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Is it possible to clear wrap a license plate?

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by NeverTooLate71, Jun 30, 2024.

  1. Jun 30, 2024 at 12:59 PM
    #1
    NeverTooLate71

    NeverTooLate71 [OP] New Member

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    My new license plates should be arriving shortly? Idea came to mind, is it possible to clear wrap front and/or back license plates to protect from thieves stealing tags? I have special frames I want to use from my club. (www.srop.org)
     
  2. Jun 30, 2024 at 1:03 PM
    #2
    Borracho Loco

    Borracho Loco My 4Runner identifies as a Prius!

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  3. Jun 30, 2024 at 4:59 PM
    #3
    NeverTooLate71

    NeverTooLate71 [OP] New Member

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    Not quite what I had in mind-but thanks anyway. I should have been more specific, 3M clear wrap for a license plate, front or rear. There would have to be a cutaway for new tags.
    I found some "Nano" type film on Amazon at $39 for a single sheet. That's a little pricey for a license plate cover? Objective is to use a metal license plate frame from
    the club I belong to.
     
    icebear likes this.
  4. Jun 30, 2024 at 5:32 PM
    #4
    Bagman

    Bagman Dental Floss Tycoon

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    How will that prevent theft of your plate?
     
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  5. Jun 30, 2024 at 5:38 PM
    #5
    Old Tanker

    Old Tanker New Member

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    I don't see how a layer of plastic prevents theft of the plate. Perhaps you could replace the mounting bolts with anti-theft specialty bolts.
     
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  6. Jun 30, 2024 at 5:44 PM
    #6
    2Toys

    2Toys Imperial Star Cruiser

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    Sorry to spoil your party, but in most states it is not legal to put anything to cover a plate, even if it is clear.
     
  7. Jun 30, 2024 at 5:45 PM
    #7
    backpacker

    backpacker New Member

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    I think he means the stickers on the plate.
     
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  8. Jun 30, 2024 at 7:55 PM
    #8
    Noodles

    Noodles New Member

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    Who’s stealing tags? And why not a simple one instead of a special plate? Just don’t park in the wrong neighborhood or drill out the screw head. Nobody will take them off. Not even you. :D
     
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  9. Jun 30, 2024 at 7:56 PM
    #9
    NeverTooLate71

    NeverTooLate71 [OP] New Member

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    Mostly to keep the new plates pristine AND to prevent theft of the registration sticker. Lot's of thefts in California cities, the homeless and other creatures will steal anything not bolted down. The local Walmart Supercenter
    in Poway has had the hard liquor locked in a glass case for awhile now. Recently I saw now they have the Men's underwear locked up too! A number of the larger food markets have started locking up the hard liquor.
    If you want a bottle of hard stuff you have to let them know up at the check stands, they send someone back with you to the locked cabinet and pull your choice. Then they carry it up front to a designated check stand
    to wait for you to make the purchase.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2024
  10. Jun 30, 2024 at 7:58 PM
    #10
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    This is why I like the idea of those electronic plates but they’re pricey.
     
  11. Jun 30, 2024 at 8:22 PM
    #11
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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  12. Jul 1, 2024 at 3:18 AM
    #12
    Steely123

    Steely123 What's the new trend? I'll do it!

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    In TX we've had interior windshield stickers since the approx the 90s. Surprised that CA still does the ancient plate stickers. Lol.

    And why only men's underwear locked up? Lol. I saw a story on cnbc that SFO doesn't even prosecute theft, so Target gets robbed daily.
     
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  13. Jul 1, 2024 at 8:12 AM
    #13
    icebear

    icebear Recovered Kia Owner

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    Whacking the sticker with a box cutter cross-hatched is the classic solution and ought to do it. and then you won’t have to redo the wrap every year or so.

    As for keeping the plate pristine, I don’t know.
     
