Legal question

Dtone

Is it legal to sell photos of current license plates? I did a collage of vanity plates and would like to sell but not sure if it is legal. It is just the plates you cannot see the cars.

wxwax

I don't see why not.

Art Scott

y

Dtone wrote:

Is it legal to sell photos of current license plates? I did a collage of vanity plates and would like to sell but not sure if it is legal. It is just the plates you cannot see the cars.

Are they all of the same state>

I think I would just call the tag office and see what they say?

Reason is if you can read the plate and with a tad bit of work you can "run" the tags for address and such...now only a criminal would actually do this and the in court he say it was your photo that prompted his action(s).......

But it sounds like a cool collage.

wxwax

The plates are all on full display every minute they're on the road, which is why I can't see a problem with it.

Angelo

wxwax wrote:

The plates are all on full display every minute they're on the road, which is why I can't see a problem with it.

largelylivin

1). Several high circulation magazines print photos of license plates. I am certain that they wouldn't if there was any way it would land them in court.

2). It is publicly visible to you and the whole world, just like movie stars. The only way that you might get into trouble is if you make a editorial comment on it or identify its owner. I.E. " This plate belongs to Joe Blow who is a known sex offender. " (If he isn't, GO TO JAIL).

Dtone

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I guess the reason I am unsure of these photos of plates is that I see plates blocked out on television. I can understand blocking plates on a vehicle that a celeb is driving but I have also seen plates blocked on cars in a parking lot... so that got me to wondering if my collage is legal.

I will call the registry for my state but I did take pics from 3 other states also.

Thanks!

wxwax

Dtone wrote:

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I guess the reason I am unsure of these photos of plates is that I see plates blocked out on television. I can understand blocking plates on a vehicle that a celeb is driving but I have also seen plates blocked on cars in a parking lot... so that got me to wondering if my collage is legal.

I will call the registry for my state but I did take pics from 3 other states also.

Thanks!

In what shows do you see plates blurred? Context is important.

dogwood

Are you portraying the vehicle owner as a possible criminal subject (like in COPS or the First 48) for commercial purposes? That's why those type of shows blur plates.

If you shot them from public property and you aren't using them in that manner, you're probably fine.

Scott_Quier

wxwax wrote:

In what shows do you see plates blurred? Context is important.

Almost all the shows on The Learning Channel (Flip that house, Trading Spaces, MythBusters, just to name a few) seem to obscure all the plates that apear on the show.

But, I don't know why. Maybe just to protect all from annoying people that would look up the name/number of the owners and make unwanted phone calls?

wxwax

Scott_Quier wrote:

Almost all the shows on The Learning Channel (Flip that house, Trading Spaces, MythBusters, just to name a few) seem to obscure all the plates that apear on the show.

But, I don't know why. Maybe just to protect all from annoying people that would look up the name/number of the owners and make unwanted phone calls?

Yes, I would think it's to protect the privacy of the people who participate in the how. Not a legal issue.

Jeffro

Dtone wrote:

I will call the registry for my state but I did take pics from 3 other states also.

Thanks!

You really think they will know the answer to that question? I don't think so. You will confuse them, and I bet they will more than likely tell you you can't. They call that CYA.

Jeffro

Scott_Quier wrote:

Maybe just to protect all from annoying people that would look up the name/number of the owners and make unwanted phone calls?

And just where would one look up that information?

wxwax

Jeffro wrote:

And just where would one look up that information?

Here.

Or here.

Or follow this advice.