Block Dragon Traffic Cameras: Stay Invisible

With the increasing number of traffic cameras, many drivers are looking for ways to avoid being caught by these devices. One way to do this is by using license plate camera blockers, which are cheap and effective tools that can make your license plate number invisible to red light cameras and help you avoid speeding tickets. While tinted license plate covers are illegal in all states, there are alternative options available such as clear covers and sprays that obscure the plate without concealing it.

License plate covers

There are several license plate covers available on the market, including:

• SunFlex Zone License Plate Cover: This cover is ultra-thin, shatterproof, and weather-resistant. It filters out infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through, making it 100% transparent at all angles.
• Zade Original Protector Anti-Photo Radar License Plate Cover: This cover is invisible to the naked eye but reflects most red light camera flashes. Its curved design also helps to bounce radar lights off the license plate.
• On Track Manufacturing Super Protector License Plate Cover: This cover consists of two sections of prismatic material, each covering half of the plate. This ensures that one half of the plate is always concealed, no matter the angle of the camera.
• PhotoShield License Plate Cover: This cover has a thin diffusion lens that distorts the license plate when viewed at an angle, making it unreadable to cameras. It was featured on CSI Miami and is one of the best-selling red light camera blockers.
• The Reflector License Plate Cover: This cover is made of high-quality clear plastic and coated with light-reflecting crystals. It reflects the camera flash, resulting in an overexposed and unclear image.

It is important to note that while license plate covers can provide a level of protection against traffic cameras, they may not always be effective. Some covers are also easy to spot, which could lead to a ticket for an obscured license plate. Additionally, in most states, it is illegal to attach anything to your license plate that would make it unreadable, so it is crucial to check your local laws before using any of these products.

License plate sprays

Red light cameras use a strong flash to photograph cars' license plates. Clear sprays for license plates work by reflecting this light back to the camera, which makes the photo overexposed and unclear.

One such spray is PhotoBlocker, the best-selling license plate spray based on a patented formula. The spray makes your plate shiny so that when a photo is taken with a flash, it becomes illegible. You need to apply four coats and allow the license plate to dry for at least an hour between coats. However, some reviews suggest that this spray does not work as effectively as claimed.

Another option is Rust-Oleum 214944 Specialty Reflective Spray, a multifunctional spray that creates a reflective coating on your license plate, preventing it from being recognizable in a photo taken by a red light camera. It is simple to apply, but it doesn't work well with dark colors.

A third option is Seymour 16-511 Reflective Water-Based Coating, a clear coating that produces a bright-colored reflection when lit by the flashlight of a red light camera. It has excellent durability and is resistant to any type of weather condition. This spray is water-based and doesn't contain lead, cadmium, mercury, or chromates.

It is important to note that while these sprays may be effective in preventing your license plate from being photographed, they may not be legal in your state or country. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are complying with all relevant laws and regulations.

Reflective gels

There are a few reflective gels, sprays, and covers on the market that claim to block traffic cameras from capturing your license plate. These products work by reflecting the flash of the camera, causing the image of your license plate to be overexposed and unreadable.

One such product is PhotoBlocker, a clear spray that claims to make your license plate highly reflective, thus blinding the camera with its own flash. The suggested retail price for PhotoBlocker is $49.95. However, when tested, PhotoBlocker did not perform as effectively as claimed. The numbers on the license plates remained clearly legible, and the cameras were unaffected. Similar results were obtained when using a can of Ace Hardware clear gloss spray paint, which has similar ingredients to PhotoBlocker.

Another product, called The Reflector, is a clear plastic cover coated with light-reflecting crystals. It claims to overexpose photo radar and red-light camera pictures by reflecting the flash back to the camera, blinding it. The Reflector is available for $29.99.

It is important to note that while these products claim to make your license plate invisible to cameras, they may not always be effective. Technicians can easily fast-forward through an interfering flash of light, and the camera's polarizing filter can also brush aside any extra glare. Additionally, most red-light cameras record digital video of violations, which can be reviewed later.

Before using any of these products, it is essential to consider the legal implications and consequences. While you may want to protect your privacy and avoid costly tickets, using reflective gels or sprays to intentionally block or distort your license plate from being captured on camera may be illegal in some jurisdictions. Always check your local laws and regulations before taking any action.

Smart license plates

One of the key advantages of smart license plates is their ability to detect camera flashes. Equipped with sensors, these plates can identify when a camera flash is directed at them and respond by triggering bright flashes from their sides. This action results in overexposing the camera, creating an unclear and unreadable image of the license plate. This feature is particularly useful when driving through areas with extensive traffic camera surveillance, as it significantly reduces the chances of being identified and issued a traffic violation.

In addition to their camera flash detection capabilities, smart license plates often incorporate reflective materials in their design. This reflectivity serves a dual purpose: it enhances the visibility of the plate in low-light conditions, making it easier for other drivers and authorities to read the plate number, while also reflecting light back towards the camera. By reflecting the camera flash, the plate creates a similar effect to that of a license plate spray, resulting in an overexposed and unclear image. This two-pronged approach ensures that the plate remains visible to the human eye while becoming unreadable to the camera, providing drivers with added peace of mind.

Another advantage of smart license plates is their customizability. Many of these plates allow users to switch between different modes, such as an opaque mode that obscures the plate number and a transparent mode that makes it visible. This feature gives drivers the flexibility to choose when and where they want their plate to be visible, providing an added layer of control over their privacy.

It is important to note that the use of smart license plates, while offering a sophisticated means of protecting one's privacy, should be approached with caution. Laws regarding license plate alterations vary across different states and countries, and it is essential to stay informed about the legal requirements in your region. While these plates provide effective anonymity, drivers must also be mindful of the potential consequences if their use is deemed illegal in certain jurisdictions.

Overall, smart license plates represent a significant advancement in the field of license plate technology, offering drivers enhanced privacy protection and a more discreet driving experience. By incorporating features such as camera flash detection, reflectivity, and customizability, smart license plates provide a robust solution for those seeking to maintain their anonymity on the road.

License plate-flippers

Some states have explicit bans on license plate-flippers, with penalties for their use, sale, or manufacture. For example, Texas and Washington banned the devices in 2013. Tennessee has also recently banned their purchase, sale, possession, and manufacture, with those found in violation facing up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. The city of Philadelphia has also banned the devices, with a penalty of a $2,000 fine for violations.

In addition to license plate-flippers, there are other devices on the market that aim to obscure license plates from cameras, such as clear or tinted license plate covers and sprays. However, it's important to note that these methods may also be illegal in certain states and can carry penalties.

Frequently asked questions