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  1. #1
    Speed Demon
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    Default Anyone use a paper front plate?

    The license plates here in CA are super reflective. I don't normally use a front plate and have only received 1 fix it ticket in the past 30 years for the front plate. I guess the front plate and the lights are the target the police aim their laser guns on. I was wondering if I would be better off to take a photo of my plate and print a paper copy of it that would not be very reflective and coat it with some clear flat tape to make it water proof in a frame. That way if a laser gun is aimed at the paper plate, it would not give a reading or give you more time to react. Kind of like using the plate as a decoy to buy some extra time. Does this sound totally silly or possible?

    I was also wondering about applying something like Veil to the inside of the head lamp lens so that you don't have to worry about it wearing off of messing up the look of the lens? Any thoughts on that?

  2. #2
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    No front plate = fix it ticket
    Fictitious front plate = jail

    You choose.

    A lightly Veiled Laser Shield over your front plate would be the safest way to go.
    Last edited by Stealth Stalker; 06-04-2009 at 11:51 PM.

    "Buy the BEST and screw the rest." - fire65

    "im intrested to see how well you do.i never seen a car JTG before would be a first for me.." - radarrob

  3. #3
    Speed Demon
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    Quote Originally Posted by Stealth Stalker View Post
    No front plate = fix it ticket
    Fictitious front plate = jail

    You choose.

    A lightly Veiled Laser Shield over your front plate would be the safest way to go.
    How sure are you about that? I see some people with goofy front plates of flags and other things. The paper plate would have the correct numbers, etc. There also are no tags on the front plates here in CA.

  4. #4
    Old Timer
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    So make a paper front plate of a goofy flag or something other than replicating a number plate.

    Then you give the lidar guys a decoy target and the worst you can get is a fix it ticket.
    If I'm passing you on the right, YOU are in the wrong lane!

    If speed kills, how come I'm still alive?

    Active Countermeasures: V1 3.858, Escort Redline, Beltronics STi-R+, LI Dual 7.1x CPU/8.7 Heads (front)
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    Vehicle: 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
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  5. #5
    Power User
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    Is this California or Canada?

  6. #6
    Speed Demon
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    People's Republic of Kalifornia.

  7. #7
    Speed Demon
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    I saw this posted at the web site for cr8apl8.com:

    "The California DMV has finally acknowedged us and is allowing us to make 100% legal replacement license plates! As of March 1st, 2008 we will be able to recreate an old California license plate using the exact font the State of California uses on their plates ... "

    I'm guessing the plastic plates are not reflective like the original ones issued by the state. Would this be a good use of $30? My new company car, a white 2010 Ford Fusion, has a heck of a lot of chrome on the grill as well. Wondering if I should do something with that too?

    I drive 2000-3000 miles per month and with the budget crisis here in CA I've been reading about how revenue generation citations will be on the rise. Hence, trying to find ways to be more stealth to laser.

  8. #8
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    Quote Originally Posted by pilotsmith View Post
    How sure are you about that?
    I don't live in Kalifornia anymore, but I am absolutely positive about it in Texas. And knowing how draconianly anal Kalifornia laws and cops are, I just figure there is a pretty good chance that it is law there too.

    "Buy the BEST and screw the rest." - fire65

    "im intrested to see how well you do.i never seen a car JTG before would be a first for me.." - radarrob

  9. #9
    Old Timer
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    pilotsmith, your thoughts are not an unexplored area. Search these Forums for "replica plates" or "photocopies," and you'll pull up pertinent information.

    Concerns of aesthetics (i.e. does the article appear genuine enough) to legality have been hashed out repeatedly.

    Are there risks involved?

    Yes - just like speeding, as well as the use of certain countermeasures, there's risks.

    But we're all big boys and girls here - you shyould make up your mind as to where along the risk-benefit spectrum your decisions may lie.

    -----

    As for VEIL on the inside of the light "lens?"

    Again, this is not a novel idea. A search of past posts will again be of benefit to you.

    But to get you started, here are several problems:

    First, VEIL carries with it a "first pass effect." Although you will cut down on IR transmission through the "lens" and onto the reflector within the lighting assembly, there will be somewhat more IR/LASER reflected back to the LIDAR device, from the outer, untreated, surface of the "lens," than would otherwise be the case if VEIL was applied to that outer aspect.

    Second, in order to physically "open" headlamp housings, oftentimes, measures must be undertaken to break its weathersealing - this can range from literally "baking" the component in an oven (in order to soften the weathersealing adhesive) to having to cut the housing open, and to then re-seal it. In especially the former, to re-seal the housing typically require "re-baking" of the assembly, and here, no-one - except for The VEIL Guy - would be able to tell you if this exposure to high temperatures (often in excess of 250 degrees, F.) would cause degradation to VEIL, and if not, then secondarily, would the intense heat exposure cause sufficient "outgassing" to potentially cause a problem with the lighting components (i.e. hazing of the lens or bulb glass, optics, etc.).

    Finally, there's a potential problem with heat.

    As-demonstrated repeatedly from both VEIL as well as hobbyist sources, VEIL cuts IR.

    A byproduct of generating lighting, in an automobile application, is IR - this "lost energy" is what's harnessed by Halogen Infra-Red (HIR) light bulbs, to offer more light-on-the-road, and is a favorite halogen-incandescent upgrade for many automotive enthusiasts.

    With VEIL covering the INSIDE of the lens, the question of increasing heat would become a concern, and as many of today's modern vehicles utilize various plastics and composites in that area, this could be a very big concern, indeed.
    Last edited by TSi+WRX; 06-06-2009 at 12:21 PM.

  10. #10
    Speed Demon
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    Default Re: Anyone use a paper front plate?

    Thanks for info TSi. I was a bit concerned about VEIL from reading post about it leaving brush strokes, or peeling off, etc. However, after reading more and more posts here, I'm leaning toward believing that if you do the proper prep, and use an air brush, you can get a nice finish that will last a good amount of time on the exterior lens. So many posts, so little time to get through all of them...

 

 

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