Should a Photographer blur the license plate

[JayG]

There is a thread on whether or not a person taking pics of cars at the track should blur the license plate
http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/53548-i-need-know.html

A poll is in order

It is anonymous and you can select more than one answer

[Timco]

Totally up to the driver to remove or obscure. Too many cameras around, he would never see them all.

[doctorm3]

Originally Posted by Timco

Totally up to the driver to remove or obscure. Too many cameras around, he would never see them all.

Absolutely correct!

[jsceash]

You have to realize that at every track event 50% or more of the cars on track have a Gopro or some other video system. If your that concerned take off your plate. There is no way that 50 to 80 drives from each event are removing your plate from their video and probably 5 % of those videos go on you tube.

BTW I have seen my car on you tube in others videos

[BIGJake111]

Im too lazy to blur the photo, so i just try to not post anything involving the plate. However, I voted yes they should be hidden, despite the fact I do not always, heck i say my car with its plate visible as the thumbnail for a video of the local cars and coffee on youtube once.

[Fintro11]

If they don't want their plates showing they should cover or remove them, looks better anyway

[BrokenLinkage]

Seems the responsibility should fall to the driver to remove it, but a courteous and decent photog would ask before going public with images of someone else's car / tags at a private event, and only a total jerkwad would post someone else tags if specifically asked not to do so.
On the other hand, if you made a video strictly for private and personal use (ie NOT youtube) that incidentally happened to include someone else's tag, I don't see much harm if you can and will keep it private. After all, you were there, and are entitled to your memories, no matter how they are achived.
I know someone will ask "does the same logic apply in the bedroom?" No, there you need consent from both parties for even the private archive, precisely because the potential for both harm and abuse is higher.

[linderpat]

I find it ridiculous that plates get blurred. They are already out there for the public to see! I don't understand what the person is trying to protect. Thoughts?

[Timco]

Originally Posted by BrokenLinkage

Seems the responsibility should fall to the driver to remove it, but a courteous and decent photog would ask before going public with images of someone else's car / tags at a private event, and only a total jerkwad would post someone else tags if specifically asked not to do so.
On the other hand, if you made a video strictly for private and personal use (ie NOT youtube) that incidentally happened to include someone else's tag, I don't see much harm if you can and will keep it private. After all, you were there, and are entitled to your memories, no matter how they are achived.
I know someone will ask "does the same logic apply in the bedroom?" No, there you need consent from both parties for even the private archive, precisely because the potential for both harm and abuse is higher.

I do not 'post' things except here and another site. No FB, no Youtube. Even if I did, if I was invited to an event where cameras are welcome, there is no damn way I am blurring out some plate some driver was too lazy to obscure or remove, no matter how much they whined or cried about it. If it means that much, deal with it yourself. Call me a jerkwad I guess........

[Perfectlap]

at a track day, blue painter's tape works fine. Otherwise you had your chance.

If a car is photographed in public, you're also SOL as you have no expectation of privacy in public.

If you're the photographer and take your own picture, of your car on your property, with the plate on and post it online you're taking an unecessary risk for no good reason.

and let just add, all databases have been hacked. Public, corporate and especially govt.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by linderpat

I find it ridiculous that plates get blurred. They are already out there for the public to see! I don't understand what the person is trying to protect. Thoughts?

Ed, I've heard rumors (no clue if there's any truth to them) that insurance companies who suspect you're using your car "off road" at the track will cancel your insurance if they find out, or deny a claim based on the fact that it could have happened at the track, not at the hotel parking lot during the track weekend.

I remove my plate or tape over it when I arrive at the track for this very reason.

[plus3db]

If a pic is taken on the street I don't expect privacy
If I was at a track event I would not want my plate published

At the track, if I saw someone taking photos and I went to him and asked that my plate be blurred in any pic he takes of my car I would expect that that happen, or he should not take pics of my car.

A track event is not a public event by the definition of public event, it is a private event and in a private event there are expectations of privacy

for example, the Boston Marathon is a public event, but the Indianapolis 500 is not. Generally tickets to an event have disclaimers and other legal mumbo jumbo about photos and other recordings and other privacy issues

That being said, it is not too much trouble to tape over or remove the plate,

[ianacole]

Track events are not generally closed events. Anyone can drive in and watch ... less than private, but not quite public.

But, as mentioned above, I am ultimately responsible for securing my own privacy, if I am concerned about it. Someone standing on the corner of the track entrance can take photos all day long, in a public setting.

[Flavor 987S]

I think just about any and all cars photographed in a public outdoor setting are far game. Even track events. But once there is an accident or car damage, street or track, that's where I draw the line. Don't post the pictures. But people love to post this carnage and bask in someone's gloom and bad day. That's classless. If the owner wants to share, fine.

[thstone]

If you don't want your plate online then you should obscure/remove it. No one else cares (or should be expected to care). Track events are definitely fair game.

In this day and age, I have absolutely no expectation of privacy unless I am locked in an underground lair with Johnny Danger.

[linderpat]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Ed, I've heard rumors (no clue if there's any truth to them) that insurance companies who suspect you're using your car "off road" at the track will cancel your insurance if they find out, or deny a claim based on the fact that it could have happened at the track, not at the hotel parking lot during the track weekend.

I remove my plate or tape over it when I arrive at the track for this very reason.

That is the first explanation I've heard that makes sense. In this case, I would do as others have said - tape/cover my own plate.

[Burg Boxster]

let alone PCNA warranty denials...