license plate question you guys might have answer to

Question to you all. Anytime I've looked at motorcycles on Craigslist, if there's a pick of the back of the bike the license plate number is obscured or blocked. When I sold my Buell for the 2004 VFR 800abs I currently own, I did the same thing. j

I never thought twice about it. Just kind of a monkey see-monkey do.

Well, after work Friday i was warming up my bike, putting my helmet, gloves on and a guy asked to take a picture of my plate. He said, "oh that's unusual, they used the number 0 where it should be a letter O." He seemed like some sort of license plate maven or something so he asked if he could take a pic. I was tired after a long week of work and I just wanted to get home. I was like "knock yourself out dude." He took a picture and went on his way.

About two seconds later I had a really bad feeling. So I'm wondering. What could somebody possibly do with a picture of my plate? Why do we obscure our plate numbers in pictures on Craigslist?

How worried should I be? Thinking about it now, I can't imagine how somebody could harm me with a picture of my plate. Also, if somebody knew how to scam people with pics of their license plates, wow, what an easy scam that would be to deploy. My bike sits parked outside unmonitored for 9 hours a day. Anyone could take pics of my plate anytime of the day no problem.

So what's the deal???

Thanks

 

You sound as paranoid as me.

 

I don't know, but I guess us paranoia people are going to wait for an answer.

 

Ya, something new and weird practically everyday in San Francisco. You're in Sac, you know what I'm talking about.

But...so why do we obscure our plate numbers when we sell a bike or car? Are we trying to thwart some sort of counterfeit license plate ring??? haha.

And as far as the dude taking a pic of my plate. I can easily dismiss it as typical weird $hit happening in the city. But why would some random dude want a pic of my plate? is that not odd or what?

 

Dunno?

When I would take my bike out people would take pics of it all the time,especially the license plate! :whoo:

 

There is slim possibility, but here is an example.

Take a pic of a plate and bike.

File a lost title claim using plate info., but to it in neighboring State.

Have someone steal bike and drop it off somewhere else.


I imagine it would be possible to do a personal info. search on a plate. Thought process - Motorcycle owners have disposable income and that means their house is worth robbing. An ad in the paper means bike might be easily accessible.

I would also blank out plates on a vehicle I was selling for reasons related to security.

Jose

 

Shortest answer I have is that you can pay for a license plate look up that would give your address. If I was a thief and you had your bike towards the front of your property I could have your bike and be gone before you got to your front door. And a wily thief will dispose of the parts and you won't complain much because you were selling it anyway and lots of bikes are never recovered and your insurance has paid off. But maybe he's just a license freak who travels the world taking pictures of ordinary plates. Yeah that's what I think. Paranoia keeping smart people safe.

Damn I took to long to answer but "National Treasure" is on and she looks good.

 

I knew that.......:whoo:

At one time it wasn't that hard to trace a plate. Your selling a nice car, someone sees add, traces plate, steals car. or MC or what ever.

 

If I'm lyin' I'm dyin'.....

LOL. ^^^^^:rofl:


Hey everybody's got a talent,I'm just using mine. :wacko: :lol:

 

the reality is yes exactly.. but probably not... maybe? the filing lost title thing, not so much Most states that I am aware of you need to have the "corpse" in hand to have vin numbers verified blah blah blah.... I would put a kryptonite lock on the bike thru both wheels and lock it to something unmovable.... or keep it in the garage. SF is a wierd friggin city. My GF brother in law agot his car stolen and it was recovered right down the road after the thieves caused a hella traffic accident.. oh yeah, the cops came after him and tried to pin the accident on him saying that he ran the five blocks home and went to bed.. the kicker is he couldn't run very well due to a bum leg from a mortorcycle accident years before... anyway.....

Keep ypur bike locked up anyway, even though it could be jsut a harmless tourist taking pictures of your plate...

is it a personalized plate? oh and as far as blanking out the plate when we sell shit on CL or Ebay..... crazy people have computers and would maybe be able to find out where we live....

"It puts the lotion in the basket or it gets the hose again!!!!!"

 

For those of you who are acting paranoid keep in mind that they are watching you right now

Rollin

 

you know that little web cam that is built into your computer? you just think it is off..... they can see you right now.... and what you are doing to yourself is bad touching!!!!!!

 

Ya know Vfourbear is prolly just gonna make a killing on tin foil hat sales once this thread goes viral. :lol:

 

...already wrapping license plate and most of bike in foil as I type this!:hss:

 

I had this discussion last year over at svrider.com.
Best we could figure was people cover their plates when posting online as a way to prevent cops from linking their account to a license. For example - you go online and mention you did 130 down some road, then the next day post pics of your bike with plates visible. Cops then... show up at your door to serve you a fresh ticket?

Anyways, relax, EVERY car and bike on the road has an exposed plate. Parking lots, garages, etc are full of them. Nothing to worry about if someone grabs a picture, unless you're doing something you shouldn't, and even then it's probably no big deal.

Oh, and with access to police databases, you can figure out where the plate's owner lives based on the plate number (or at least where they're registered to live). Maybe an issue if you're concerned about theft and leave the bike outside.

 

Gwaa...gwaa...gwaa...gwaaaaaa......

Bummer! hwell:

Well there goes Vfourbear's tin foil hat sales down the drain. :frusty:
Sorry Bear,I did my best to rouse the troops.



Guess it's safe to remove my Orange Mohawk protector now right? :heh:

 

Why are you protecting orange mohawks? Paranoia is not the worse mental disease.

 

You can get plate numbers all day long driving around with a piece of paper and pencel. I don't think I would worry about it to much.

 

Big Brother is watching!

 

Ex-friggin'-zactly!!