Will a Spray Can Help You
Avoid Traffic Tickets?
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A
new spray says it will hide your license
plate from red-light cameras.
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Manuel Ramos
Drivers in Northern California are turning to a
reflective spray to avoid red-light-running tickets.
The "Phantom Blocker"
has been an Internet phenomenon on the East Coast
for the past two years. Now, the makers say sales
are picking up in the Bay Area. There's even a testimonial
from San Francisco on the website, with a customer
proclaiming, "It's already paid for itself."
The can sells for $29.99,
and reportedly makes a license plate reflective,
which inhibits a red-light camera from snapping
a clear photo.
"We don't encourage
anyone to run red lights," said Joe Stott,
the marketing director of the company that makes
the spray.
Stott says drivers are fighting
a program that is just a revenue producer for cities.
"They'll do anything
they can to generate revenue, and trapping people
seems to be the easiest one," Stott said.
According to the directions,
all you have to do is spray your license plate a
few times and it becomes reflective. I tested it
on an old, unused plate, because the San Francisco
police say it's against the law.
"This would appear to
be altering a license plate," said Lt. Al Casciato.
"I would tell them to save their money. It's
probably not a good idea. It will probably cause
you a lot of pain and suffering if you're in an
accident that is captured on film."
At San Francisco traffic
court, where red-light running fines run more than
$300, some drivers were tempted.
"If it really works,
I would try it out," said Ryan Duval.
The people behind Photo Blocker
insist it works and is legal, because police officers
can clearly see a plate -- it's just tough for a
camera to capture.
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09-12-2003
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