Laser Shield and VEIL

[Victor]

I just ordered a Laser Shield for my front plate, which as of now has one coat of VEIL on it. I didn't want to draw any undue attention to myself by putting on 2 coats. Right now the plate looks dark enough, but is still readable. I am planning on cleaning the plate as best as possible once I get the Laser Shield, put it on the back, and put the rear plate on the front. Any thoughts??? I just don't want to get nailed by the cops either way. Thanks again!

[mswlogo]

Someone else posted trying to clean it off a plate and he said it made a mess and took paint off the letters. It may depend on the state (quality of the plate). You might be best off just leaving it.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by mswlogo

Someone else posted trying to clean it off a plate and he said it made a mess and took paint off the letters. It may depend on the state (quality of the plate). You might be best off just leaving it.

I thought someone else recently said that, just couldn't remember who it was. During my initial install of VEIL last month, I had put 2 coats of VEIL on, both my headlights and my license plate. People had commented that it was too dark, so I took it all off, and yes, some of the lettering on the plate came off as well. I think at that time I used a sponge with a scrubber on the back. My front plate has been banged up a few times that it already looks worn. Since I currently have no plate bracket up front, my plan is to have that replaced next Tuesday. Once the new bracket is in place, I will swap plates from front to rear and install the Laser Shield on the front. If I can straighten out the front plate (take out the dents and such) and get it to almost like new condition, I will leave the plates as they are.

I guess I'm trying to decide which is the lesser of 2 evils...

NY Vehicle & Traffic Law Sec. 402:

"(b) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be
easily readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic
material, and shall not be knowingly covered or coated with any
artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures
such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of
such number plates, and the view of such number plates shall not be
obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon,
except for a receiver-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling
facility in connection with electronic toll collection when such
receiver-transmitter is affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in
accordance with mounting instructions provided by the tolling facility."

[06blackgto]

it was me.... I put one coat on, and it was too dark, I just wiped it off while it was still wet, and it took most of the paint off the letters/numbers... now the plate looks like it is 50yrs. old....

[focalcivic]

I would either veil the laser shield itself, or just use the laser shield without the veil.

[TSi+WRX]

That was 06blackgto -

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/435577-post3.html

G2 has been known to eat certain tag stickers' ink - it looks like G4 does the same to the plate's ink.

----

The real question, as you've suggested, Victor is what you can get away with.

Such "plate laws" vary a lot by area, and ENFORCEMENT of such rules is also often highly, highly variable.

My buddy used to drive a late-model Chevy Suburban, he's Caucasian, the vehicle's well-maintained and reasonably clean, the front windows are not tinted, and it's clear that the car's a family hauler, with baby-seats visible inside.

Despite Ohio's front plate laws, as well as HEAVY local enforcement of such, he'd never put on his front plate, and was never troubled.

Our friend, a Black female Ph.D. graduate student who sports a wilder hairdo and drives a blacked-out (from the previous owner) Import Sport-Compact, was instantly pulled-over and cited after her front plate fell off, just the day prior.

What's your profile?

What's your vehicle's profile?

How do your local enforcers see you and your vehicle?

Consider what I wrote, here:

Also, to me, again, to emphasize, "plate dressing" is one of those very, very touchy areas - with the end-result not only being affected by what should be, objectively speaking, the quantitative target of minimizing LIDAR return, but also with the very subjective, very non-quantitative need to address this concern in a manner which will not cause you to get the evil-eye from enforcers - or perhaps a "fix-it ticket," or, at worst, an actual equipment-violation citation.

Stealth Stalker, from his posts here, is an admitted former LEO. Having the pulse of his local Brothers-in-Blue, he knows that, in his area, a "tinted" plate covering garners much more ill-will from both himself as well as fellow enforcers than does the LaserShield.

Yet, as I often bring up, in many LIDAR-heavy areas, enforcers also know well what the LaserShield and other such devices are, and specifically target enforcement of "plate-cover laws" towards such.

Some thus see the use of a/a set of replica (either commercial or home-made) plate(s) as being the compromise solution, but yet, at the same time, others don't feel comfortable doing this, due to either potential legal complications and/or the fact that their plate design incorporates impossible-to-replicate and highly visible holographics and/or other fine details.

For the latter, as well as for those who shy away from obvious plate-coverings, using either VEIL on the plate directly, or, alternatively, electing to use 3M Clear Duct Tape are ways around some of such concerns - but with the former, the obvious tinting of the plate, particularly on lighter colored ones, has always been brought up as a concern. Yet, it's also undeniable that for those who don't keep their cars showroom-sparkling-clean or whose vehicles see a lot of road-miles, the "slightly dirty look" that a coating of VEIL gives the plates can be readily passed over, even by less-than-casual observation.

