Hermosa Beach California

[kampala]

My wife spotted this today in Hermosa Beach California while walking.   Based on the license plate number, this car was very recently registered (probably within the last 4 months)  with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

[49er]

Very nice Oz. Good catch by your wife. Brave soul to leave it parked on a city street with the top down. Miss the beach citys (but not PCH's traffic) and Hermosa Beach was where a young 49er took delivery of his SL many years ago.

John

[JonathanB]

Parked outside City Hall.  Maybe it was the Chief of Police's car, or perhaps the Mayor's car?

Also, what's the protocol with obscuring license plate numbers?  I've seen in other posts that VIN numbers should not be shared in an open forum but the license plate number is in public view and unless it's combined with owner name, home address, etc., what harm could be done. 

(For that matter, the VIN on most modern cars is visible on the windshield pillar, isn't it?)

Not trying to start an argument, just want to understand the issue.

[Garry]

Like you Jonathan I do not understand the hiding of number plates, they are always in public view and as you said, if there is no home address there is no need.  Similarly the VIN is another modern visible number.

The Group does not have any policy on this and members are free to blank out their registration plates, or anything else on their photos that they think may offend others!!!!

Garry

[kampala]

I am never certain about obscuring the plate when posting or not.  I didn't think we had a protocol.   But, right or wrong here is my thinking:

Some folks are not comfortable putting their plates on the internet.  There are thieves who have been able to get addresses from plates illegally (friends who have access etc) and it seems that trolling the internet for plates is a lot easier than trolling the streets.   This may be far-fetched, but our group has had several thefts in the London area of UK and in Los Angeles area of California specifically.    Not saying that plates/address were taken from our site. 

So,  to not annoy any owners, I block-out the plates.  When I remember that it is and when feeling socially conscious.     

My 2 centimes. 

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I agree about the plate number, it is very public so why hide it? 


Dieter