What Can Someone Potentially Do with Only a Number Plate?

fatpizza on 15/12/2020 - 12:07
Last edited 15/12/2020 - 12:08

Had an issue this morning on the way to work where during heavyish traffic someone tried to change into my lane without indicating, and whilst I was actually next to them (well the front half of their car was slightly in front of mine). Either way I beeped my horn and didn't let them in. I also quickly flipped them off (probably not the recommended COA…) as I figured that since they weren't even indicating they were an a-hole just trying to bully their way in.

Either way, they then pulled in behind me and then traffic stopped. I was looking in my rear view mirror and after they were carrying on doing exaggerated clapping etc. they pulled out their phone and appeared to be taking a photo of the back of my car. I promptly did a thumbs up whilst they were taking the picture (it just felt like the thing to do…).
They then carried on like a nutjob for a bit longer, changed lanes again and drove off.

This person was obviously a little unhinged, but I'm just wondering what could they realistically do with a photo of the back of my car? It'd be a pretty stupid thing to post it around, as they'd be inevitably sharing proof they were using their phone whilst driving etc.

So yeah, is there anything to really be concerned about?

Automotive

Comments

  • Zinger on 15/12/2020 - 12:11
    +22

    they can pay for your registration…

    • fatpizza on 15/12/2020 - 12:13
      +1

      Well, it is due next month… :)

    • FreeUyghur on 16/12/2020 - 13:01

      yeah

  • Donaldhump on 15/12/2020 - 12:14
    +4

    relax bro, the douche lord will prob get fined for using his phone if anything

  • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2020 - 12:18
    +1

    So yeah, is there anything to really be concerned about?

    Probably just going to be waiting for you in the bushes near your place, no biggie

    • fatpizza on 15/12/2020 - 12:20

      I'm not exactly a small person, so good luck to them. :P

      • brendanm on 15/12/2020 - 14:17
        +2

        Is that you bobo?

        • fatpizza on 15/12/2020 - 17:39
          +1

          starts chainsaw

      • LFO on 17/12/2020 - 20:51

        I'm not exactly a small person, so good luck to them. :P

        Smaller criminals have big sharp knives.
        And they know how to use them.
        Slowly but precisely.

        They are criminals not sport fight athletes. They'll win. They write the rules. They'll win.

  • avoidfullprice on 15/12/2020 - 12:29

    It'd be a pretty stupid thing to post it around, as they'd be inevitably sharing proof they were using their phone whilst driving etc.

    Yeah it would be stupid for them. The driver may post it on dashcam Aust facey page, then said the "partner" took a photo of this nutcase (you) doing flips and shits.

    Then the photo shows the top of steering wheel, and gets pointed out in comments, and the phot gets deleted

    Slow news day for that person

  • Bargain80 on 15/12/2020 - 12:38
    +1

    Similar thing happened to me. I ended up braking a bit hard to avoid collision.
    i then had flipping war with the driver.

    Can't believe that some people think it's okay to change lane when they're just only 30cm ahead of the car in the other lane.

  • Muzeeb on 15/12/2020 - 12:44

    They can search for your car on carsales if it is listed there.

    • geekcohen on 15/12/2020 - 13:21

      Pretty sure Car Sales hide regos now.

      • Muzeeb on 15/12/2020 - 13:30

        They attempt to blur out the pictures with a relatively high success rate. Most ads say check with seller for the rego.

        The search function will still find it though. Eg. In carsales do a keyword search on UFE821

  • slow on 15/12/2020 - 12:49
    +16

    They can make you worried to the point where you post about it on an Internet forum

    • fatpizza on 15/12/2020 - 12:53
      +1

      Well, it just seemed like such odd thing for the driver to do and I was genuinely curious. You just never know what crap some people will try to pull.

