested.
And if someone's really going to break into your secure storage area to steal your plates, a little security screw isn't going to stop them. The screws go in to plastic. A thief will just rip them off the car anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 202
LOL. Lot's of paranoia. Yes, if your plates get stolen and reported as used in a crime the cops will show up at your door. But they're not going to haul you off to jail based on nothing more than that. You'll tell them your car is in storage (or in your garage, or wherever), take them to the car, discover the plates are gone, and they'll start an investigation. Not arrest you.
Where you could run into trouble is with parking tickets, because the burden of proof is on you, the owner, not the municipality or state. But that's a whole lot different than being arrested.
And if someone's really going to break into your secure storage area to steal your plates, a little security screw isn't going to stop them. The screws go in to plastic. A thief will just rip them off the car anyway.
Where you could run into trouble is with parking tickets, because the burden of proof is on you, the owner, not the municipality or state. But that's a whole lot different than being arrested.
And if someone's really going to break into your secure storage area to steal your plates, a little security screw isn't going to stop them. The screws go in to plastic. A thief will just rip them off the car anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 202
I Can tell you personally. In the 80's I did not have a car. My friend turned in one. plate as stolen. I picked him up for lunch with his car. we drove into a drive though. We were surrounded. roughly 16 local, detective & state cars. we went through the drill. multi times. Moral is. I had NO clue. Completely innocent. It was not my CAR. I would have been arrested. If my friend was not in the car to explain.
Last edited by THE 383 admiral; Jan 8, 2016 at 01:29 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 49,375
Likes: 3,923
From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
Do you have even one real-world example you can cite where the registered owner of a car was arrested because someone else committed a crime with plates stolen from the car of the registered owner?
No? Didn't think so.
There are things to worry about, and there are things not to worry about. This falls in the latter category. YMMV.
No? Didn't think so.
There are things to worry about, and there are things not to worry about. This falls in the latter category. YMMV.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 202
Do you have even one real-world example you can cite where the registered owner of a car was arrested because someone else committed a crime with plates stolen from the car of the registered owner?
No? Didn't think so.
There are things to worry about, and there are things not to worry about. This falls in the latter category. YMMV.
No? Didn't think so.
There are things to worry about, and there are things not to worry about. This falls in the latter category. YMMV.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 221
Likes: 36
From: Los Angeles CA
This started out with someone just asking where he can spend $5 to buy a set of screws to avoid the hassle of replacing his plates if they got stolen.
Believe me, it can be a hassle. My son's plate got stolen when he was in college. DMV wouldn't give him a replacement because the car was still in my name. Had to sign it over to him (through the mail because he was 200 miles away), and he'd probably get pulled over or at least get a parking ticket for not having a plate on his car.
Not even that worried about someone committing the crime of the century with his stolen plate, but that would have been another bonus.
Believe me, it can be a hassle. My son's plate got stolen when he was in college. DMV wouldn't give him a replacement because the car was still in my name. Had to sign it over to him (through the mail because he was 200 miles away), and he'd probably get pulled over or at least get a parking ticket for not having a plate on his car.
Not even that worried about someone committing the crime of the century with his stolen plate, but that would have been another bonus.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
NO, you are NOT "officially under arrest." At most you're under suspicion. Clearly you're not a law enforcement official.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
Your example is the opposite of what you think it shows. Your friend reported a plate stolen, and then continued to drive on a car with that plate. (Not real smart if you ask me.) They didn't think the owner had committed a crime, they thought YOU had stolen the plate.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 202
I did not know what he did!!! until I saw a trooper U turn. for what i knew at the time was NOTHING. Then I asked. him. What did you do. how. would i know. what he did. I was not with him or call. he did this weeks or a month beforehand. from what i remember. this is what he was instructed to do. And NO. Clearly not law official. I have scene & experienced. very closely related crimes. True innocent individuals are arrested. brought to the station. then solved/released.
Last edited by THE 383 admiral; Jan 8, 2016 at 05:16 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
I did not know what he did!!! until I saw a trooper U turn. for what i knew at the time was NOTHING. Then I asked. him. What did you do. how. would i know. what he did. I was not with him or call. he did this weeks or a month beforehand. from what i remember. this is what he was instructed to do. And NO. Clearly not law official. I have scene & experienced. very closely related crimes. True innocent individuals are arrested. brought to the station. then solved/released.