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  14. Jul 1, 2024 at 12:43 PM
    #14
    Grandpawmoses

    Grandpawmoses Dirty Old Man

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    Around here people coat plates so they look clear but reflect in photos to obscure the photos taken by red light cameras.
     
  15. Aug 6, 2024 at 10:04 AM
    #15
    Hungryhawk

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    Some States made it a ticket offense to put anything over their license plate (State property). Something about camera imaging of your license plate!
     
  16. Aug 6, 2024 at 11:33 AM
    #16
    gkomo

    gkomo New Member

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    Kind of surprised to hear that is happening in Poway.
     
  17. Aug 6, 2024 at 11:43 AM
    #17
    Acesandeights

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    Who cares if they steal your sticker? As stated by someone else, cross-hatch cut it if you want, but otherwise why bother.
     
  18. Aug 6, 2024 at 11:50 AM
    #18
    Connor MacLeod

    Connor MacLeod New Member

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    I haven't had to do this, but I'm guessing it would be somewhat of a headache to replace your license plate sticker if it gets stolen. If you do not replace it, then you would be subject to getting pulled over and asked about it by the cops.
     
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  19. Aug 6, 2024 at 11:58 AM
    #19
    Acesandeights

    Acesandeights #34

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    If you're doing something wrong, it's a reason to pull you over. If you're not doing anything wrong, they read your plate, it comes up as current and they follow the next guy/gal. The cops don't pull you over unless they want to, unless you give them a reason. I know this sounds odd, but I purposely ran around for years without tags on my license plate to see if I'd get pulled over. My registration was current, but I kept the stickers in the glove box. It was an interesting experiment.

    Many, I won't say most, cars now have automatic plate readers. They know whether your plates are current when you drive by.

    At some point soon, the stickers will be obsolete; they are no longer necessary, EXCEPT, they give the cops a reason to pull you over.
     
  20. Aug 6, 2024 at 3:03 PM
    #20
    Connor MacLeod

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    I think we're pretty much on the same page about all this. Not having the sticker gives the cops a reason to pull you over if they want to; then they can go after you for tint too dark, tail light mods, do you mind if I search your vehicle, do you have any guns in the vehicle, I smell alcohol/weed, etc., etc., etc. Even though there's never anything they could legitimately bust me for (well, maybe the window tint, LOL), I try to avoid those interactions when possible because you never know when you'll cross paths with that rare bad apple cop.
     
  21. Aug 6, 2024 at 6:01 PM
    #21
    Noodles

    Noodles New Member

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    Why would anyone steal registration stickers when they can print it within 5 minutes? This is the stupidest reason to get a plate cover. Do you need a plate cover against speed and toll cameras? We have some recommendations. Just ask the real question and don’t think that we’re stupid. Just FYI in NYC it’s an automatic fraud charge to use them so check the CA law about it.
     
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  22. Aug 6, 2024 at 6:08 PM
    #22
    TrailSpecial22

    TrailSpecial22 New Member

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    PA stickers are long gone.
     
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  23. Aug 6, 2024 at 6:14 PM
    #23
    Yobruhitsme

    Yobruhitsme New Member

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    How do they steal the sticker? Doesn’t it tear up immediately upon removal?
     
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  24. Aug 6, 2024 at 6:16 PM
    #24
    Yobruhitsme

    Yobruhitsme New Member

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    Why do you care about plate condition? lol do those things chip easily?
     
  25. Aug 6, 2024 at 9:41 PM
    #25
    NeverTooLate71

    NeverTooLate71 [OP] New Member

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    The plates on my 06 Tacoma which I sold a couple of months ago had plates that were starting to flake.
    Might as well try and keep my plates in as good a condition as my new 4Runner which I intend to keep as long as possible.
     
  26. Aug 7, 2024 at 4:54 AM
    #26
    wingo

    wingo *****

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    That was a problem in PA (stealing plates to cut out the registration sticker) until the state did away with the sticker. Also saved tax payer money from printing and sending out new sticker every year.
     

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