Lawmakers Cracking Down on Photo Blocker Spray

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...cal&id=5267767

Can't View License Plate in Pictures
By Nannette Miranda
May 2, 2007 (KABC-TV) - Whether it's going through one of Orange County's toll roads or one of the Bay Area's bridges, cameras catch drivers going through plazas without paying.

Assemblywoman Mimi Walters says it has become increasingly tough to catch them because of a photo blocker spray some are using on their license plates.

"When the camera hits the license plates, the light overexposes the license plate and you can't read the actual picture. You can't read what the license plate is," Walters said.

Of course, the problem with that is authorities won't be able to send the driver a ticket.

Orange County estimates it loses close to half a million dollars a month from toll evaders.

At the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, it's about $100,000, though they don't know what percentage is due to the spray.

Californians are also using the photo blocker spray to avoid being caught for running a red light. Numerous intersections have camera enforcement because the fatal accident rate there is high.

"For somebody to purposely spray this on their license plate to try to circumvent the system and get away with running the red light is very, very dangerous," Officer Konrad Von Schoech, of the Sacramento Police Department, said.

On Wednesday, the Assembly appropriations committee approved a ban prohibiting drivers from using photo blocker sprays.

The company that markets them in car magazines and on the Internet says evading the law is not the purpose of their product, but it gives drivers a fighting chance against faulty technology.

"Our product came out of necessity. We found out that red light cameras and speed cameras were flawed and they were rigged. It's law enforcement for a profit," Joe Scott, the CEO of PhotoPlate, said.

If the proposal passes, violators face up to a $1000 fine and/or six months in jail. The problem is enforcement because to the naked eye, you can't tell who's using the photo blocker spray.

[kestrel74]

Mythbusters says it doesn't work anyway.

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

It works, depeinding on what angle the camera is at. Look at my rear license plate in this pic:


Yes on some angles, it works and others it doesn't work.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by kestrel74

Mythbusters says it doesn't work anyway.

evomind says it doesnt work either.
i used that stuff with about 8 coats of spray on it.
each time i got nabbed by the cameras and was sent a 20 dollar fine, i put another coat or two on it.
when i took a pic of my plate, it over exposed. when the toll booth did, u could read my plate as clear as day.
i sent countless emails to the company and none were ever returned.
weird, cause they had me on some mailing list where they sent out emails patting themselves on the back.
at that time i was driving back and forth to the city twice a day, and racked up quite a bill...

if someone really wants, try it like 3 times and see what happens. go from there.
i dont mess with it anymore.
good luck to anyone who uses that product.

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

I'm sure it doesn't work as advertised, but i like to think of it as cheap insurance "just in case"

[SweetDaddyD]

I was a nickel short at the toll booth a couple months back and suprisingly never got a ticket! (well I had change that fell out on the side of the seat with no way of getting it, lol)

On their website, of course, it's the second coming. On mythbusters is totally sucked monkey feet. But then again Mythbusters blew at the speed camera test and only getting a Lamborghini do to like 120. It's a freaking Lamborghini, you are on a closed course controlled envirionment. Drop the hammer you weanies! or at least just run Top Gears version of the test where they can get a car up to speed.

[Taxcheat]

Neither the plate covers nor the spray work. Several tv news programs have tested them under more scientific conditions than MythBusters used. They failed.

Just because you have the spray/cover and didn't get the ticket does not mean the cover worked. In California, AZ and IL, if there's glare on your windshield (driver unidentifiable) you won't get a ticket. This means about 30% of tickets are tossed in the trash. Just wear Groucho glasses and you'll never get one.

Most other places (like DC), the driver isn't photographed.

[choi0706]

get smart glass..

or

LCD glass..

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

Originally Posted by choi0706

get smart glass..

or

LCD glass..

What's that? Got a link?

[choi0706]

Originally Posted by 25psi_Elise_Killer

What's that? Got a link?

LCD
http://www.ltismartglass.com/elcp.htm

Smart Glass
http://www.ltismartglass.com/evtp.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_glass

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

Is this smart glass?

Click here to see Video

[carlover]

Originally Posted by choi0706

get smart glass..

or

LCD glass..

Anyone have any experience with this? Probably wouldn't be very helpful in a relatively rare car like a lotus though....

[choi0706]

Originally Posted by 25psi_Elise_Killer

Is this smart glass?

LCD glass.. smart glass is a variable tint..

[carlover]

I found this clip earlier, but I still cannot find a vendor.

Any thoughts?

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

You can always try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcGqcQb3wB0

Just make sure you hit the button right before you run a red light :P