Your License Plate Isn’t Required to Be Blurred Out in a Picture or Video

(Tyler, Texas) - Any time there is a picture or video posted in a Facebook group, there is always the complaint of why the license plate isn't blurred out. Many believe that the plate can be run to steal personal information. Others believe it's illegal to do so.

Police do have the capability to "run" a license plate during a traffic stop. It's done so the officer can check for outstanding warrants or other violations. Your plate is also used to determine if you have insurance on your vehicle. But can Joe Blow "run" your plate if it's seen in a picture or a video?

Posting a Picture or a Video Without a Blurred License Plate

There is no requirement, there is no law, that says you have to blur out a license plate in a picture or video in Texas (uscode.house.gov). "But I can go to the DMV and pay $6 to get the info from the license plate." Uh, no, you can't. A civilian can't just walk into the DMV or search online and get someone's personal information from a license plate like Donny did in Gone in 60 Seconds.

There is a form that can be filled out at the DMV to request someone's information from their license plate. However, the process takes about four weeks and 99% of the time, it will be denied unless the circumstances actually warrant the information to be released. There is a fee that you won't get back if the request is denied.

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What Police Get From Your License Plate

In the case of the police, it is legal for them to get personal information from "running a plate." That information includes:

• Name of the registered vehicle owner.
• Address of the registered vehicle owner.
• What state the vehicle is registered in.
• Has the vehicle been reported as stolen.
• If the license plate matches the vehicle's registration.
• In some states, police can see if the vehicle has valid insurance.

It is a federal law called the Driver's Privacy Protection Act, or DPPA. The law has been in effect since the mid 90s. Before this law, it may have been possible to go to the DMV and look up someone's personal information based off of their license plate. So, despite what you've been told, we, as civilians, cannot legally 'run a plate' in Texas.

Online Scams

There are some websites that claim you can search their database to find information from a license plate. Those sites are most likely a scam and will, ironically enough, steal your personal information or just give you the the wrong information all together. DO NOT use those sites. You will compromise the security of your own personal information.

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