I just gotta ask...

Why do folks feel the urge to obscure their license plates when they post pics? Is there some sinister truck identity theft ring out there on the "Dark Web" that I am unaware of??? I'm pretty sure more people see my plates in an hour on the highway than a week on here. Am I missing something?

 

I totally agree! Does’t make any sense whatsoever! They don’t mind posting pictures of themselves, family, house, and unique pictures of there trucks but heaven forbid you see my license plate that anyone can see on the road.

 

Because of all the shit talking that goes on on the internet. Politics, religion, beliefs or just plain arguing.
Let's say You got into an internet argument with another guy. Unbeknownst to you, the guy you are having a friendly argumemt with is a crazy ax murderer who kills people for arguing with him. He sees a pic you posted of your truck, uses your tag number to find your address and name and shows up on your doorstep with an "ax" to grind lol.

While the above scenario is just me being funny, it's happened many many times in real life. Have you ever heard of "swatting?" That's when two dumbasses are arguing on the internet, one calls the police and tells them there is a crazy guy with a gun holding hostages at your address. The police sends a SWAT team to their house.
This happened last week and the SWAT team killed the guy. He came to the door, SWAT team was there, told him to show his hands and he reached into his pocket to get ID...

All because a guy across the country took exception to this guy's views. The guy who made the fake call is being charged with murder.

So yes, i don't show my tag numbers on the internet either.

 

/END THREAD

 

I’ll take my chances.

 

Lol someone told me its because of the movie gone in 60 seconds. They used license plate info to locate and steal the vehicles. I like the version @hiPSI provided though. People are so willing to post personal info on the internet.

 

I only post my CC information online. License plates is a bridge too far

 

OPSEC YO

 

HAHAHAHA

 

Me too

 

Umm no. Im pretty sure anyone could find you even if you didn’t show your license plate so that argument is stupid. There’s so many easier ways to track a person down online then a license plate. Also, are you aware that any picture you take with your phone has location data embedded in it??

 

Here’s a more official answer for getting home address/name from a license plate. So thread continued.

However, it's important to note that state laws dictate what information you can get about a driver through looking up a vehicle license plate. In some states, it may not be possible to perform such a search.

 

It's good cyber security / privacy practice to not post too much personally identifiable information online. A *ton* bleeds out naturally. Just by posting on this forum I can make some pretty reasonable assumptions about folks if I read through their post history. Doxx-ing is a thing. People that use the same handle on multiple sights can then be link across sights. There can then be real-world backlash.

Blacking out plates is a trivial thing to do and it makes it that much harder to identify your real name and address.

 

People cover their plates because thieves are stupid. Why go to all the trouble of looking up plate home addresses from internet photos? The thieves should just go look for trucks to steal from bros overlanding at Walmart. They’ve got all the best stuff, super clean too!

 

On a similar note, I turn off Location Tag info on my camera phone for pictures I post on the internet that are taken around my home and work.

 

Not stupid at all. It happens more than you think. Not many people can use cyber tools effectively. Pretty much anyone can use license plate data.
Dude, there have been people killed because some road rage dumbass got the info.

 

You never know, for example if MesoJdm showed his license plate he could have a couple hundred 4 wheelers camped out in his front yard and up and down his street waiting on the next release of his ultimate turn signals.

Actually it's not supposed to matter. The law is called the "Driver's Privacy Protection Act," (DPPA) and it was signed on September 13, 1994, by President Bill Clinton, who later remarked that he wished he hadn't signed it because "I never would've hooked up with Monica if I knew she drove a Neon."

Anyway, I'm old and would rather be safe than sorry, and it ain't none of their business anyway so I'll probably keep blurring out my tag.

 

right!
Btw my truck was stolen and I never posted on this site, if a crazy a hole wants to come get you or steal your truck they will do so.

 

Maybe people are afraid of identity theft? Personally, I’m hoping for it. They can steal my debt.

 

So they can sleep better at night.