It's this complex interaction of personal-preference - the inner debate between potential risks and benefits - added to each of our unique considerations for aesthetics, too, that will solidify, for each indiviual and unique end-user, the "right" set of passive protective measures to pursue, in respect to this most vulnerable and pervasively perplexing "plate dilemma."

In rendering my opinions on this topic, I always have to take the long route. I feel that it's important to present *all* of the *VIABLE* options, and to let the unique individual decide what best fits their specific situation.

Yes, there's a continuum of effectiveness, quantitatively, in terms of what works "best" or "better."

But for this most troubling aspect of seeking passive protection, I truly think that there's more to consider than just that.

[TSi+WRX]

^

I step away for a minute, and look at who posted right before! 06blackgto

[Victor]

Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

What's your profile?

What's your vehicle's profile?

How do your local enforcers see you and your vehicle?

I'm Caucasian, my Saturn is 11 years old with the front bumper banged up/cracked on the driver side, plate is currently screwed on the front bumper (getting new front bracket put on next week). I do have a kid's booster seat in the back, along with alot of junk. I'm not sure how local cops see me and my vehicle. I guess I'm not perceived as suspicious...

[TSi+WRX]

^ Oops.....sorry, I didn't mean to pry. My intent was for those to be questions for you to ask yourself, so that you can make your own assessment.

Sorry 'bout that!

I truly believe that such risks are personal ones - and that there's honestly no one better equipped to answer those question than you, the end-user of your unique setup.

Look at what I quoted of what I'd said in another thread. It all really depends.

The way I've configured my front and rear plate are also with respect to the prevailing attitudes and perceptions of my local enforcers, and yes, I also took my and my vehicle's profiles (mid-30s Asian male, clean cut - newer/modified "family-sedan" with no tinted windows, and with child-seat in rear, car clean and well-maintained) under consideration, too.

This is a highly variable factor, which not only depends on the laws "as they are written" in your area, but also the many subjective concerns.

[AirMoore]

I has a LS on both my front and rear plate (they are both rather new additions), but I have yet to be bothered with just the LS over my plate.


With just the LS (which is what I would recommend) in NY, I really think you should be fine. From anything over 50feet, its hard to tell its even on there.


Where you may have a problem is if you are pulled over, and the LEO sees the LS and or Veil on the plate (the LS is much easier to see 'up-close'. They can site you for obstructed plate, since covers are not allowed or dirty license plate... because the Veil makes it look that way.


Personally with the LS (only) you could also pull the old:

'Oh well I didn't know they were illegal, I just got this from the automotive store... I can't believe they would sell something that is illegal to use on my car?' 'I got this clear one because it keeps my plate from getting banged up and keeps it clean, but it is easy to see through... I will take them off right now if you let me? I had no idea they could sell an illegal plate cover at the auto-store, let alone a 'clear' one that was illegal!' (Ignorance is no excuse, and they could still ticket you, but its a good bet.) To be honest the above is fully true (except the part you not knowing the legality)... its unbelievable (to me) that they can sell LP covers in NY and then claim 'oh, but for show cars only'... and they DO help keep your plate clean. Many people in NY have no clue plate covers are illegal, simply because they don't think their local auto store would sell something thats illegal to use on the road.
Heck even be willing to 'give them' the LS, saying how you obviously can't use it again anyways... so the officer might as well take it because you wont be putting it back on if you take it off.



With Veil its harder to say 'well I neglect to keep it clean but I can wash it right now for you.'


I have also seen people 'get out' of speeding ticket by an officer citing them for their plate covers/dirty LP (non-moving violation). In other words, they get pulled over for speeding, and the officer is like "Well you were only doing 8 over, your record is pretty good and etc..." so instead of the speeding ticket I will give you this citation for your dirty LP (or LP cover), which is not a moving violation and no points will go on your license.


Lastly I believe when CrazyVolvoRob went to college (in NY) he used a LS with Veil (in the Rochester area, and all along the thruway)... and he was never hassled by the LEO's about it. I would wait for him to chime in on this matter though.


I say in NY go LS with no Veil on it (no it wont work as good), but with the Veil on your HL's and even a decent jammer, you should be fine.


To that effect: I would say DO NOT USE either Veil/LS on your LP in New York, as they are both illegal and you will get pulled over for either, and I am not responsible for that.