Posted on 05/02/2024 11:07:44 AM PDT by algore
Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras are becoming more and more common on American roads, thanks to one company. Flock Safety is a tech company that provides surveillance products to a wide array of clients. Its largest customer is law enforcement.
Namely, governing bodies use the company's ALPR cameras to capture millions of U.S. driver plates all over the country. Many local citizens are unaware of the cameras. Chiefly, this is due to the quiet methods used to install them and utilize recorded data.
Eric Fielder works in real estate. He recently noticed something unusual in his community. The resident saw an unmarked van install something atop a long pole. He inspected the equipment and observed a logo. Afterward, he started his research. His rabbit hole discoveries are trending on X today. His post has over 5.7 million views, thousands of shares, and more than 1K comments. According to Fielder's cited research, Flock Safety has provided local law enforcement agencies across 47 states with vehicle monitoring equipment. The tech is posted wherever the client prefers and saves captured data for 30 days.
The ACLU has long criticized the use of Flock products. In an article posted last year, the group warned against communities opting into mass surveillance, citing possible Orwellian results:
"Such a system… allows big actors like federal agencies and large urban police departments to access the comings and goings of vehicles in even the smallest of towns. And every new customer that buys and installs the company's cameras extends Flock's network, contributing to the creation of a centralized mass surveillance system of Orwellian scope."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
GPS and cell jammers plug into car sockets.
You can do things that are relatively unnoticable to make your plates difficult to read.
First, get your plate in a state with no front plate (like NM)
Second, get a low contrast plate (say, like a NM yellow plate)
Third heat up the plate enough from the back that the reflective materials in the plate are partially damaged, but not enough to damage the paint. There is an art to this, so watch on Youtube and practice a couple up time. A plumber’s torch works best.
Fourth, Get 2 cans of flat clear spray paint. Do multiple coats.
Fifth tape letters partially off in a random pattern.. Think WWI battle ships.
Sixth get two cans of highest gloss clear spray paint. Do multiple coats.
The above works very well. The plate looks exactly the same on visual inspection but ALPR has a hard time reading it, especially if relying on artificial lights.
BONUS #1:
Get two back up cameras that go around license plates with IR illumination. Double up on the light bars. Wire so that it turns on whenever the car is on. Blinds a fair number of cameras — although this can be corrected for manually — maybe, depending on 1-5 above. Certainly makes it harder.
Bonus #2
If you have a car or truck with a bolt off bumper (pickup, Jeep Wrangler) when picking the bumper, pick one where the plate is deeply inset, preferably on four sides. This blocks most camera views, except from the direct back.
Bonus #3
Put a sticker on the back of the car that follow local plate styles but is something else. Works best on commercial-looking vehicles. (”If this vehicle is driving unsafe, please report (”plate” KMA 123) to 18005551212) This tricks the AI pretty easily. Change periodically.
Tip #1
various kinds of polarized plastic (like for a computer privacy screen) work, but are often illegal.
Tip #2
There are covers that come down over your plate when parked. These are generally illegal, but it’s not clear if they are only illegal when the vehicle is in motion. Tons of vehicles drive through parking lots sweeping up data.
Tip #3
Back into spots if you have no front plate.
J6ers.
A LEO from the nearby metro area recently showed me how the vehicle camera is linked into the vehicle data terminal to act as an ALPR. The terminal was constantly scrolling with data from all linked devices in all patrol cars then on the road. I consider myself fairly informed on police communication technology but this feature had escaped my notice.
Precursor to a mileage tax for electric vehicles?
Show the legislation or Federal rule that states this.
You're going to get busted every time you post this without providing a link to the legislation or Federal rule.
What documents are needed for a California driver’s license?
Don’t forget to bring the following to the DMV:
Proof of your date of birth and legal residence. ...
Proof of Social Security number.
Proof of residency in California.
Proof of car ownership
Before you get the test, you will be fingerprinted and have your picture taken, electronically.
So, now when they take your photo while driving, they will have proof that you /own your car/truck/motorcycle at that moment in time.
Nothing there for my 2000 Kia Sportage. Which is why I’ll drive it till it’s absolutely DEAD. And when it gets close to that, I’ll have my hubby put in the new slant 6 we’ve been storing for 30 years in my 1965 Dodge Dart.
As long as it’s for our safety...
Good info. Thanks.
If we save just one life...
If the government wasn’t so keen on prosecuting good citizens for taking out the trash in the course of being a victim of a crime, they wouldn’t need all this stuff to “protect” us.
It is a “proposed” regulation for 2026 vehicles on. Welcome to the unconstitutional regulatory state. A duly elected legislature is no long needed.
Corrupt legislators or fascist (and corrupt) regulators, no need to choose, we got them both. A twofer.
Note that there are some cars that have remote shut off now, even without a government requirement.
IR Invisible-Plate Anti-ALPR / NPR Infrared Filtering Cover
Your plate is fully visible to the naked eye, so cops can see. The cameras cannot read it.
I would never recommend installing a license plate frame with infrared LEDs. The cameras are blinded by them. (At least the older cameras, not sure about this one.
So? The car has to be registered and tagged..
Is that a violation of our rights? No.
Run a red light, get a ticket. Whether it’s from a camera or a cop the driver broke the law.
Cameras can help in other ways. Amber Alerts, etc.
Not a big deal to me.
You have no privacy on the road. Can be pulled over for anything .
Can you point me to the Proposed regulation that says police will be able to disable a vehicle remotely?
https://autos.yahoo.com/law-install-kill-switches-cars-170000930.html
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202304&RIN=2127-AK88
“ Fifth tape letters partially off in a random pattern.. Think WWI battle ships.”
That will get you stopped and summonsed in our state. It’s one of those things that the judges don’t like. Cop eyes are not as stupid as cameras.
There wouldn’t be as much need for Flock if we were serious about arresting, trying, convicting, and imprisoning criminals.
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