  • Ocker on 15/12/2020 - 12:53
    +3

    Courtesy on the roads never ceases to amaze me

  • brad1-8tsi on 15/12/2020 - 12:55
    +2

    They will do a false report to the EPA saying your car was smoking

    or

    report you to the police for roadrage or some other BS "crime"

    don't worry about it

  • herecomestheoost on 15/12/2020 - 13:07
    +1

    It could also be some sort of lame tactic in an attempt to 'scare' you… Most likely the photo will just sit in their phones photo gallery until they upgrade to a new one.. Don't stress.

  • SF3 on 15/12/2020 - 13:12
    +3

    username checks out.

    It is the type of thing that would happen in Fat Pizza :D

    • AustriaBargain on 15/12/2020 - 13:13

      I just re-read it with the accent and your analysis checks out.

    • PeterSnoot on 16/12/2020 - 07:40

      Only if the OP got out of his car and gave the other driver a thonging

  • hcet on 15/12/2020 - 13:12

    Fat Pizza !

  • AustriaBargain on 15/12/2020 - 13:13
    +2

    You flip someone off and they were the ones carrying on with exaggerated clapping? You should watch Unhinged. Or even better, watch Duel by Stephen Spielberg. Doesn't matter if you're wrong or right, your car will still end up totaled and you'll be fearing for your life for at least 90 minutes until the credits roll.

  • orangetrain on 15/12/2020 - 13:28
    +2

    If they know a police officer, they can get your details and show up at your place. It happened to a woman in QLD.

    • Muzeeb on 15/12/2020 - 13:34
      +1

      A police officer not doing their job properly

      • Speckled Jim on 16/12/2020 - 09:06

        Stopped reading at QLD.
        Good thing too, it was the end of the sentence.

      • Big Trev on 16/12/2020 - 09:13

        Yeah, Police would never do anything like that. Would they?

  • Screamingeagle on 15/12/2020 - 13:37

    How is taking a photo different from them just remembering the plate?

  • ozwog05 on 15/12/2020 - 14:06
    -1

    Why didn't you rip a fully sic burnout in their face?

  • SydStrand on 15/12/2020 - 14:10

    This person was obviously a little unhinged

    Did he happen to look like bloated Russell Crowe?

  • Euphemistic on 15/12/2020 - 14:25
    +1

    Does your state have a hoon reporting system? NSW has just started to be able to report bad drivers through the police.

    Whatever you do, make a note of time, date etc with your side of the story while it’s fresh in your mind just in case there is a way they can report you (albeit falsely - from your viewpoint)

  • bobbified on 15/12/2020 - 15:07

    Do you happen to drive a ute?

  • dasher86 on 15/12/2020 - 16:04

    create a copy of your plates

  • DoctorCalculon on 15/12/2020 - 19:37

    create a copy of your plates

    They could do that. However, the plate / rego will not match the VIN.
    Nevertheless, the impersonator can then drive to petrol stations with those fake plates and run off without paying for fuel, or jump on some tollways.
    OP may then bear the hassle of proving their innocence if cops don't figure it out quickly.

  • Ghost47 on 15/12/2020 - 23:16

    I wouldn't worry about it. I did the same thing to some idiotic driver here in Sydney and nothing has happened.

  • Jugganautx on 16/12/2020 - 01:21

    They can incriminate themselves for taking photos with their phone in heavy traffic.

  • MontyMacaw on 16/12/2020 - 10:43

    They already did it. They intimidated you. Get over it then sit back and enjoy the ride. If you want to be a gladiator you gotta take the bruisin’ that goes with it.

    • fatpizza on 16/12/2020 - 11:20

      Intimidated? Not quite.
      I don't regret flipping the person off because he didn't deserve it or because I'm worried about my safety, in the end it's just an unnecessary act which doesn't achieve anything.
      As for the reasoning of this thread, it's more for me wanting to know what could someone actually do with the info. As I genuinely didn't know.

  • mini2 on 16/12/2020 - 17:48

    Worst case they could prolly dob you in for throwing rubbish outta window (I think they're just dishing out warning first) or loud exhaust (if your car is stock then it's easily proven it's a vexatious complaint).

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